Playa Grande, Costa Rica

In Guanacaste Province · Costa Rica · Playa Grande on Google Maps · Map of the spots

27745- The Beach
Near Playa Grande, 1 km away. Photo: Panegyrics of Granovetter, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

About Playa Grande

Playa Grande is a town in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. From Playa Grande you can reach 14 surf spots. The nearest is Playa Grande, a surf spot 1 km from the centre. Overture lists 16 places to stay within 2 km of the centre. The nearest airport is LIR, 44 km away.

Pick your dates and start point to see a trip here scored, planned and costed: plan a surf trip to Costa Rica.

Staying in Playa Grande

  • 16 places to stay within 2 km of the centre (Overture places)
  • Nearest airports: LIR, 44 km, NOB, 45 km, FON, 139 km

Stay in Playa GrandeAd

Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.

Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).

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Where it is

Each place is ringed by its best day this week, a surf spot for intermediates: green on a good day. The dashed circle is 20 km from Playa Grande.

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One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Surf within 20 km

The next 7 days. Each day's wave height, green on a good day for intermediate surfers. A spot that does not suit them is tagged with the level it suits and never goes green for them. The best of the spots that stay in Playa Grande each day wears a ★ Best badge, only on a Good day. 12 spots stay in another town: within your drive, they count for Playa Grande too.

Wave height in feet, the wave energy in kJ under it.GoodBest spot that day for intermediatesUnder each day, the wind in knots: the arrow points where it blows to.A tag under a spot's name is the level its colours are for: Expert

Surf spots within 20 km of Playa Grande: Mon 19 Oct to Sun 25 Oct
SpotMon 19Tue 20Wed 21Thu 22Fri 23Sat 24Sun 25
Playa Grande1 kmabout 5 min by car6 ft713 kJwind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore, good4 ft343 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, good, best spot that day4 ft346 kJwind from the north-north-east, 2 knots, good, best spot that day4 ft367 kJwind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore, good, best spot that day4 ft323 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, good, best spot that day3 ft208 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, good, best spot that day3 ft169 kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore, good, best spot that day
All readings for Playa Grande: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Playa Grande, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct57, good6 ft11 shollow713kJwind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore30°C
Tue 20Oct73, good4 ft12 shollow343kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore28°C
Wed 21Oct67, good4 ft12 shollow346kJwind from the north-north-east, 2 knots30°C
Thu 22Oct75, good4 ft12 shollow367kJwind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore30°C
Fri 23Oct69, good4 ft11 shollow323kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore29°C
Sat 24Oct54, good3 ft11 shollow208kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore30°C
Sun 25Oct48, good3 ft10 shollow169kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore31°C
Playa Langosta5 kmabout 10 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 6 km6 ft713 kJwind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore, good4 ft343 kJwind from the east, 6 knots, offshore, good4 ft346 kJwind from the north, 2 knots, good4 ft367 kJwind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore, good4 ft323 kJwind from the east, 6 knots, offshore, good3 ft208 kJwind from the east, 7 knots, offshore, fair3 ft169 kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore, fair
All readings for Playa Langosta: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Playa Langosta, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct53, good6 ft11 shollow713kJwind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore29°C
Tue 20Oct72, good4 ft12 shollow343kJwind from the east, 6 knots, offshore28°C
Wed 21Oct64, good4 ft12 shollow346kJwind from the north, 2 knots29°C
Thu 22Oct73, good4 ft12 shollow367kJwind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore30°C
Fri 23Oct66, good4 ft11 shollow323kJwind from the east, 6 knots, offshore28°C
Sat 24Oct47, fair3 ft11 shollow208kJwind from the east, 7 knots, offshore28°C
Sun 25Oct45, fair3 ft10 shollow169kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore29°C
El Estero- Tamarindo3.2 kmabout 10 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 4 km5 ft523 kJwind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, good4 ft343 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, good4 ft346 kJwind from the north-north-east, 2 knots, good4 ft367 kJwind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore, good4 ft323 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, good3 ft208 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, good3 ft169 kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore, fair
All readings for El Estero- Tamarindo: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at El Estero- Tamarindo, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct56, good5 ft12 shollow523kJwind from the south-south-west, 5 knots30°C
Tue 20Oct70, good4 ft12 shollow343kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore28°C
Wed 21Oct64, good4 ft12 shollow346kJwind from the north-north-east, 2 knots30°C
Thu 22Oct72, good4 ft12 shollow367kJwind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore30°C
Fri 23Oct69, good4 ft11 shollow323kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore29°C
Sat 24Oct51, good3 ft11 shollow208kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore30°C
Sun 25Oct46, fair3 ft10 shollow169kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore31°C
Little hawaii10.7 kmabout 20 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 9 km6 ft730 kJwind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore, good4 ft371 kJwind from the south-east, 2 knots, good4 ft361 kJwind from the north, 3 knots, good4 ft383 kJwind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore, good4 ft337 kJwind from the east, 4 knots, offshore, good3 ft219 kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore, good3 ft170 kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore, good
All readings for Little hawaii: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Little hawaii, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct54, good6 ft11 sslab730kJwind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore29°C
Tue 20Oct71, good4 ft12 shollow371kJwind from the south-east, 2 knots29°C
Wed 21Oct65, good4 ft12 shollow361kJwind from the north, 3 knots30°C
Thu 22Oct71, good4 ft12 shollow383kJwind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore30°C
Fri 23Oct67, good4 ft11 shollow337kJwind from the east, 4 knots, offshore29°C
Sat 24Oct49, good3 ft11 shollow219kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore27°C
Sun 25Oct50, good3 ft10 shollow170kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore31°C
Playa Avellana11.9 kmabout 25 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 10 km6 ft730 kJwind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore, good4 ft371 kJwind from the south-east, 2 knots, good4 ft361 kJwind from the north, 3 knots, good4 ft383 kJwind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore, good4 ft337 kJwind from the east, 4 knots, offshore, good3 ft219 kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore, good3 ft170 kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore, good
All readings for Playa Avellana: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Playa Avellana, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct54, good6 ft11 shollow730kJwind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore29°C
Tue 20Oct71, good4 ft12 shollow371kJwind from the south-east, 2 knots29°C
Wed 21Oct65, good4 ft12 shollow361kJwind from the north, 3 knots30°C
Thu 22Oct71, good4 ft12 shollow383kJwind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore30°C
Fri 23Oct67, good4 ft11 shollow337kJwind from the east, 4 knots, offshore29°C
Sat 24Oct50, good3 ft11 shollow219kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore27°C
Sun 25Oct49, good3 ft10 shollow170kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore31°C
Playa Avellanas11.2 kmabout 20 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 9 km6 ft730 kJwind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore, good4 ft371 kJwind from the south-east, 2 knots, good4 ft361 kJwind from the north, 3 knots, good4 ft383 kJwind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore, good4 ft337 kJwind from the east, 4 knots, offshore, good3 ft219 kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore, good3 ft170 kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore, good
All readings for Playa Avellanas: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Playa Avellanas, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct54, good6 ft11 shollow730kJwind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore29°C
Tue 20Oct71, good4 ft12 shollow371kJwind from the south-east, 2 knots29°C
Wed 21Oct65, good4 ft12 shollow361kJwind from the north, 3 knots30°C
Thu 22Oct71, good4 ft12 shollow383kJwind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore30°C
Fri 23Oct67, good4 ft11 shollow337kJwind from the east, 4 knots, offshore29°C
Sat 24Oct50, good3 ft11 shollow219kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore27°C
Sun 25Oct50, good3 ft10 shollow170kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore31°C
raps18.3 kmabout 35 min by carStays in Junquillal, 2 km6 ft754 kJwind from the north-east, 5 knots, offshore, good4 ft377 kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore, good4 ft361 kJwind from the north, 3 knots, good4 ft383 kJwind from the north-east, 6 knots, offshore, good4 ft309 kJwind from the south, 3 knots, good3 ft217 kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, fair3 ft176 kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore, good
All readings for raps: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at raps, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct55, good6 ft11 sslab754kJwind from the north-east, 5 knots, offshore28°C
Tue 20Oct71, good4 ft12 shollow377kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore28°C
Wed 21Oct66, good4 ft12 shollow361kJwind from the north, 3 knots29°C
Thu 22Oct71, good4 ft12 shollow383kJwind from the north-east, 6 knots, offshore28°C
Fri 23Oct66, good4 ft11 shollow309kJwind from the south, 3 knots28°C
Sat 24Oct43, fair3 ft11 shollow217kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots27°C
Sun 25Oct49, good3 ft10 shollow176kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore28°C
Junquillal19.3 kmabout 35 min by carStays in Junquillal6 ft754 kJwind from the north-east, 5 knots, offshore, good4 ft377 kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore, good4 ft361 kJwind from the north, 3 knots, good4 ft383 kJwind from the north-east, 6 knots, offshore, good4 ft309 kJwind from the south, 3 knots, good3 ft217 kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, fair3 ft176 kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore, good
All readings for Junquillal: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Junquillal, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct55, good6 ft11 sslab754kJwind from the north-east, 5 knots, offshore28°C
Tue 20Oct71, good4 ft12 shollow377kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore28°C
Wed 21Oct66, good4 ft12 shollow361kJwind from the north, 3 knots29°C
Thu 22Oct71, good4 ft12 shollow383kJwind from the north-east, 6 knots, offshore28°C
Fri 23Oct66, good4 ft11 shollow309kJwind from the south, 3 knots28°C
Sat 24Oct43, fair3 ft11 shollow217kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots27°C
Sun 25Oct48, good3 ft10 shollow176kJwind from the east, 3 knots, offshore28°C
Pico Grande3.6 kmabout 10 min by car4 ft440 kJwind from the south-south-west, 7 knots, good, best spot that day4 ft366 kJwind from the north-west, 2 knots, good4 ft346 kJwind from the north-north-east, 2 knots, good4 ft373 kJwind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore, good4 ft323 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, good3 ft208 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, fair3 ft169 kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore, fair
All readings for Pico Grande: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Pico Grande, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct58, good4 ft12 shollow440kJwind from the south-south-west, 7 knots30°C
Tue 20Oct64, good4 ft11 shollow366kJwind from the north-west, 2 knots28°C
Wed 21Oct57, good4 ft12 shollow346kJwind from the north-north-east, 2 knots30°C
Thu 22Oct67, good4 ft12 shollow373kJwind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore30°C
Fri 23Oct61, good4 ft11 shollow323kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore29°C
Sat 24Oct43, fair3 ft11 shollow208kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore30°C
Sun 25Oct38, fair3 ft10 shollow169kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore31°C
Pico Pequeno3.8 kmabout 10 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 4 km4 ft440 kJwind from the south-south-west, 7 knots, good4 ft366 kJwind from the north-west, 2 knots, good4 ft346 kJwind from the north-north-east, 2 knots, good4 ft373 kJwind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore, good4 ft323 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, good3 ft208 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, fair3 ft169 kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore, too small
All readings for Pico Pequeno: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Pico Pequeno, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct57, good4 ft12 shollow440kJwind from the south-south-west, 7 knots30°C
Tue 20Oct59, good4 ft11 shollow366kJwind from the north-west, 2 knots28°C
Wed 21Oct51, good4 ft12 shollow346kJwind from the north-north-east, 2 knots30°C
Thu 22Oct63, good4 ft12 shollow373kJwind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore30°C
Fri 23Oct55, good4 ft11 shollow323kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore29°C
Sat 24Oct38, fair3 ft11 shollow208kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore30°C
Sun 25Oct33, too small3 ft10 shollow169kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore31°C
Tamarindo3.8 kmabout 10 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 4 km4 ft440 kJwind from the south-south-west, 7 knots, good4 ft366 kJwind from the north-west, 2 knots, good4 ft346 kJwind from the north-north-east, 2 knots, good4 ft373 kJwind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore, good4 ft323 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, good3 ft208 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, fair3 ft169 kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore, too small
All readings for Tamarindo: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Tamarindo, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct57, good4 ft12 shollow440kJwind from the south-south-west, 7 knots30°C
Tue 20Oct59, good4 ft11 shollow366kJwind from the north-west, 2 knots28°C
Wed 21Oct51, good4 ft12 shollow346kJwind from the north-north-east, 2 knots30°C
Thu 22Oct63, good4 ft12 shollow373kJwind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore30°C
Fri 23Oct55, good4 ft11 shollow323kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore29°C
Sat 24Oct38, fair3 ft11 shollow208kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore30°C
Sun 25Oct33, too small3 ft10 shollow169kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore31°C
Flamingo Point12.6 kmabout 25 min by carStays in Brasilito, 3 km4 ft452 kJwind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore, good3 ft264 kJwind from the east, 6 knots, offshore, good3 ft266 kJwind from the north-west, 2 knots, fair3 ft247 kJwind from the north-north-west, 3 knots, good3 ft220 kJwind from the east-south-east, 6 knots, offshore, fair3 ft137 kJwind from the east-south-east, 5 knots, offshore, too small2 ft99 kJwind from the east-south-east, 4 knots, offshore, too small
All readings for Flamingo Point: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Flamingo Point, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct62, good4 ft12 shollow452kJwind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore30°C
Tue 20Oct51, good3 ft11 shollow264kJwind from the east, 6 knots, offshore28°C
Wed 21Oct44, fair3 ft11 shollow266kJwind from the north-west, 2 knots29°C
Thu 22Oct49, good3 ft11 shollow247kJwind from the north-north-west, 3 knots28°C
Fri 23Oct47, fair3 ft11 shollow220kJwind from the east-south-east, 6 knots, offshore28°C
Sat 24Oct34, too small3 ft10 shollow137kJwind from the east-south-east, 5 knots, offshore29°C
Sun 25Oct23, too small2 ft10 shollow99kJwind from the east-south-east, 4 knots, offshore29°C
Suizo4.1 kmabout 10 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 5 km5 ft523 kJwind from the south-south-west, 5 knots, good4 ft366 kJwind from the north-west, 2 knots, fair4 ft346 kJwind from the north-north-east, 2 knots, fair4 ft373 kJwind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore, fair4 ft323 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, fair3 ft208 kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore, too small3 ft169 kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore, too small
All readings for Suizo: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Suizo, each day
DayScore for intermediatesSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct52, good5 ft12 scrumbling523kJwind from the south-south-west, 5 knots30°C
Tue 20Oct42, fair4 ft11 scrumbling366kJwind from the north-west, 2 knots28°C
Wed 21Oct36, fair4 ft12 shollow346kJwind from the north-north-east, 2 knots30°C
Thu 22Oct45, fair4 ft12 shollow373kJwind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore30°C
Fri 23Oct40, fair4 ft11 shollow323kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore29°C
Sat 24Oct27, too small3 ft11 shollow208kJwind from the east, 5 knots, offshore30°C
Sun 25Oct24, too small3 ft10 shollow169kJwind from the east-south-east, 3 knots, offshore31°C
Brasilito10.1 kmabout 20 min by carStays in BrasilitoNeeds 5 ft+4 ft427 kJwind from the east-north-east, 3 knots3 ft264 kJwind from the east, 6 knots, offshore3 ft266 kJwind from the north-west, 2 knots3 ft247 kJwind from the north-north-west, 3 knots3 ft220 kJwind from the east-south-east, 6 knots, offshore3 ft137 kJwind from the east-south-east, 5 knots, offshore2 ft99 kJwind from the east-south-east, 4 knots, offshore
All readings for Brasilito: score, swell, energy, wind and temperature each day
Forecast and score for expert surfers at Brasilito, each day
DayScorefor ExpertSwellEnergyWindTemp
Mon 19Oct29, too small4 ft11 shollow427kJwind from the east-north-east, 3 knots30°C
Tue 20Oct24, too small3 ft11 shollow264kJwind from the east, 6 knots, offshore28°C
Wed 21Oct21, too small3 ft11 shollow266kJwind from the north-west, 2 knots29°C
Thu 22Oct23, too small3 ft11 shollow247kJwind from the north-north-west, 3 knots28°C
Fri 23Oct23, too small3 ft11 shollow220kJwind from the east-south-east, 6 knots, offshore28°C
Sat 24Oct16, too small3 ft10 shollow137kJwind from the east-south-east, 5 knots, offshore29°C
Sun 25Oct12, too small2 ft10 shollow99kJwind from the east-south-east, 4 knots, offshore29°C

Distances are in a straight line from the middle of Playa Grande, to spots that land joins: none across a bay or on another island. A drive marked "about" is our estimate: the straight line times 1.8 minutes a km, measured on the drives we have routed (half of those come within 21% of the routed time).

Places to eat near Playa Grande

  • Sugar's Monkey Pizza Playa GrandePizza · 0.2 km from the centre
  • La Tortugas RestauranteSeafood · 0.1 km from the centre
  • Taco StarMexican · 0.1 km from the centre
  • El Huerto de Playa Grande0.8 km from the centre
  • Alejos Bar y GrillBar and grill · 2.0 km from the centre
  • Malinches Street TacosTaco · 2.0 km from the centre

Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits