Playa Escondida

Best Surf Season (December - April)

Playa Escondida is a west-facing pocket on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, and its surf is driven by the seasonal migration of the ITCZ and the strength of the South Pacific storm track. The cleanest and most consistent window runs from December through April, when the dry season keeps rainfall low and winds light. Average swell heights sit near 3-4ft (0.9-1.2m), periods climb from 12.3s to 14.0s, and the clean-wind percentage peaks at 43-46%. The data shows an almost complete absence of pure NW-W-WNW swell; instead, long-period SSW/SW groundswell dominates year-round. It is not the ideal swell angle for a west-facing beach, but the long periods and mostly light winds make it very rideable.