Playa Santa Teresa - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (December - February)

This is the sweet spot for Playa Santa Teresa. The North Pacific high-pressure system strengthens, funnelling consistent, dry offshore winds from the N-NNE quadrant across the Nicoya Peninsula. Swell from SSW and SW arrives with long, clean periods averaging 12-13 seconds, producing fun 1.0-1.5m waves with occasional bigger pulses. The result is clean, hollow, and rippable surf — classic Costa Rican dry-season perfection.

Fair Surf Season (March, April, November)

During these transition months, the trade winds begin to weaken or re-establish. March and April still see a solid SSW swell (up to 78% in March), with wave heights climbing slightly to 1.2-1.3m and periods remaining long (13-14s). However, the offshore wind window narrows — especially in April, when ideal conditions drop to 48%. November sees a similar pattern as the rainy season retreats: swell picks back up from SSW and SW, and the offshore flow returns with 51% favourable wind, making for good but less consistent surf.

Low Surf Season (May - October)

The Northern Hemisphere summer brings the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) overhead, shifting winds to a southerly onshore flow. While this is the largest swell season in terms of raw power — average heights reach 1.4-1.5m and periods stay above 13s — the quality is severely compromised. S, SSW, and SW winds blow directly onshore, ruining shape and creating messy, choppy conditions. Ideal wind percentages drop to 31-42%, making clean sessions hit-or-miss. Only occasionally, when a strong high-pressure ridge pushes down from the north, can you score a few early-morning windows of offshore flow.

January: The Crown Jewel of Dry Season Surf

January delivers the cleanest and most consistent surf of the year. The average 1.0m swell is dominated by SSW (61.2%) and SW (31.1%) directions, with periods averaging a solid 12.8s — enough to wrap nicely into the south-west facing beaches. Offshore winds blow 57% of the time, led by strong NNE winds (28% total, with up to 12.9% in the 10-20kph range). This combination creates groomed, rippable lines ideal for longboards and shortboards alike. Expect fun 0.5-1.5m waves most days.