Tamarindo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. We’re looking at Tamarindo for the next couple of weeks, and it’s a slow burner. The first few days are small, but the consistency is there. The standout window is definitely further out, so don’t rush to the water just yet.

The water is sitting about average for the time of year, nothing out of the ordinary. Tamarindo is a river mouth break, exposed to the swell and it handles a good range of conditions. The optimum swell direction is from the west-northwest, but we’re seeing a lot of southwest and south-southwest swells coming through, so the direction isn’t perfect, but it’s still working.

The first real action starts Saturday morning, August 1, with a 3 ft swell from the southwest, 13-second period and a moderate breeze from the east-northeast keeping it offshore and clean. The combined energy is moderate (265). It’s a beginner-friendly size, and the wind is solid. Saturday afternoon goes glassy, same 3 ft swell, even better conditions. This is a solid, clean start.

Sunday, August 2, the swell drops to 2 ft, and while the morning is clean, the afternoon gets cross-onshore and choppy. Not worth it. Monday, August 3, bounces back to about 3 ft, morning is clean with a cross-offshore breeze, but storm risk spoils the afternoon. Tuesday, August 4, is similar – clean morning, then afternoon gets messy.

Wednesday, August 5, through Thursday, August 6, are small and ordinary. The best of the first week is definitely the Saturday and the clean mornings of Monday and Tuesday, but nothing is firing.

Then we hit Friday, August 7. The morning has a 2 ft swell, but the period jumps to 18 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell. The combined energy shoots up to 466 (moderate), and the wind is offshore from the east-northeast. This is the first real standout. This long-period swell will be better at the river mouth, and the clean conditions make it a legit window. The afternoon stays glassy with a 2 ft, 17-second swell. This is the best of the first week.

Saturday, August 8, sees the swell bump to 3 ft in the morning, but the wind is a moderate breeze, creating a cross-offshore. The afternoon is where it’s at: 4 ft, 15-second swell from the southwest, offshore wind from the east, and combined energy at 570 (moderate). This is a very good window for a wide range of surfers, though beginners might find the 4 ft a bit punchy.

Sunday, August 9, is a step down, with a 3 ft swell but strong morning winds make it poor. The afternoon is better, still 3 ft but offshore from the east. The next week, from Monday, August 10, through Friday, August 14, is a mix of small, clean mornings and stormy afternoons. The swell stays around 2 ft to 3 ft, with periods varying from 13 to 19 seconds. The Friday afternoon, August 14, stands out with a 2 ft, 19-second swell and offshore wind – very clean but small.

The real standout of the whole run is Saturday, August 15. The morning has a 4 ft swell from the southwest, 17-second period, and combined energy hits 831 (strong). The wind is cross-offshore from the east-northeast, so it’s clean. The afternoon is even better: 4 ft swell, 16-second period, offshore wind from the east, and combined energy at 745 (strong). This is the best of the entire forecast. The size is solid for intermediate and advanced surfers, and the long period will push through nicely. This is the one to circle on the calendar. Sunday, August 16, is still good in the morning with 4 ft and 15-second swell, but the energy is a bit lower.

So, if you’re waiting, the best bets are the Saturday, August 1, for a clean start, Friday, August 7, for the long-period groundswell, and the big one, Saturday, August 15, for the best size and power. The long-range stuff is promising but less certain, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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