Playa Grande
Costa Rica · Central America
Right now
Rain showersWind and swell direction
Swell: 1.2m SSW
Wind: 4 km/h NW (cross-onshore)
Beach faces: W
Very light wind. Expect glassy, clean conditions.
Swell is coming in at an oblique angle, some refraction expected.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:43Expected crowds
Prediction model v15amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- Boardshorts weather. 31°C water.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
- Rain jacket for between sessions.
Today's briefing
1.1m swell at 12s. Moderate winds. Water temperature 31°C.
AI-generated summary for Playa Grande. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Playa Grande
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 5am (score: 40). 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 modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking slightly above average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Playa Grande.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Playa Grande
Playa Grande is a highly consistent, sweeping beach break situated in the Guanacaste province on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The seafloor comprises a wide expanse of compacted fine sand that forms shifting banks along the lengthy bay. Facing west, the beach acts as a highly reliable swell magnet, capturing unattenuated south-westerly Pacific groundswells year-round. A north-easterly offshore wind, notably the seasonal Papagayo winds, grooms the peaks to create clean, workable A-frames. Because the sandy gradient is moderate, the waves tend to offer a steep take-off followed by a fast, spilling wall, providing excellent left and right-hand rides. This highly functional bathymetry makes Playa Grande perfectly suited for intermediate surfers. It provides reliable, punchy walls ideal for practising speed generation, aerial manoeuvres, and high-performance carving. The sheer size of the beach ensures the line-up remains diffuse, providing a safe, high-quality environment for progression in warm tropical waters.
Working in Playa Grande this season?
Create a free profile and let employers in Playa Grande 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 Playa Grande. 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 Playa Grande?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.