Ollie's Point - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (April - October)

The Pacific basin shifts gears as spring arrives, and Ollie's Point comes alive. The strengthening of the South Pacific storm track sends long-period groundswell radiating northward, while the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) migrates north, positioning Costa Rica under a more favorable fetch. Consistent SSW, SW, and S swells dominate during these months, driving clean, punchy waves onto the SSW-facing beach. Simultaneously, the northeast trade winds (N, NNE, NE) relax into a favorable offshore pattern, grooming the faces with light to moderate strength. Periods routinely push into the 10-14 second range, delivering powerful, rippable lines in the 1-1.5m fun-size to solid 1.5-2.5m range. This is the prime window for epic, long-period pulse mixed with classic Costa Rican offshore bliss.

Fair Surf Season (March & November)

Transition months offer a mixed bag. March sees the first hints of southern hemisphere swell start to filter in, but ENE and NE windswell still hold a strong share, making for inconsistent quality. Winds are improving but remain largely cross-shore from the ENE. November is the tail end of the southern swell window, with SSW and SW swells still present, though shorter in period and mixed with increasing local NE trade windswell. Wind conditions are generally good from the NE, but the swell becomes less consistent. When the right combination aligns, expect fun, groveling waves to solid sets, but don't count on back-to-back days of perfection.

Low Surf Season (December - February)

Northern winter locks in a persistent pattern of strong NE trades and a dominant high-pressure system over the eastern Pacific. The result is a steady diet of short-period, low-quality NE and ENE windswell that barely wraps into the SSW facing beach. Swell heights hover in the 1-1.5m range, but periods are short (8-9 seconds), creating choppy, weak waves. While the trades blow offshore from the NE and ENE, the swell direction is wrong for Ollie's Point, leaving the lineup mostly flat or with weak, closeout sections. The ideal wind percentage is low (24-34%) as strong NE winds often exceed 20-30kph, ruining the texture. Only the rare stray southern hemisphere pulse can salvage a session, but overall, this is the time to travel north or take a break.

January: NE Dominance & Short Periods

January at Ollie's Point is a lesson in trade wind control. Over 76% of the swell comes from the NE and ENE, with heights mostly in the 1-1.5m and 1.5-2m range, but short 8s period makes for average, punchy but inconsistent waves that rarely wrap efficiently into the SSW-facing bay. The small percentage of SSW and SW swell (about 5% combined) is weak, mostly below 1m. Winds are dominated by NE trades (68.6%) with a good chunk of ENE (25.3%), but the ideal wind score is only 24% because light offshore conditions are rare – the trades often blow at 20-30kph, creating bumpy, onshore-textured surf. Expect small, groveling waves on the rare southern pulses, but mostly flat or marginal conditions.