Surf spot

Playa Guiones

Forecast conditions and map view for Playa Guiones in Costa Rica, Guanacaste. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Costa Rica, Guanacaste
Coordinates: 9.9473, -85.6735

Metric
Metric	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00
Wave height (m)	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	1	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7
Wave direction	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	WSW	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	S	S	S	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW
Wave period (s)	10.1	9.7	9.8	9.7	9.6	9.9	10.4	10.3	10.3	10.2	10.3	10.3	7.9	7.6	7.5	7.5	7.3	7.2	7.2	7	7	6.9	6.9	6.9	7	7	7	6.9	6.8	6.8	6.7	11.1	10.9	13.2	13.1	12.8	12.7	12.6	12.4	12.3	12.2	11.9	11.6	11.3	11.3	11.2	11.2	11	10.9	10.8	10.8	10.7	10.6	10.5	10.4	10.4
Wave energy (kJ)	263	228	238	234	221	190	154	144	137	133	128	124	68	63	62	58	58	60	60	64	64	67	70	74	79	83	82	81	78	74	70	181	177	268	276	280	273	267	272	270	261	261	228	209	196	186	175	171	169	157	148	139	129	114	113	112
Wind speed (km/h)	8.7	8.7	7.8	4	16.2	10.6	4.2	3.9	5.4	7.2	7.7	6.3	10.2	8.3	1.1	8.5	9.2	9.2	7.8	3.8	15.1	3.4	6.8	4.2	5.7	7.6	7.3	4.1	15.9	9.4	5.9	6.6	4.3	7.4	7.7	6	11.8	16.6	9.9	4.1	7.9	6.3	7.1	7.7	16.8	10.7	6.5	4.8	6.4	1	6	0.7	8	10.1	5.4	4
Wind direction	NEOffshore	NNEOffshore	NNEOffshore	EGlassy	SSWOnshore	SWOnshore	SSWGlassy	ESEGlassy	NEOffshore	NEOffshore	NEOffshore	NNEOffshore	SSWOnshore	SOnshore	ESEGlassy	NEOffshore	NNEOffshore	NNEOffshore	NEOffshore	NEGlassy	SSWOnshore	SSWGlassy	SSECross-on	ENEGlassy	NNEOffshore	NNEOffshore	NNEOffshore	ENEGlassy	SCross-on	SCross-on	SECross-on	ENEOffshore	NEGlassy	NNEOffshore	NEOffshore	ENECross-off	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	NEGlassy	NEOffshore	NNEOffshore	NNEOffshore	ECross-off	SCross-on	SSECross-on	SOnshore	SEGlassy	SECross	NEGlassy	NNEOffshore	SGlassy	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SGlassy

Playa Guiones in Nosara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica is one of the country’s most well-known and consistent surf spots. It’s a long, wide beach break with lots of sandbars, making it a favorite for beginners, intermediate surfers, and longboarders.

What it’s like

Wave type: Mostly soft, rolling beach-break waves
Swell consistency: Very reliable year-round, especially during the rainy season and west/northwest swells
Wave quality: Can be playful and mellow, but on bigger swells it can offer faster, more powerful surf
Crowd: Popular and often busy, especially near the main access points, but the beach is long enough to spread out

Best for

Beginners learning to surf
Intermediate surfers looking to improve
Longboarders and funboard riders
Surfers wanting an easy-access, forgiving wave

Conditions and vibe

Beach: Long, scenic, and relatively undeveloped compared with many other surf destinations
Water: Warm year-round, so no wetsuit needed
Atmosphere: Relaxed, eco-conscious, and surf-town laid back
Hazards: Watch for strong currents, especially on bigger days and near rip channels

Best time to surf

Dry season: Smaller, cleaner waves, good for beginners
Green/rainy season: More consistent and stronger swells, often better for experienced surfers
Tide: Works across a range of tides, though the sandbars and peak quality can shift with conditions

Overall

Playa Guiones is a classic Costa Rica surf destination because it combines consistency, warm water, and approachable waves in a beautiful setting. It’s one of the best places in Guanacaste to learn to surf or enjoy relaxed sessions with a tropical backdrop.