Surfing in Costa Rica in October
In October the best surfing in Costa Rica is at Playa Negra – Guanacaste, Nosara – Playa Guiones & Santa Teresa.
Updated November 2026 · weather data 2022–2026
In short
- Waves: 1.3 m on average (daily maximum)
- Water: 29°C, no wetsuit
- Air: 28°C by day, 24°C at night
- Weather: sun (6+ hours) on about 24 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 30; a day can have both
- Warm enough for no wetsuit: Playa Negra – Guanacaste, Nosara – Playa Guiones & Santa Teresa.
- For beginners: Nosara – Playa Guiones, Tamarindo & Jacó.
When are you planning to go?
1
OctPEAK SEASON
Playa Negra
Guanacaste · Costa Rica
1.5 m waves29° water29° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ NOB 31 km
2
OctPEAK SEASON
Playa Guiones
Nosara · Costa Rica
1.5 m waves29° water29° air
Beginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ NOB 5 km
3
OctPEAK SEASON
Santa Teresa
Costa Rica
1.5 m waves29° water28° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ NOB 64 km
4
OctPEAK SEASON
Playa Avellanas
Costa Rica
1.5 m waves29° water29° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ NOB 35 km
5
OctPEAK SEASON
Tamarindo
Costa Rica
1.4 m waves29° water29° air
Beginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ NOB 41 km
6
OctPEAK SEASON
Playa Grande
Tamarindo · Costa Rica
1.4 m waves29° water29° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ LIR 44 km
7
OctPEAK SEASON
Jacó
Costa Rica
1.4 m waves29° water28° air
Beginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ XQP 58 km
8
OctPEAK SEASON
Jacó
Playa Hermosa · Costa Rica
1.4 m waves29° water28° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ XQP 54 km
9
OctPEAK SEASON
Esterillos
Costa Rica
1.4 m waves29° water28° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ XQP 42 km
10
OctPEAK SEASON
Dominical
Costa Rica
1.4 m waves29° water27° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ XQP 36 km
11
OctPEAK SEASON
Matapalo
Osa Peninsula · Costa Rica
1.2 m waves29° water28° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ PJM 18 km
12
OctPEAK SEASON
Pavones
Costa Rica
1.1 m waves29° water27° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ PJM 24 km
13
OctPEAK SEASON
Ollie's Point
Potrero Grande · Costa Rica
1.3 m waves29° water29° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ LIR 39 km
14
OctGOOD
Witch's Rock
Playa Naranjo · Costa Rica
1.3 m waves29° water30° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ LIR 26 km
15
OctPEAK SEASON
Boca Barranca
Costa Rica
0.3 m waves29° water29° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ SJO 58 km
Averages of the 15 spots on this page. Wave height: average daily maximum.
Questions
Where to go surfing in Costa Rica in October?
Playa Negra – Guanacaste: 1.5 m waves; Nosara – Playa Guiones: 1.5 m waves; Santa Teresa: 1.5 m waves.
How warm is the water in Costa Rica in October?
About 29°C: no wetsuit.
Where can beginners go surfing in October?
Good spots for beginners this month: Nosara – Playa Guiones, Tamarindo & Jacó.
Which airport is closest?
Nosara Airport (NOB), 31 km from Playa Negra – Guanacaste.
