Tamarindo
Guanacaste, Costa Rica · Beach break
Local time — · Sunrise 05:39 · Sunset 17:19
Reading the ocean.
SWELLRADAR is requesting a verified marine run for Tamarindo.
Spot intelligence.
Tamarindo is approachable when small, but the river mouth and crowd pattern make peak choice more important than the town-wide forecast.
Profile source · Visit Costa Rica surf guideProfile geometry
Swell axis WSW · 250°
Offshore wind from ENE · All levels profile
Wave
Variable beach and river-mouth peaks
Sand
Swell window
SW–W
0.5–1.8 m offshore ranking band
Clean wind
E–NE offshore
Applied to wind scoring
Tide window
Mid tide · bank dependent
Qualitative timing guidance
Field guide
Read the break.
Character · setup · local read
Field guide
Read the break.
Character
01A broad, accessible surf zone with shifting beach peaks and a river-mouth influence. Small conditions can be forgiving, but current and crowd patterns make choosing the right peak more important than the town-wide forecast.
Best setup
02SW–W swell with E–NE wind is the clean baseline. Mid tide often balances shape and water depth, while the active bank and river flow determine where the best left or right appears.
Lineup read
03Check the river-mouth current and separate yourself from dense learner traffic before paddling out. Even on easy-looking days, drifting peaks and board congestion require a clear line back to shore.
Know before you paddle
Live conditions and local advice always override this profile.
Optional community layerRecent surfer reportsVoluntary and potentially incomplete. Not used for the forecast or Surf Score.
The break
Beach break
All levels. Works best with SW–W swell.
Timing
E–NE offshore
Mid tide · bank dependent. Re-check local observations and the lineup before you paddle out.
Data note
Model data unavailable
SWELLRADAR withholds numerical conditions, scores and surf windows until a quality-checked marine forecast is available.