
Surf Forecasts:
Tivives surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period, SSW swell with 229 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tivives this week:
The surf forecast for Tivives over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tivives in the next 16 days are 0.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (CST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tivives over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break it down.
We’ve got a pretty quiet stretch ahead, overall. The swell is small and inconsistent, but there are a few windows where the stars line up for a clean, glassy session. The first real standout comes early on Saturday the 12th at Tivives. It’s an inconsistent spot (Costa Rica), but when it works, it’s a fun little wave. Saturday morning will see a tiny 2ft SSW swell with a long 14-second period – that groundswell energy will help it shape up nicely. The wind will be dead-glass from the northwest, so expect a silky smooth surface. The combined energy sits at 180, which is moderate. It’s not big, but for the intermediates out there, this is a clean, playful morning. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Sunday the 13th morning is a similar story – another glassy morning with a touch more size at 2ft from the S, period at 9 seconds. Combined energy is 164, again moderate. Not a massive step up, but the clean conditions will make it feel better than it reads. Crowds can be a thing here at times, so if you want it to yourself, go early both days.
Then we hit a bit of a lull. Monday and Tuesday are mostly poor with cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions. The swell drops to 1ft. Wednesday the 16th morning is where it gets interesting again. We see a 2ft SSW swell with a 16-second period and a combined energy of 311 – that’s moderate but on the higher side for this stretch. And the wind? Dead calm, glassy as a mirror. This is the best session of the bunch. The long period means it’s going to be lined up and pushy for the size, perfect for a point or reef, but here at the beach break it might run a little straight. Still, for the intermediate crew, this is a cracker.
Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th mornings are back to glassy but with smaller swells around 1ft-2ft and long periods. The energy is moderate, but surfable. The real magic happens again on Sunday the 20th morning. Another 2ft SSW swell, this time with a 19-second period – that’s a very long-period groundswell. Combined energy hits 315, the highest we see. Wind is glassy from the west. This is a real standout, but keep in mind: that super-long period loves points and reefs more than a beach break like Tivives. It will peel, but expect big gaps between sets. Paddling out will be easy though.
After that, the second week trails off quickly. From Monday the 21st onwards, it’s a mix of glassy mornings and afternoons ruined by thunderstorm risks and onshore winds. Swell stays tiny (1ft-2ft), periods drop into the teens, and the energy fades from moderate to weak (82 by Friday the 25th). A few surfable moments (like the 26th morning with a 1ft SSW, 13-second swell and glass), but nothing to get excited about. The run from the 21st to the 27th is mostly ordinary.
Best advice: hit Wednesday the 16th morning or Sunday the 20th morning for the cleanest, most energetic small-wave fun. Go early, before the afternoon storms roll in.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Sat morning, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 21 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
140 | 138 | 138 | 73 | 78 | 76 | 146 | 92 | 78 | 123 | 121 | 202 | 229 | 226 | 217 | 121 | 138 | 116 | 116 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:26AM2.99m | 3:46PM2.85m | 4:06AM3.02m | 4:27PM2.82m | 4:44AM2.97m | 5:06PM2.73m | 5:22AM2.87m | 5:45PM2.60m | 5:59AM2.72m | 6:24PM2.44m | 6:39AM2.54m | 7:06PM2.26m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:11PM0.12m | 9:38AM0.12m | 9:52PM0.12m | 10:20AM0.10m | 10:32PM0.16m | 10:59AM0.14m | 11:10PM0.26m | 11:38AM0.24m | 11:48PM0.40m | 12:18PM0.37m | 00:27AM0.55m | 12:59PM0.53m | 1:08AM0.72m | ||||||
— | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | 4 | — | 1 | 10 | 1 | — | 6 | — | — | 6 | 1 | — | 8 | 3 | — | 2 | 4 |
Temp °C | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 34 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 8 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 |
140 | 138 | 48 | 56 | 78 | 76 | 71 | 71 | 69 | 84 | 82 | 88 | 96 | 71 | 217 | 121 | 60 | 55 | 50 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
37 | 26 | 138 | 73 | 68 | 68 | 146 | 30 | 78 | 123 | 121 | 202 | 229 | 226 | 50 | 47 | 138 | 116 | 113 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 21 | SSW 20 | SW 13 | SW 19 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 14 | S 13 | S 26 | SSW 12 | SW 24 | S 10 | SSW 22 | SSW 22 | SW 21 |
8 | 16 | 31 | 12 | 18 | 37 | 43 | 92 | 29 | 14 | 33 | 3 | 13 | 14 | 22 | 18 | 49 | 45 | 116 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 96 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 133 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 0 | 0 | 109 | 0 | 0 | 181 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Golfo de Nicoya | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Costa Rica | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Tivives Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Tivives provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tivives can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tivives 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 (Tivives) 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 Tivives 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.
Tivives is 15 km (9 miles) from Esparza. If you plan a holiday in Golfo de Nicoya, look for hotels and other accommodation in Esparza. Esparza has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










