Tamarindo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks in our neck of the woods. We've got a slow start, but there's some real promise on the horizon, especially for those who can wait it out.

The immediate outlook is a bit of a sleepy one. We're looking at clean, small waves, but nothing that's going to get the heart racing just yet. The surf is there, but it's more about getting a wet suit on and enjoying being in the water than chasing anything epic.

First up, Tamarindo is where it's at for this whole stretch. The early part of the week, starting Monday the 17th of August, we've got a consistent 4 ft swell from the SW. It's a proper long-period groundswell at 14 seconds, which means good shape and energy, though those longer gaps between sets will give you time to paddle out. The combined energy is sitting at a solid 428 (moderate), and with a light cross-off breeze from the NE, it's going to be clean. This is all great for the beginners this spot is known for, but it's not a standout.

Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th keep the same vibe: 4 ft dropping to 3 ft of SW groundswell, but the wind turns offshore on Tuesday afternoon and stays that way through Wednesday morning with that ENE breeze. That’s a major positive, giving us some of the cleanest conditions of the early period. The energy stays moderate, hovering around 361 to 432.

By Thursday the 20th, the swell drops off to 2 ft and the energy takes a noticeable dip to just 187 (weak). The morning is clean with an offshore wind, but the afternoon gets chopped up by a cross-on SW breeze. Friday and Saturday are real small fry – waves dropping to 1 ft and 2 ft. The energy is weak, barely scratching 163. Honestly, the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd is a write-off for any decent waves, despite a few clean windows.

Now, Sunday the 23rd afternoon things start to get interesting. The swell is still small at 2 ft, but the period jumps to a very long 18 seconds and the energy climbs back up to 350. With a gentle offshore wind from the E, it’s clean. This pattern holds through Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th with moderate offshore winds, but the size is still just knee-to-waist high.

The standout window is the end of the month. We’re looking at Saturday the 29th of August and Sunday the 30th. This is the real deal. Saturday morning, the swell jumps to a solid 4 ft from the SW, with a long 17-second period. The combined energy explodes to 1017 (very strong). That’s real power. With a slight offshore breeze from the E, it’s going to be clean and punchy. This is the one to circle. It's a bit much for beginners at that size, but for anyone comfortable in the water, it's excellent. Sunday the 30th is almost as good, holding 5 ft of SW swell with 1065 (very strong) energy and a cross-off breeze keeping things clean. Monday the 1st of September sees the size back off a little to 4 ft, but with glassy conditions in the morning. That’s a dream session.

If you can wait, the morning of Saturday the 29th of August is the best on offer. The water temp is average for this time of year, nothing unusual to report.

Rusty.

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