Photo: Jorge Antonio Leoni de León · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Playa Grande
Across the estuary from Tamarindo, but a different wave: faster, more punch, fewer people. Long stretch of beach with multiple peaks.
Surf outlook
We don't have a forecast outlook for Playa Grande yet. The seasonal guidance below is based on long-run averages, not on this week.
Live conditions
We don't have a current forecast for Playa Grande. The seasonal guidance below is based on long-run averages, not on today.
Surf Snapshot
Estimated seasonal guidance — not a live forecast.
When to surf Playa Grande, month by month
Estimated from our authored seasonality — not a live forecast.
Peak season: May, Jun, July, Aug, Sept, Oct (All-time).
| Month | Surf consistency | Wetsuit |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | Moderate | Boardshorts |
| Feb | Moderate | Boardshorts |
| Mar | Moderate | Boardshorts |
| Apr | High | Boardshorts |
| Maypeak | All-time | Boardshorts |
| Junpeak | All-time | Boardshorts |
| Julypeak | All-time | Boardshorts |
| Augpeak | All-time | Boardshorts |
| Septpeak | All-time | Boardshorts |
| Octpeak | All-time | Boardshorts |
| Nov | High | Boardshorts |
| Dec | Moderate | Boardshorts |
Does this wave fit your level?
Rated for Levels 4-6 · Best at Level 5.
Take the 2-minute quiz to see if Playa Grande fits you today.
Find my Level →Beginner notes
Level 4+ wave on a clean day. The beach is a protected leatherback turtle nesting site — no lights on the beach at night.
Hazards
- rip currents on big days
- protected turtle beach
Camps near Playa Grande
Nearby spots
The closest graded spots to Playa Grande, straight-line distance.
- Tamarindo~4 km · Levels 1-5
- Playa Avellanas~13 km · Levels 2-6
- Nosara (Playa Guiones)~46 km · Levels 3-6
- Santa Teresa~106 km · Levels 4-6
- Playa Remanso~99 km · Levels 1-4
Best months to surf here
In-season months for Costa Rica, from our editors’ season calendar.