Surf Forecasts:
Roca Alta surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period, ENE swell with 669 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Roca Alta this week:
The surf forecast for Roca Alta over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Roca Alta in the next 16 days are 1.9m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Roca Alta over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s hash this out. We got a 16-day stretch ahead, but the first few are a dead loss. Starting Monday, August 17th, there’s nothing worth chasing. You’re waiting until things sort themselves out.
The first proper shot comes on Tuesday afternoon, August 18th. Swell is building to about 6ft from the ENE, with a 9-second period. But the magic is the glassy wind – dead calm. The combined energy is solid (530), so there’s plenty of grunt. This is your early highlight.
Then it gets average again – a few mornings with cross-shore breeze and smaller surf, energy dropping into the 200s and 300s. Not calling anyone out of bed for that.
But Sunday morning, August 23rd is the real deal. Swell jumps to 6ft out of the ENE, period up to 10 seconds. Combined energy hits a strong 669 – biggest number of the whole run. And it’s glassy again. The Roca Alta reef is gonna be firing. This is for advanced surfers only, and with that size it’s going to be a proper session. Crowds are likely, but for a wave this good, that’s just part of the deal.
The next couple of mornings (around the 24th and 25th) still have some 5-6ft ENE swell with clean or cross-off winds, keeping the quality okay, but the energy drops back into the 400s.
Into the second week, things fade out. A few mornings with smaller waves and cross-chop, energy slipping below 500. A glassy morning on Friday, August 28th gives you a clean 3ft wave, but it’s small and weak (202 energy). Not much to get excited about.
By the end, from August 30th onward, it’s just small, weak, and messy. Energy barely cracks 100. If you didn’t paddle out on the 23rd, you missed the boat.
Water temp is a warm 84°F, which is about normal for the time of year. No wetsuit needed.
Bottom line: lock in Sunday morning, August 23rd at Roca Alta. Glassy, solid 6ft groundswell from the ENE, and that reef is going to be flawless. Tuesday the 18th is your backup for the clean conditions. Everything else is just background noise.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 286 | 452 | 576 | 530 | 378 | 309 | 281 | 261 | 268 | 274 | 203 | 212 | 230 | 281 | 422 | 413 | 404 | 669 | 547 | 469 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy |
High Tide | 4:42PM0.31m | 5:09AM0.13m | 5:22PM0.33m | 6:06AM0.11m | 5:59PM0.35m | 6:56AM0.09m | 6:37PM0.36m | 7:40AM0.08m | 7:13PM0.36m | 8:20AM0.07m | 7:50PM0.36m | 9:01AM0.05m | 8:26PM0.35m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:50PM0.00m | 10:18AM0.02m | 00:46AM-0.02m | 10:47AM0.03m | 1:36AM-0.03m | 11:15AM0.03m | 2:23AM-0.03m | 11:40AM0.03m | 3:10AM-0.02m | 12:02PM0.03m | 3:57AM-0.02m | 12:21PM0.03m | ||||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — |
 | 5:49 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 7 |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 286 | 452 | 576 | 530 | 378 | 309 | 281 | 261 | 268 | 274 | 203 | 212 | 230 | 281 | 422 | 413 | 404 | 669 | 547 | 469 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 22 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Limon | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Roca Alta Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Roca Alta provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Roca Alta can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Roca Alta surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Roca Alta) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Roca Alta may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in Limon? If you are looking for accommodation near Roca Alta, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Limon, consider staying in Puerto Limon which is 1 km (1 miles) away. Other places in and around Limon where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Siquirres which is 52 km (32 miles) away, Turrialba, Guapiles and Changuinola.
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