Central America surf forecast

Surfing in Central America

Central America's Pacific coast faces broadly south-west into a long run of open ocean, which makes it a very consistent surf coast. This page groups spots in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Panama. The main swell season runs from about April to October, when Southern Hemisphere storms send long-period south and south-west swells up the coast; July and August are often the peak. From around December to April the dry season brings smaller but still regular surf.

Wind is the key local factor. In the dry season the Papagayo winds blow from the north-east across Lake Nicaragua and the Guanacaste lowlands. That makes them offshore at Popoyo in southern Nicaragua and at Playa Grande in northern Guanacaste for much of the day, though they can be strong. Further south, mornings are usually the cleanest time before sea breezes pick up.

The breaks vary a lot. Nosara and Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula are sandy beach breaks with plenty of room for beginners and intermediates. Playa Hermosa near Jacó is a heavier beach break. Pavones in the far south of Costa Rica is a very long left point that needs a large south swell. El Salvador's coast near El Tunco has rocky right points such as El Sunzal, and Santa Catalina in Panama is a right point over rock. Bocas del Toro is the exception: it sits on Panama's Caribbean side and has its main season from about December to March on swells from North Atlantic winter storms.

Tide matters at most of the reefs and points, where low tide can expose rock. Rips are common on the beach breaks and popular towns get crowded in peak season.