Tamarindo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for Tamarindo over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there. The outlook starts off a bit slow, but there’s a solid run of clean conditions coming through, especially on the mornings. The best windows are going to be when you get that offshore breeze from the east, keeping things glassy.

We’ve got a few days of small, clean surf from Wednesday morning, 19 August, through to the weekend. The swell is hanging around 3 ft from the southwest with a long period of 15 seconds, giving the waves some shape and energy. The combined energy is moderate (367), so it’s not a powerhouse, but it’s a good little run for a beginner-friendly river mouth. Expect some nice lined-up waves, especially with that ENE breeze keeping it clean. The river mouth here is consistent, but it can get crowded, so be ready for company.

Thursday and Friday drop off a bit in size, down to 1 ft to 2 ft, and the wind gets a bit tricky, so don’t expect much. By Saturday morning, 22 August, we see a slight bump again, but the standout really starts to build from Sunday morning, 23 August. That 2 ft swell from the southwest has a very long period of 19 seconds, and combined energy of 269 (moderate), with clean offshore winds. That’s a sneaky good session.

The real highlight, though, is Friday, 28 August. That morning is absolutely glassy with no wind, and a 2 ft swell from the southwest with a 19-second period. The combined energy jumps to 727 (strong), and the wave quality is top-notch. If you can get out there, that’s the one to circle.

Then we get into a bigger pulse. Saturday, 29 August, morning brings 5 ft swell from the southwest, period of 16 seconds, and combined energy of 1207 (very strong). That’s excellent for experienced surfers, but it’s a bit much for beginners. The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean. Sunday morning, 30 August, holds similar size at 5 ft, with a shorter period of 14 seconds, but still plenty of energy (1085). That’s also an expert-only zone.

The last few days of the forecast see a drop back down to 3 ft to 4 ft, with glassy conditions on Tuesday morning, 1 September, and Thursday morning, 3 September. The Thursday morning is a real sleeper: 3 ft from the southwest, 16-second period, calm winds, and combined energy of 813 (strong). That’s a beautiful, clean session.

So, to sum it up: the best bet for the whole run is Friday morning, 28 August, for the glassy, long-period, strong-energy swell. And for the bigger, more powerful stuff, Saturday morning, 29 August, is the one for the experienced crew. If you’re a beginner, stick to the smaller, cleaner mornings like Monday, 31 August, or Tuesday, 1 September.

Stay safe out there, and remember: the river mouth can get a bit of a crowd, but it’s worth it.

Rusty.

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