Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Nosara. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Quality groundswell hitting the coast. Long-period groundswell delivering clean, organised lines. Light onshore crumble taking the edge off.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Nosara, specifically focusing on Playa Guiones, is a highly consistent, sweeping beach break situated on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica. The seafloor consists of a vast, gently sloping expanse of compacted volcanic sand that spans several kilometres. This uniform gradient captures south-westerly Pacific groundswells year-round, dissipating the kinetic energy gradually as it approaches the shoreline. An easterly offshore wind, heavily influenced by the morning land breeze, grooms the faces to a pristine texture. Because the sandy bottom slopes gently, the waves generally spill rather than plunge, producing highly manageable, slow-rolling left and right-hand walls. This incredibly forgiving structure makes Nosara an exceptional training ground for beginner and intermediate surfers. Novices can easily exploit the long whitewater reform sections, whilst intermediate riders can navigate the unbroken green walls to practice fundamental carving manoeuvres. The sheer size of the beach disperses the crowd, ensuring a safe, low-consequence environment for progressive surfing development.
Heads up: thunderstorms forecast, and jellyfish: peak season.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 43% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Noticeably cleaner air than a typical city. Good conditions for prolonged outdoor activity.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 09:01
Crystal clear water: ~18m visibility
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Nosara
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile →Partly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Nosara is the week of 30 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Playa Guiones in Nosara is one of Central America's most consistent and accessible beach breaks. Several kilometres of gently sloping volcanic sand produce soft, spilling waves that peel predictably in both directions. The wave rarely closes out and the sandy bottom presents zero reef hazards, making it an ideal environment for learning and intermediate progression. The town has attracted a wellness-oriented expat community, blending yoga, surf, and tropical living.
South-westerly Pacific groundswells arrive year-round, with the largest swells from April through October. The wave works on anything from 2-6ft. Easterly offshore winds provide clean conditions at dawn before the thermal sea breeze establishes. The remarkable consistency means rideable waves are available 340+ days per year. The dry season (December-April) has smaller but cleaner surf.
The beach offers multiple peaks along its entire length. The central section in front of the main access path is most popular. The northern and southern ends are quieter with equally consistent banks. Beginners should stay in the inside whitewater. Intermediate surfers can sit on the outer bars where longer green faces form. The peaks are forgiving and rarely section heavily.
Minimal hazards. The sandy bottom is uniformly flat. Mild rip currents develop on bigger swells but are manageable. The main hazard is other surfers, particularly surf school groups in the central zone. Stingrays inhabit the shallows. The tropical sun is intense.
Multiple access paths lead from the road to the beach through coastal vegetation. Parking along the dirt roads behind the beach. The beach is flat and easy to access. Surf schools and rental are abundant. Accommodation of all levels is within walking or cycling distance.
Nosara is popular, particularly during peak tourist seasons (December-April and June-August). The vast beach distributes surfers effectively. Surf school zones are concentrated in the centre; moving 200 metres in either direction provides space. The vibe is friendly and non-competitive.
A longboard or wide fish maximises fun on the gentle, rolling faces. The wave rarely gets steep enough for aggressive shortboarding to be rewarding. Dawn sessions offer the cleanest conditions and thinnest crowds. The beach is long enough that walking five minutes in either direction from the main access virtually guarantees uncrowded peaks. The water is warm year-round (27-29C); board shorts suffice.
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Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 30 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Nosara tend to be best between 06:00 to 09:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 53/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
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