Pavones
Costa Rica · Central America
Right now
Rain showersWind and swell direction
Swell: 1.5m SSW
Wind: 5 km/h SE (cross-onshore)
Beach faces: SW
Very light wind. Expect glassy, clean conditions.
Swell direction is a decent angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:36Expected crowds
Prediction model v15amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- Boardshorts weather. 30°C water.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
- Rain jacket for between sessions.
Today's briefing
1.5m swell at 12s. Moderate winds. Water temperature 30°C.
AI-generated summary for Pavones. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Pavones
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Tomorrow around 10am (score: 53). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Crowd report
No recent check-ins. Be the first to report.
Session journal
Record your session, conditions and gear.
Sign up to save favourite spots and get surf alerts
Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on mid-high tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking well above average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Pavones.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Pavones
Pavones is a legendary, exceptionally long left-hand point break situated in the remote Golfo Dulce region of southern Costa Rica. The geomorphology involves a sweeping, uniform coastline lined with a highly stable matrix of rounded river cobblestones and compacted sand. This specific bathymetric alignment perfectly captures deep-water south-westerly groundswells tracking across the Pacific Ocean. As the wave energy engages the shallow bank, it refracts seamlessly, creating an endlessly peeling left-hand wall that can offer rides exceeding one kilometre in length. A north-easterly offshore wind grooms the face, ensuring a pristine surface. While the wave can occasionally offer small tube sections, it generally breaks with a steep, carving face rather than a violent, plunging lip. This mechanical consistency makes Pavones an idyllic canvas for intermediate surfers. It provides the perfect environment for executing drawn-out turns and requires supreme cardiovascular and leg endurance.
Working in Pavones this season?
Create a free profile and let employers in Pavones find you.
Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Pavones. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Pavones?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.