Surf Forecasts:
Tamarindo surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 18s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,428 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tamarindo this week:
The surf forecast for Tamarindo over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tamarindo in the next 16 days are 1.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tamarindo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid stretch of surf shaping up for Tamarindo. The river mouth there is the spot to be. Let’s break it down.
The overall pattern is a consistent run of long-period, south-west groundswell, with the best conditions coming in the mornings when the wind is offshore. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 86°, so you’ll be comfortable in a shorty.
We kick things off on Tuesday, the 25th. The morning is clean but the swell is only 2ft from the SW, and the cross-off wind is a bit frisky at 16 mph. It’s not a total loss, but the energy is weak (245). The afternoon looks better with a lighter offshore breeze, but the swell is still small.
Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th are a bit of a mixed bag. Swell stays around 2ft, but Thursday morning pops with a period of 18 seconds and clean cross-off wind. The energy is still moderate (270), but those long waits between sets can be a bit tricky at the river mouth.
Now, Friday the 28th is where it starts to get interesting. The morning has a fresh 19 mph cross-off wind, but the swell is 3ft with a 19-second period, and the energy jumps to 787 – that’s moderate wave energy. The afternoon is the pick: the wind turns offshore and light, giving you clean 2ft waves.
The standout is Saturday, the 29th. The morning is a beauty. Swell is a proper 5ft from the SW, period 16 seconds, and the wind is a gentle offshore breeze. The energy is strong at 1230. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-on wind, so get your session in early.
Sunday the 30th is also a cracker. The morning offers 5ft waves with a clean cross-off wind and energy at 911. The afternoon, however, is pure magic – glassy conditions with a 5ft SW swell. That’s a session you’ll remember.
The first week of September keeps the momentum going. Monday the 31st, Tuesday the 1st, and Wednesday the 2nd all have good morning windows with clean wind and 4ft to 3ft swell. Look out for Wednesday the 2nd morning: glassy conditions with a 2ft, 18-second period swell, and the energy is a solid 568.
The second standout is Saturday, the 5th of September. The morning is clean with a 6ft SW swell and a 16-second period, energy at 1439. It’s excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon is even better – glassy with the same size swell. That’s a full day of top-tier waves.
Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th keep the good times rolling with offshore winds and 5ft to 4ft swell. The following week, Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th, continue the trend with clean morning conditions and 3ft to 4ft swell.
For the whole period, keep in mind the river mouth here can get crowded, so expect company. These long-period swells from the SW are perfect for the point and river break setup, giving you long, clean rides. If you’re a beginner, the swell on the 29th and 5th is over 5ft, so it might be a bit much. For the experts, those are the days to go large.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 33°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 34°C on Fri morning, min 26°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Fri morning, calm by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
211 | 206 | 191 | 110 | 107 | 74 | 154 | 106 | 248 | 531 | 354 | 1215 | 1230 | 1428 | 1001 | 911 | 821 | 630 | 451 | 386 | 336 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 12:47PM2.02m | 1:25AM1.94m | 1:34PM2.12m | 2:06AM2.09m | 2:16PM2.21m | 2:43AM2.23m | 2:54PM2.28m | 3:19AM2.35m | 3:32PM2.32m | 3:53AM2.45m | 4:09PM2.34m | 4:29AM2.51m | 4:46PM2.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:13PM0.57m | 7:24AM0.67m | 7:54PM0.47m | 8:08AM0.56m | 8:30PM0.38m | 8:48AM0.45m | 9:05PM0.31m | 9:26AM0.35m | 9:39PM0.26m | 10:04AM0.28m | 10:14PM0.24m | 10:42AM0.24m | 10:50PM0.24m | ||||||||
5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | |
— | 5:55 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | 3 |
Temp °C | 33 | 31 | 27 | 33 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 31 | 27 | 34 | 33 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 33 | 30 | 28 |
Feels °C | 35 | 33 | 27 | 34 | 34 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 27 | 34 | 35 | 27 | 34 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 31 | 35 | 33 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 7 | S 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
211 | 206 | 191 | 110 | 53 | 60 | 116 | 75 | 248 | 531 | 354 | 1215 | 1230 | 1428 | 1001 | 911 | 821 | 630 | 451 | 386 | 336 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSE 7 | S 7 | S 7 | WSW 14 | S 7 | S 11 | SSE 8 | S 11 | S 7 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 |
55 | 52 | 33 | 31 | 107 | 74 | 86 | 66 | 36 | 131 | 39 | 154 | 39 | 114 | 43 | 29 | 28 | 49 | 84 | 84 | 77 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | N 4 | SW 11 | SW 11 | NNE 4 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 6 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 11 | N 5 | S 10 | S 10 | NW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 4 | NNE 4 |
34 | 10 | 30 | 30 | 4 | 56 | 154 | 106 | 25 | 125 | 125 | 14 | 38 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 3 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | — | NE 4 | NNE 3 | — | NNE 5 | — | — | NNE 5 | SSE 7 | NNE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | — | — | — | — |
12 | — | 9 | 2 | — | 7 | — | — | 20 | 77 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Guanacaste | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Tamarindo Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Tamarindo provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tamarindo can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tamarindo 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 (Tamarindo) 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 Tamarindo 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.
Tamarindo is 46 km (29 miles) from Nicoya. If you plan a holiday in Guanacaste, look for hotels and other accommodation in Nicoya. Nicoya has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











