Surf Forecasts:
Tamarindo surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 17s period, SW swell with 1,074 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tamarindo in the next 16 days are 1.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 8s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tamarindo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the surf coming up for Tamarindo.
We’ve got a solid run of SW groundswell on the cards for the next couple of weeks. The water is sitting at a warm 86°, about a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home.
The first few days are a bit of a mixed bag on the wind front. Wednesday the 9th sees a clean 3ft SW groundswell (moderate energy at 674) in the morning with a cross-off breeze, but it’s a bit marginal. The real standout for the opening week is Thursday afternoon, September 10th. The swell pushes up to 4ft (strong energy at 1124) from the SW with a nice 17 second period. The wind is cross-off, making for a clean session. This is the best of the first week, no question. Friday the 11th is also solid with 4ft SW swell and clean conditions in the afternoon.
The weekend sees the swell ease back a touch, dropping to 2ft to 3ft, but the mornings stay clean with light offshore winds. A bit of a tricky afternoon with some onshore breezes creeping in, but the mornings are worth the paddle.
The second week picks up again. The best bet of the whole forecast is Thursday morning, September 24th. It’s glassy, dead calm wind, with a 5ft swell from the WSW. Now, the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s a wind swell, not a groundswell, but glassy conditions on a 5ft wave will have the banks looking fun. It’s a bit of a bonus session after a few days of smaller, cross-off waves.
All in all, Tamarindo is looking pretty consistent. The crowds are often around, so don’t expect to have it to yourself, especially on the standout days. The mornings are your best friend for clean conditions.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 34°C on Wed morning, min 26°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Wed morning, calm by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 32°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 299 | 669 | 871 | 1074 | 823 | 897 | 701 | 623 | 459 | 346 | 341 | 215 | 140 | 138 | 236 | 171 | 246 | 460 | 266 | 587 | 508 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | glassy | off | off | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | off |
High Tide | 1:02PM2.31m | 1:35AM2.37m | 1:55PM2.40m | 2:23AM2.51m | 2:43PM2.46m | 3:07AM2.61m | 3:27PM2.48m | 3:48AM2.64m | 4:09PM2.44m | 4:27AM2.60m | 4:49PM2.37m | 5:06AM2.52m | 5:29PM2.26m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:19PM0.27m | 7:46AM0.30m | 8:08PM0.18m | 8:36AM0.19m | 8:53PM0.12m | 9:21AM0.12m | 9:34PM0.11m | 10:03AM0.10m | 10:14PM0.15m | 10:44AM0.14m | 10:53PM0.23m | 11:23AM0.22m | 11:31PM0.34m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — |
 | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | 7 | 9 | 2 | 26 | 22 |
Temp °C | 34 | 33 | 28 | 32 | 29 | 28 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 25 |
Feels °C | 34 | 35 | 28 | 36 | 31 | 31 | 35 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 35 | 31 | 35 | 33 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | SSW 7 | S 8 | SSW 7 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 299 | 669 | 871 | 1074 | 823 | 897 | 701 | 623 | 459 | 346 | 341 | 215 | 99 | 97 | 86 | 103 | 103 | 121 | 99 | 120 | 508 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | WNW 10 | S 11 | S 10 | N 4 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 10 | S 8 | S 9 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 17 | SSW 7 |
| kJ | 144 | 35 | 37 | 35 | 14 | 67 | 36 | 46 | 53 | 89 | 51 | 74 | 140 | 138 | 134 | 171 | 246 | 460 | 266 | 587 | 84 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | NNE 5 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | S 10 | NW 10 | SSE 10 | N 4 | WNW 10 | NW 10 | SW 18 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 6 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 231 | 7 | 34 | 35 | 49 | 49 | 32 | 9 | 19 | 23 | 80 | 71 | 51 | 68 | 236 | 73 | 72 | 69 | 32 | 109 | 95 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | S 7 | NNE 5 | N 4 | — | NNE 4 | N 4 | — | NNE 4 | — | — | N 4 | NNE 4 | — | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 26 | 16 | 7 | 9 | — | 6 | 9 | — | 6 | — | — | 10 | 4 | — | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 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.
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