Playa Hermosa
Costa Rica · Central America
Right now
DrizzleWind and swell direction
Swell: 1.4m S
Wind: 1 km/h NNE (cross-offshore)
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 10:27Expected 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
1.4m swell at 11s. Moderate winds. Water temperature 31°C.
AI-generated summary for Playa Hermosa. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Playa Hermosa
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 Today around 6am (score: 44). 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 Hermosa.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Playa Hermosa
Playa Hermosa is an immensely powerful, heavy-water beach break located south of Jac- on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The bathymetry is entirely defined by exceptionally steep, shifting banks of dark volcanic sand located very close to the shoreline. Facing directly south-west, the beach captures raw, unattenuated groundswells tracking up the Pacific Ocean. When a solid swell impacts this sudden vertical gradient, the ocean heaves violently, producing incredibly thick, top-to-bottom plunging left and right-hand barrels. A north-easterly offshore wind is crucial to hold the heavy lips open. Due to the extreme hydraulic force, the immediate proximity of the break to the shallow sand, and the necessity for rapid, near-vertical take-offs straight into a tube section, Playa Hermosa is exclusively the domain of advanced surfers. It is a highly consequential, high-speed tube riding arena known for severe hold-downs and broken surfboards, demanding absolute commitment and elite reflexes.
Working in Playa Hermosa this season?
Create a free profile and let employers in Playa Hermosa 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 Hermosa. 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 Hermosa?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.