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Tamarindo surf forecast
Playa Tamarindo is a west-facing beach break in Costa Rica that works for every level, in water that stays warm all year. It sits beside the Tamarindo River estuary, next to the marine park that covers Tamarindo Bay.
Tamarindo surf report, hour by hour
The table shows swell, wind and tide for Playa Tamarindo through each day. This beach takes swell from the south round to the north-west, and an east wind blows offshore here.
Updated 01:58next run 06:40Open-Meteo wave and wind models
Today 3 Nov
Skip: average, overhead, glassy.
Tide and daylight
- Low
- 02:33
- High
- 08:44
- Low
- 15:01
- High
- 21:26
- Sunrise
- 05:34
- Sunset
- 17:18
Every hour, 05–21
Tomorrow 4 Nov
Skip: average, overhead, offshore ESE.
Tide and daylight
- Low
- 03:48
- High
- 09:58
- Low
- 16:11
- High
- 22:36
- Sunrise
- 05:34
- Sunset
- 17:18
Every hour, 05–21
Thursday 5 Nov
Too big and heavy for this spot, stay out.
Tide and daylight
- Low
- 04:57
- High
- 11:06
- Low
- 17:10
- High
- 23:32
- Sunrise
- 05:35
- Sunset
- 17:18
Every 3 hours
Friday 6 Nov
Too big and heavy for this spot, stay out.
Tide and daylight
- Low
- 05:53
- High
- 12:05
- Low
- 18:02
- Sunrise
- 05:35
- Sunset
- 17:18
Every 3 hours
Forecast point: Tamarindo (10.299, -85.843). Waves = estimated breaking height at the beach. Data: Open-Meteo wave and weather models (CC BY 4.0). Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information. Surf at your own risk.
Watch the wind first. An east wind is offshore at Playa Tamarindo, so look for hours when it comes from that side. Many surfers aim for the early morning, before the onshore breeze picks up later in the day.
Surfing in Tamarindo
Tamarindo is the biggest developed beach town in Guanacaste, and it grew from a fishing village into a surf and tourism hub. The 1994 film The Endless Summer II opened with scenes shot here, which is often credited with starting the boom. The beach is long and sandy, and the area has waves for beginners through to advanced surfers.
Playa Tamarindo
Beach breakAll levelsThe main beach has a sandy bottom and gentle, rolling waves, and it is one of the best places in Costa Rica to learn to surf. It works on most tides, and our own setup rates mid tide as the best.
The beach is known for surf camps that cater to both new and experienced surfers. Expect company in the water, because this break is often crowded. Sources: iguanasurf.net · webcamtaxi.com
Tamarindo River estuary
River mouthWildlifeThe river mouth next to town is a popular place to surf, even though caimans live in it. The estuary is also home to the American crocodile, and our setup lists crocodiles near the estuary as a hazard.
The river forms the natural border between Tamarindo and Playa Grande. The Tamarindo estuary is protected as part of Las Baulas Marine National Park. Sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
Playa Grande
North of the riverTurtle beachPlaya Grande lies just north of Tamarindo, on the far side of the estuary. It is typically reached by water taxi across the estuary, or by a 17 km drive through Villareal.
Leatherback turtles often come ashore here to nest between October and May. Sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
Playa Langosta
South of townMarine parkPlaya Langosta is reached by taking the right-hand road at the three-way junction just east of the town centre. It is one of the four beaches inside Las Baulas Marine National Park. Sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
What Tamarindo needs to fire
These are the exact rules behind Kiwi's rating for this spot. Every hour of the forecast is scored on all four, then turned into a rating of 1 to 5 stars.
Swell
South to north-west swells
Playa Tamarindo faces west and is open to swell from the south round to the north-west.
Wind
East wind is offshore
Wind from the east blows offshore and tidies the faces. The beach faces west, so winds from that side blow onshore.
Tide
Mid tide works best
Our setup rates mid tide as the sweet spot for this beach.
Size
Best at 1–1.8 metres
Waves of 1 to 1.8 m are ideal, and below 0.5 m there is usually too little to ride. Above about 2.5 m it gets too big for this beach.
Shortcut: a 1–1.8 m swell from the south or west, an east wind and mid tide is the classic Playa Tamarindo setup.
The best months to surf Tamarindo
We replayed Kiwi's rating on every day of the last year and counted how often Tamarindo's best window reached 4 or 5 stars.
Nov–FebThe most reliable run
About a third of days are good from November to February, and January has the most very good days, at 19%. December starts the dry season, which lasts until April.
Mar–AprDry but quieter
Good days drop to about one in five in March and April. These are still dry-season months.
MayThe single best month
May has the highest share of good days all year, at 45%. It is also when the wet season usually begins.
Jun–OctWet, with fewer good days
Good days are scarce from June to October, at 6 to 12%, apart from September, which reaches 23%. This is the heart of the wet season.
Before you go
Hazards
Rip currents run along this beach, so learn to spot them before you paddle out.
Crocodiles live near the estuary, and caimans live in the river itself. Think twice before surfing the river mouth. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Water quality
The beach lost its Blue Flag in 2004 and again in 2007 because of pollution. After years of work, it reportedly won the flag back in 2018. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Getting there
Liberia International Airport is the closest international airport, about an hour away. Tamarindo also has its own airstrip.
A paved highway links the town to San José, and the drive takes 3.5 to 6 hours depending on traffic. There is also a daily scheduled bus to and from San José. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Crowds
Playa Tamarindo is often crowded, and the beach is known for its surf camps. Sources: webcamtaxi.com
Water temperature and wetsuit
The sea stays between about 27°C and 31°C all year, warmest from May to October and slightly cooler from November to February. Boardshorts are enough in water this warm. Sources: iguanasurf.net
Best time of day
Early mornings tend to be cleanest, with offshore wind before the onshore breeze sets in. Many surfers like a mid-to-high rising tide at that hour. Sources: iguanasurf.net
Surf cams and tides
Iguana Surf streams a live cam of Tamarindo Beach from its shop, right across from the main break. Witch's Rock Surf Camp also runs a live cam along the beach.
There are two high and two low tides a day, with a range of roughly 2.5 m. Check the tide times before you go. Sources: iguanasurf.net · witchsrocksurfcamp.com · webcamtaxi.com
Boat trips
Local operators run surf days by boat to Roca Bruja (Witch's Rock) with guides who know the area. Sources: wavepointcr.com
Where the numbers come from
The method
Kiwi takes Open-Meteo's wave and wind models (ECMWF WAM, Météo-France, NOAA GFS and Open-Meteo's best-match blend) at a point about 5 km off Tamarindo. There is no buoy correction here yet: these are the models as they come.
Each hour is scored on the four rules above (swell, wind, tide, size). The stars are calibrated on a full year of data for Costa Rica, so 4 stars at Tamarindo is a genuinely good day by that country's standard.
What we can say
The season chart and the stars use the same rules, replayed on the archive: a month marked good was good by these rules, not by a surf report.
Without a buoy nearby, the size at the beach is our model's estimate, not a measurement.
Tamarindo surf questions
Is Tamarindo good for beginners?
Yes. The main beach has a sandy bottom and gentle waves, and it is one of the best places in Costa Rica to learn. Watch out for rips and crowds while you learn.
When is the best time to surf Tamarindo?
May has the most good days, at 45%, and November to February is the most steady stretch, with about a third of days good. June to October has the fewest good days, apart from September.
How cold is the water in Tamarindo in December?
It is not cold at all: the sea averages about 28.6°C in December. Boardshorts are enough in water this warm.
Is there a Tamarindo surf cam?
Yes. Iguana Surf streams the beach from its shop across from the main break, and Witch's Rock Surf Camp runs a second live cam.
Are there crocodiles in Tamarindo?
American crocodiles live in the Tamarindo River estuary next to town, and caimans live in the river. Our setup flags crocodiles near the estuary as a hazard.
What tide is best for surfing Tamarindo?
Our setup rates mid tide as the best. The beach works on most tides, and many surfers favour a mid-to-high rising tide in the early morning.
Check Tamarindo before you paddle out
Open the hourly forecast for Playa Tamarindo to see swell size, wind direction and tide side by side, then plan your session around an east wind and mid tide.