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Costa Rica surf · 2026-10-09

Carmen surf forecast

Today, tomorrow and a seven-day outlook for Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula. Compare offshore swell and wind, find your beach, and see where the forecast is uncertain.

A surfer riding a wave on the Santa Teresa coast

The beach by the Santa Teresa and Mal País crossroads, mapped as Playa del Carmen. Surf schools use this sandy stretch when conditions suit their students.

Modeled forecast. Report assembled Costa Rica time. Model download and run times are listed below. Current sample: .

Offshore swell

1.3 m / 4.2 ft

14 s · from SW

Coastal wind

7 kt

cross-shore · from E

Offshore water

29.7°C

Modeled sea surface temperature

Local tides

Unverified

Check MIO-CIMAR and local guidance

Seven-day surf outlook

All dates and times use Costa Rica time (UTC-6). Heights describe offshore waves. Actual breaking waves depend on the beach and sandbanks.

Today: Friday, Oct 91.5-1.6 m offshore

Friday, Oct 9 hourly forecast

15:00-17:00 · Lighter-wind daylight window. Thunderstorms are not assessed. Check the beach and local tides before deciding.

Sunrise 05:28 · Sunset 17:26. Hourly samples shown; some source data is interpolated.

Values between native model samples are interpolated. Gust screening checks both ends of each window. Surface gusts and 10 m wind are separate model fields.

Carmen, Friday, Oct 9. Wave and swell heights in meters and feet, wind in knots.
TimeOffshore wavesPrimary swellWind fromSurface gustSecond wave model
1.6 m / 5.2 ft14 s · SSW1.3 m / 4.2 ft14 s · SW7 kt Ecross-shore7 kt1.4 m / 4.4 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft14 s · SSW1.3 m / 4.2 ft14 s · SW7 kt ESEcross-shore7 kt1.4 m / 4.5 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft15 s · SSW1.3 m / 4.2 ft14 s · SW8 kt ESEcross-shore7 kt1.4 m / 4.5 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft15 s · SSW1.3 m / 4.3 ft14 s · SW8 kt SEcross-shore7 kt1.4 m / 4.6 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft15 s · SSW1.3 m / 4.3 ft13 s · SW7 kt SEcross-shore7 kt1.4 m / 4.6 ft
1.6 m / 5.1 ft15 s · SSW1.4 m / 4.5 ft13 s · SW6 kt SEcross-shore6 kt1.4 m / 4.6 ft
1.6 m / 5.1 ft15 s · SW1.4 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW6 kt SSEcross-shore6 kt1.4 m / 4.6 ft
1.6 m / 5.1 ft15 s · SW1.5 m / 5.0 ft12 s · SW6 kt SSEcross-shore6 kt1.4 m / 4.6 ft
1.6 m / 5.1 ft15 s · SW1.4 m / 4.6 ft12 s · SW5 kt SSEcross-shore5 kt1.4 m / 4.6 ft
1.5 m / 5.1 ft14 s · SW1.3 m / 4.3 ft13 s · SW5 kt SSEcross-shore5 kt1.4 m / 4.5 ft
1.5 m / 5.1 ft14 s · SSW1.2 m / 4.0 ft13 s · SW5 kt SSEcross-shore5 kt1.4 m / 4.5 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft14 s · SW1.2 m / 4.0 ft13 s · SW4 kt SSEcross-shore4 kt1.4 m / 4.4 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft14 s · SW1.2 m / 4.0 ft13 s · SW5 kt SEcross-shore5 kt1.4 m / 4.4 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft14 s · SW1.2 m / 4.0 ft13 s · SW5 kt SEcross-shore5 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft14 s · SW1.2 m / 4.0 ft13 s · SW5 kt SEcross-shore5 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft14 s · SW1.2 m / 4.0 ft13 s · SW5 kt SEcross-shore6 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
Tomorrow: Saturday, Oct 101.5-1.6 m offshore

Saturday, Oct 10 hourly forecast

06:00-08:00 · Lighter-wind daylight window. Thunderstorms are not assessed. Check the beach and local tides before deciding.

Sunrise 05:28 · Sunset 17:25. Hourly samples shown; some source data is interpolated.

Values between native model samples are interpolated. Gust screening checks both ends of each window. Surface gusts and 10 m wind are separate model fields.

Carmen, Saturday, Oct 10. Wave and swell heights in meters and feet, wind in knots.
TimeOffshore wavesPrimary swellWind fromSurface gustSecond wave model
1.5 m / 5.0 ft14 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft13 s · SW4 kt SEcross-shore5 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft14 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft13 s · SW4 kt SEcross-shore4 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.5 m / 5.1 ft14 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft13 s · SW4 kt ESEcross-shore4 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.5 m / 5.1 ft14 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft13 s · SW4 kt ESEcross-shore4 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.6 m / 5.1 ft14 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft13 s · SW4 kt ESEcross-shore4 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.6 m / 5.1 ft14 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft13 s · SW4 kt ESEcross-shore4 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.6 m / 5.1 ft14 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft13 s · SW5 kt ESEcross-shore5 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.6 m / 5.1 ft14 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft13 s · SW4 kt ESEcross-shore5 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.6 m / 5.1 ft14 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW6 kt ESEcross-shore6 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft14 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW5 kt ESEcross-shore6 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft14 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW6 kt SEcross-shore6 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft14 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW5 kt ESEcross-shore5 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft14 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW5 kt SEcross-shore6 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft14 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW5 kt SEcross-shore5 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft13 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW5 kt SSEcross-shore5 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft13 s · SSW1.2 m / 4.0 ft12 s · SW6 kt Sonshore6 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft13 s · SSW1.2 m / 4.0 ft12 s · SW5 kt Sonshore5 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft13 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW4 kt SSWonshore4 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft13 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW3 kt SSElight3 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft13 s · SSW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW3 kt SSWlight3 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft13 s · SSW1.2 m / 4.0 ft12 s · SW2 kt SElight2 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.6 m / 5.2 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 4.0 ft12 s · SW2 kt SElight2 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.6 m / 5.1 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 4.0 ft12 s · SW3 kt SElight3 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.5 m / 5.1 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW3 kt SEcross-shore3 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
Sunday, Oct 111.4-1.5 m offshore

Sunday, Oct 11 hourly forecast

06:00-08:00 · Lighter-wind daylight window. Thunderstorms are not assessed. Check the beach and local tides before deciding.

Sunrise 05:28 · Sunset 17:25. Hourly samples shown; some source data is interpolated.

Values between native model samples are interpolated. Gust screening checks both ends of each window. Surface gusts and 10 m wind are separate model fields.

Carmen, Sunday, Oct 11. Wave and swell heights in meters and feet, wind in knots.
TimeOffshore wavesPrimary swellWind fromSurface gustSecond wave model
1.5 m / 5.1 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW4 kt ESEcross-shore5 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW5 kt Ecross-shore5 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft11 s · SW5 kt Ecross-shore5 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft11 s · SW7 kt Ecross-shore7 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.5 m / 4.9 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft11 s · SW8 kt Ecross-shore8 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.5 m / 4.9 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft11 s · SW7 kt Eoffshore6 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.5 m / 4.9 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft11 s · SW6 kt Eoffshore6 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.5 m / 4.9 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.8 ft11 s · SW7 kt Eoffshore6 kt1.3 m / 4.1 ft
1.5 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.8 ft11 s · SW7 kt Ecross-shore7 kt1.3 m / 4.1 ft
1.5 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.8 ft11 s · SW7 kt ESEcross-shore8 kt1.3 m / 4.1 ft
1.5 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.8 ft11 s · SW7 kt ESEcross-shore7 kt1.3 m / 4.1 ft
1.5 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.8 ft11 s · SW7 kt ESEcross-shore6 kt1.3 m / 4.1 ft
1.5 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.8 ft12 s · SW6 kt SEcross-shore6 kt1.3 m / 4.1 ft
1.5 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.8 ft12 s · SW6 kt SEcross-shore6 kt1.3 m / 4.1 ft
1.5 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW6 kt SSEcross-shore6 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.5 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW6 kt Scross-shore6 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.5 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 3.8 ft11 s · SW7 kt SSWonshore7 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.4 m / 4.7 ft13 s · SW1.1 m / 3.7 ft11 s · SW6 kt SSWonshore6 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.4 m / 4.7 ft13 s · SW1.1 m / 3.5 ft10 s · SW5 kt SSWonshore5 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.4 m / 4.7 ft13 s · SW1.1 m / 3.5 ft10 s · SW4 kt SSWonshore4 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.4 m / 4.7 ft13 s · SW1.0 m / 3.4 ft10 s · SW2 kt SElight2 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.4 m / 4.7 ft13 s · SW1.0 m / 3.4 ft10 s · WSW5 kt ENEoffshore5 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.4 m / 4.7 ft13 s · SW1.0 m / 3.3 ft10 s · WSW7 kt ENEoffshore5 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.4 m / 4.7 ft13 s · SW1.0 m / 3.2 ft10 s · SW8 kt ENEoffshore7 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
Monday, Oct 121.4-1.5 m offshore

Monday, Oct 12 hourly forecast

Longer-range outlook: use the trend and check again nearer the day. Precise surf windows are withheld.

Sunrise 05:28 · Sunset 17:24. Three-hour samples shown.

Values between native model samples are interpolated. Gust screening checks both ends of each window. Surface gusts and 10 m wind are separate model fields.

Carmen, Monday, Oct 12. Wave and swell heights in meters and feet, wind in knots.
TimeOffshore wavesPrimary swellWind fromSurface gustSecond wave model
1.4 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW0.9 m / 3.1 ft9 s · SW5 kt NEoffshore5 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.4 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 4.0 ft12 s · SW3 kt NNWlight3 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.4 m / 4.8 ft14 s · SW1.2 m / 4.1 ft12 s · SW4 kt NNWcross-shore4 kt1.4 m / 4.5 ft
1.4 m / 4.8 ft14 s · SW1.2 m / 4.1 ft13 s · SW5 kt WNWcross-shore5 kt1.4 m / 4.5 ft
1.5 m / 4.8 ft14 s · SW1.3 m / 4.2 ft13 s · SW3 kt Wcross-shore3 kt1.4 m / 4.5 ft
1.5 m / 4.9 ft14 s · SW1.3 m / 4.1 ft13 s · SW6 kt Wonshore6 kt1.4 m / 4.5 ft
1.5 m / 4.9 ft14 s · SW1.3 m / 4.2 ft13 s · SW7 kt WNWcross-shore7 kt1.4 m / 4.6 ft
1.5 m / 4.9 ft14 s · SW1.3 m / 4.3 ft13 s · SW5 kt Wcross-shore5 kt1.4 m / 4.7 ft
Tuesday, Oct 131.5-1.5 m offshore

Tuesday, Oct 13 hourly forecast

Longer-range outlook: use the trend and check again nearer the day. Precise surf windows are withheld.

Sunrise 05:28 · Sunset 17:24. Three-hour samples shown.

Values between native model samples are interpolated. Gust screening checks both ends of each window. Surface gusts and 10 m wind are separate model fields.

Carmen, Tuesday, Oct 13. Wave and swell heights in meters and feet, wind in knots.
TimeOffshore wavesPrimary swellWind fromSurface gustSecond wave model
1.5 m / 4.9 ft14 s · SW1.3 m / 4.3 ft13 s · SW7 kt WNWcross-shore8 kt1.4 m / 4.7 ft
1.5 m / 4.9 ft13 s · SW1.3 m / 4.4 ft13 s · SW4 kt SWonshore4 kt1.4 m / 4.8 ft
1.5 m / 4.9 ft13 s · SW1.5 m / 4.9 ft11 s · SW1 kt ESElight2 kt1.4 m / 4.8 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft13 s · SW1.5 m / 5.0 ft11 s · SW6 kt Ecross-shore5 kt1.5 m / 4.8 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft13 s · SW1.5 m / 5.0 ft11 s · SW3 kt SEcross-shore3 kt1.5 m / 4.8 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft13 s · SW1.5 m / 5.0 ft11 s · SW3 kt SWlight3 kt1.5 m / 4.8 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft13 s · SW1.5 m / 5.0 ft11 s · SW3 kt Wlight4 kt1.5 m / 4.8 ft
1.5 m / 5.0 ft13 s · SW1.5 m / 5.0 ft11 s · SW1 kt WNWlight1 kt1.5 m / 4.8 ft
Wednesday, Oct 141.3-1.5 m offshore

Wednesday, Oct 14 hourly forecast

Longer-range outlook: use the trend and check again nearer the day. Precise surf windows are withheld.

Sunrise 05:28 · Sunset 17:23. Three-hour samples shown.

Values between native model samples are interpolated. Gust screening checks both ends of each window. Surface gusts and 10 m wind are separate model fields.

Carmen, Wednesday, Oct 14. Wave and swell heights in meters and feet, wind in knots.
TimeOffshore wavesPrimary swellWind fromSurface gustSecond wave model
1.5 m / 5.0 ft13 s · SW1.5 m / 5.0 ft11 s · SW3 kt Noffshore3 kt1.5 m / 4.8 ft
1.5 m / 4.9 ft13 s · SW1.3 m / 4.2 ft12 s · SW2 kt NNElight2 kt1.5 m / 4.8 ft
1.5 m / 4.8 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 4.1 ft11 s · SW4 kt NEoffshore3 kt1.5 m / 4.8 ft
1.4 m / 4.7 ft13 s · SW1.2 m / 4.0 ft11 s · SW3 kt Elight2 kt1.5 m / 4.8 ft
1.4 m / 4.6 ft13 s · SW1.3 m / 4.3 ft11 s · SW4 kt SEcross-shore4 kt1.4 m / 4.7 ft
1.4 m / 4.5 ft12 s · SW1.3 m / 4.2 ft11 s · SW5 kt Scross-shore4 kt1.4 m / 4.6 ft
1.4 m / 4.5 ft12 s · SW1.2 m / 3.9 ft12 s · SW5 kt SEcross-shore4 kt1.4 m / 4.5 ft
1.3 m / 4.4 ft12 s · SW1.1 m / 3.7 ft12 s · SW4 kt ESEcross-shore5 kt1.4 m / 4.4 ft
Thursday, Oct 151.2-1.3 m offshore

Thursday, Oct 15 hourly forecast

Longer-range outlook: use the trend and check again nearer the day. Precise surf windows are withheld.

Sunrise 05:29 · Sunset 17:23. Three-hour samples shown.

Values between native model samples are interpolated. Gust screening checks both ends of each window. Surface gusts and 10 m wind are separate model fields.

Carmen, Thursday, Oct 15. Wave and swell heights in meters and feet, wind in knots.
TimeOffshore wavesPrimary swellWind fromSurface gustSecond wave model
1.3 m / 4.3 ft12 s · SW1.1 m / 3.6 ft12 s · SW5 kt ESEcross-shore5 kt1.3 m / 4.4 ft
1.3 m / 4.3 ft12 s · SW1.1 m / 3.6 ft12 s · SW6 kt Eoffshore6 kt1.3 m / 4.3 ft
1.3 m / 4.2 ft12 s · SW1.1 m / 3.6 ft11 s · SW6 kt ENEoffshore6 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.3 m / 4.2 ft12 s · SW1.1 m / 3.5 ft11 s · SW2 kt ENElight2 kt1.3 m / 4.2 ft
1.2 m / 4.1 ft13 s · SW1.0 m / 3.4 ft11 s · SW4 kt WSWonshore4 kt1.3 m / 4.1 ft
1.2 m / 4.1 ft13 s · SW1.0 m / 3.3 ft11 s · SW6 kt WSWonshore6 kt1.2 m / 4.0 ft
1.2 m / 4.1 ft13 s · SW1.0 m / 3.2 ft11 s · SW5 kt Scross-shore5 kt1.2 m / 3.9 ft
1.2 m / 4.0 ft13 s · SW0.9 m / 3.1 ft11 s · SW5 kt SEcross-shore6 kt1.2 m / 3.9 ft

Find the beach

Markers locate named beach areas from OpenStreetMap beach polygons, checked October 9, 2026. Exact surf peaks, parking and water-entry points have not been field-verified.

Beach geography © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. View the source for Playa Carmen.

Choose a coastal forecast

Playa Santa Teresa

An open Pacific beach with shifting sandbanks. La Lora and Suck Rock are named surf references along this stretch; the marker locates the beach area.

Mapped beach source

Playa Carmen

The beach by the Santa Teresa and Mal País crossroads, mapped as Playa del Carmen. Surf schools use this sandy stretch when conditions suit their students.

Mapped beach source

Playa Hermosa

The sandy beach north of Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula. This is Playa Hermosa near Santa Teresa, not the beach of the same name near Jacó.

Mapped beach source

Mal País

A rocky coastline south of Playa Carmen with reef and point setups. The marker represents Playa Malpaís, not the exact location of Mar Azul, Sunset Reef or Punta Barrigona.

Mapped beach source

Montezuma

An east-facing coast across the peninsula from Santa Teresa. This open-water outlook uses the Montezuma side of the peninsula and does not reuse Santa Teresa's west-coast forecast.

Mapped beach source

Cabuya

The beach near Cabuya village on the eastern side of the peninsula. Offshore conditions here are an ocean outlook, not a prediction for a particular reef or island crossing.

Mapped beach source

Sources and forecast limits

The free baseline uses NOAA GFS-Wave and GFS for offshore waves, swell, wind and gusts. When connected, Copernicus Marine MFWAM provides the finer wave model, with NOAA shown as a comparison and Copernicus ocean temperature separately. The source records below identify which models actually supplied this report. Attribution: NOAA/NCEP and, when present, EU Copernicus Marine Service and Météo-France.

Significant wave height is the modeled average height of the highest third of waves in open water. It is not the height of a breaking surf wave. Individual waves can be larger. NOAA waves use an approximately 16 km grid and wind approximately 27 km; the optional Copernicus grids are approximately 8 km. They cannot resolve individual reefs, shifting sandbanks or every sheltered cove. Nearby beaches can share a model cell. Period definitions differ by model and wave partition.

The lighter-wind suggestion compares consecutive two-hour daylight periods in the next three days. It prefers light or offshore wind and withholds suggestions for missing wave or wind inputs, stronger wind or gusts, stale data, or substantial disagreement when two wave models are available. NOAA does not supply a thunderstorm assessment here; missing storm and comparison information is stated beside each suggestion. Offshore directions use approximate mapped coastal orientation. This is an editorial wind filter, not a calibrated surf-quality score or safety recommendation.

Collection is checked every 30 minutes. A new NOAA cycle downloads gradually within the provider's request limits, while the previous forecast remains available. NOAA model cycles are cached and reused; assembling a report does not mean a new model run. A report older than 90 minutes is marked delayed and receives no window suggestions. After six hours it is withheld. NOAA provides native hourly samples through forecast hour 120 and three-hour samples later. Values between model samples are interpolated, with conservative gust interpolation. Initialization times are shown only when the provider explicitly supplies them.

Tides: verified local tide predictions are not connected. We have removed inferred tide phases and exact high/low times from these reports. Consult UCR's MIO-CIMAR tide predictions and confirm the appropriate station and local differences. Tide times from another port cannot be treated as exact Santa Teresa tides.

No beach observations, calibrated breaking-wave model, rip-current detection or live lifeguard report are connected. Check conditions at the beach, local warnings and your own ability. Read the surf safety guide.

Source records for this beach area
ModelActual grid centerDownloaded, Costa Rica timeModel run, Costa Rica time
Copernicus Marine MFWAM, approximately 8 km9.5833, -85.1667Oct 9, 2026, 08:00Unavailable
NOAA GFS-Wave, approximately 16 km9.5000, -85.1666Oct 9, 2026, 07:46Oct 9, 2026, 00:00
NOAA GFS wind and gust, approximately 27 km9.5000, -85.2500Oct 9, 2026, 08:00Oct 9, 2026, 00:00
Copernicus Marine surface ocean temperature, approximately 8 km9.5833, -85.2500Oct 9, 2026, 08:00Unavailable