A mellow, sandy-bottom beach break in the heart of Guanacaste's most developed surf town, Tamarindo is a go-to spot for beginners and intermediates learning to surf, with plenty of schools and rental shops lining the beach. It's also the classic launch point for boat trips to the more advanced, protected-park breaks of Witch's Rock and Ollie's Point inside Santa Rosa National Park. Thanks to its position near Lake Nicaragua's wind patterns, offshore breezes from the northeast hold the surf clean for much of the day, especially in the dry season (Dec-Apr).
🌡️ ~29.2°C now · boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed
Beginner: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Jul, Aug, Dec
Intermediate: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Advanced: not suitable for this level
Local surf community
Local shops, schools and places to stay near Playa Tamarindo worth checking out.
Since 1989, Iguana Surf has been creating unforgettable surf experiences in the heart of Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Our Saturday-to-Saturday Surf Weeks combine expert surf coaching with the comfort of our newly renovated beachfront boutique hotel, featuring stylish suites, an ocean-view rooftop pool, and a relaxed surf atmosphere. Each week includes Liberia airport transfers, daily breakfast, professional surf lessons, video analysis, unlimited surfboard rentals, and a guided surf trip to one of our favorite nearby breaks. Whether you're catching your first wave or looking to take your skills to the next level, Iguana Surf offers the perfect balance of surf, comfort, and pura vida.
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at Playa Tamarindo. Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Jul, Aug, Dec
Intermediate: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Advanced: not suitable for this level
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks Playa Tamarindo's known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 12 km/h — hover or tap either arrow for exact values.
Monthly avg wave height (ft)
Monthly avg wind speed (km/h)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 28° | 28° | 29° | 29° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 28° | 28° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 3.6 ft (1.1 m), with offshore winds around 18 km/h from the E. Water is ~28°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 3.5 ft (1.1 m), with offshore winds around 21 km/h from the E. Water is ~28°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 3.5 ft (1.1 m), with offshore winds around 16 km/h from the E. Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 3.8 ft (1.2 m), with cross-offshore winds around 15 km/h from the E. Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 4.6 ft (1.4 m), with cross-offshore winds around 9 km/h from the SE. Water is ~30°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.7 ft (1.4 m), with light winds (~8 km/h). Water is ~30°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.2 ft (1.3 m), with cross-offshore winds around 10 km/h from the E. Water is ~30°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners and intermediates.
Waves average 4.3 ft (1.3 m), with light winds (~8 km/h). Water is ~30°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners and intermediates.
Waves average 4.6 ft (1.4 m), with light winds (~7 km/h). Water is ~30°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.6 ft (1.4 m), with light winds (~7 km/h). Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.4 ft (1.3 m), with offshore winds around 9 km/h from the E. Water is ~28°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.5 ft (1.1 m), with offshore winds around 13 km/h from the E. Water is ~28°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners.
For beginners: Jul–Aug, Dec–Apr. For intermediates: May–Nov. The biggest waves come in June, averaging 4.7 ft (1.4 m), and the smallest in March, at 3.5 ft (1.1 m).
It ranges from ~28°C in January to ~30°C in May, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
Year-round (~28-30°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed.
Yes. The best months for beginners are Jul–Aug, Dec–Apr, when waves average around 3.8 ft (1.2 m).
The nearest airport is LIR, and the nearest town is Tamarindo, Costa Rica.
