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).

See all places to stay on Booking.com →

Where it is

Each place is ringed by its best day this week, a surf spot for beginners: 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 beginner 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.GoodUnder 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 Intermediate

Spot

Mon 19

Tue 20

Wed 21

Thu 22

Fri 23

Sat 24

Sun 25

El Estero- Tamarindo3.2 kmabout 10 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 4 km

5 ft603 kJ

4 ft331 kJ

3 ft206 kJ

4 ft374 kJ

3 ft225 kJ

3 ft137 kJ

3 ft140 kJ

Forecast and score for beginner surfers at El Estero- Tamarindo, each day
Day	Score for beginners	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	0, too big	5 ft11 shollow	603kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots	30°C
Tue 20Oct	0, too big	4 ft12 shollow	331kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots	28°C
Wed 21Oct	12, poor	3 ft10 shollow	206kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 5 knots	30°C
Thu 22Oct	0, too big	4 ft12 shollow	374kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 6 knots	30°C
Fri 23Oct	27, poor	3 ft11 shollow	225kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 3 knots	29°C
Sat 24Oct	53, good	3 ft10 shollow	137kJ	wind from the south, 1 knot	30°C
Sun 25Oct	42, fair	3 ft10 shollow	140kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 1 knot	31°C

Brasilito10.1 kmabout 20 min by carStays in BrasilitoIntermediate and up

4 ft378 kJ

3 ft254 kJ

3 ft263 kJ

3 ft254 kJ

3 ft217 kJ

2 ft126 kJ

2 ft85 kJ

Forecast and score for expert surfers at Brasilito, each day
Day	Scorefor Expert	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	28, too small	4 ft11 shollow	378kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 3 knots	30°C
Tue 20Oct	23, too small	3 ft11 shollow	254kJ	wind from the east, 6 knots, offshore	28°C
Wed 21Oct	21, too small	3 ft11 shollow	263kJ	wind from the north-west, 2 knots	29°C
Thu 22Oct	23, too small	3 ft11 shollow	254kJ	wind from the east, 4 knots, offshore	28°C
Fri 23Oct	21, too small	3 ft11 shollow	217kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 6 knots, offshore	28°C
Sat 24Oct	14, too small	2 ft11 shollow	126kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Sun 25Oct	10, too small	2 ft9 shollow	85kJ	wind from the west, 3 knots	29°C

Flamingo Point12.6 kmabout 25 min by carStays in Brasilito, 3 kmIntermediate and up

4 ft401 kJ

3 ft254 kJ

3 ft263 kJ

3 ft254 kJ

3 ft217 kJ

2 ft126 kJ

2 ft85 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Flamingo Point, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	59, good	4 ft11 shollow	401kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore	30°C
Tue 20Oct	48, good	3 ft11 shollow	254kJ	wind from the east, 6 knots, offshore	28°C
Wed 21Oct	43, fair	3 ft11 shollow	263kJ	wind from the north-west, 2 knots	29°C
Thu 22Oct	49, good	3 ft11 shollow	254kJ	wind from the east, 4 knots, offshore	28°C
Fri 23Oct	44, fair	3 ft11 shollow	217kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 6 knots, offshore	28°C
Sat 24Oct	28, too small	2 ft11 shollow	126kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Sun 25Oct	20, too small	2 ft9 shollow	85kJ	wind from the west, 3 knots	29°C

Junquillal19.3 kmabout 35 min by carStays in JunquillalIntermediate and up

5 ft656 kJ

4 ft377 kJ

4 ft361 kJ

4 ft390 kJ

4 ft317 kJ

3 ft225 kJ

3 ft145 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Junquillal, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	58, good	5 ft11 sslab	656kJ	wind from the north-east, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Tue 20Oct	72, good	4 ft12 shollow	377kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 2 knots	28°C
Wed 21Oct	66, good	4 ft12 shollow	361kJ	wind from the north, 3 knots	29°C
Thu 22Oct	71, good	4 ft12 shollow	390kJ	wind from the north-east, 6 knots, offshore	28°C
Fri 23Oct	62, good	4 ft11 shollow	317kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 5 knots	28°C
Sat 24Oct	41, fair	3 ft11 shollow	225kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 3 knots	27°C
Sun 25Oct	39, fair	3 ft10 shollow	145kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 4 knots	28°C

Little hawaii10.7 kmabout 20 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 9 kmIntermediate and up

5 ft650 kJ

4 ft357 kJ

4 ft355 kJ

4 ft390 kJ

4 ft317 kJ

3 ft215 kJ

3 ft140 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Little hawaii, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	57, good	5 ft11 sslab	650kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Tue 20Oct	72, good	4 ft12 shollow	357kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 2 knots	29°C
Wed 21Oct	65, good	4 ft12 shollow	355kJ	wind from the north-north-east, 2 knots, offshore	30°C
Thu 22Oct	72, good	4 ft12 shollow	390kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore	30°C
Fri 23Oct	63, good	4 ft11 shollow	317kJ	wind from the east, 4 knots, offshore	29°C
Sat 24Oct	46, fair	3 ft11 shollow	215kJ	wind from the east, 3 knots, offshore	27°C
Sun 25Oct	39, fair	3 ft10 shollow	140kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 1 knot	31°C

Pico Grande3.6 kmabout 10 min by carNeeds 3 ft+

4 ft423 kJ

4 ft331 kJ

4 ft328 kJ

4 ft374 kJ

4 ft303 kJ

3 ft213 kJ

3 ft140 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Pico Grande, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	60, good	4 ft12 shollow	423kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots	30°C
Tue 20Oct	62, good	4 ft12 shollow	331kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Wed 21Oct	55, good	4 ft12 shollow	328kJ	wind from the north-east, 0 knots	30°C
Thu 22Oct	67, good	4 ft12 shollow	374kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore	30°C
Fri 23Oct	57, good	4 ft11 shollow	303kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Sat 24Oct	40, fair	3 ft11 shollow	213kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	30°C
Sun 25Oct	30, too small	3 ft10 shollow	140kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 1 knot	31°C

Pico Pequeno3.8 kmabout 10 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 4 kmNeeds 4 ft+

4 ft423 kJ

4 ft331 kJ

4 ft328 kJ

4 ft374 kJ

4 ft303 kJ

3 ft213 kJ

3 ft140 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Pico Pequeno, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	58, good	4 ft12 shollow	423kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots	30°C
Tue 20Oct	56, good	4 ft12 shollow	331kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Wed 21Oct	48, good	4 ft12 shollow	328kJ	wind from the north-east, 0 knots	30°C
Thu 22Oct	61, good	4 ft12 shollow	374kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore	30°C
Fri 23Oct	50, good	4 ft11 shollow	303kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Sat 24Oct	35, too small	3 ft11 shollow	213kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	30°C
Sun 25Oct	26, too small	3 ft10 shollow	140kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 1 knot	31°C

Playa Avellana11.9 kmabout 25 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 10 kmIntermediate and up

5 ft650 kJ

4 ft357 kJ

4 ft355 kJ

4 ft390 kJ

4 ft317 kJ

3 ft215 kJ

3 ft140 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Playa Avellana, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	57, good	5 ft11 shollow	650kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Tue 20Oct	72, good	4 ft12 shollow	357kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 2 knots	29°C
Wed 21Oct	65, good	4 ft12 shollow	355kJ	wind from the north-north-east, 2 knots	30°C
Thu 22Oct	72, good	4 ft12 shollow	390kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore	30°C
Fri 23Oct	63, good	4 ft11 shollow	317kJ	wind from the east, 4 knots, offshore	29°C
Sat 24Oct	47, fair	3 ft11 shollow	215kJ	wind from the east, 3 knots, offshore	27°C
Sun 25Oct	39, fair	3 ft10 shollow	140kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 1 knot	31°C

Playa Avellanas11.2 kmabout 20 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 9 kmIntermediate and up

5 ft650 kJ

4 ft357 kJ

4 ft355 kJ

4 ft390 kJ

4 ft317 kJ

3 ft215 kJ

3 ft140 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Playa Avellanas, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	57, good	5 ft11 shollow	650kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Tue 20Oct	72, good	4 ft12 shollow	357kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 2 knots	29°C
Wed 21Oct	65, good	4 ft12 shollow	355kJ	wind from the north-north-east, 2 knots	30°C
Thu 22Oct	72, good	4 ft12 shollow	390kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore	30°C
Fri 23Oct	63, good	4 ft11 shollow	317kJ	wind from the east, 4 knots, offshore	29°C
Sat 24Oct	47, fair	3 ft11 shollow	215kJ	wind from the east, 3 knots, offshore	27°C
Sun 25Oct	39, fair	3 ft10 shollow	140kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 1 knot	31°C

Playa Grande1 kmabout 5 min by carIntermediate and up

4 ft423 kJ

4 ft331 kJ

4 ft328 kJ

4 ft374 kJ

4 ft303 kJ

3 ft213 kJ

3 ft140 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Playa Grande, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	59, good	4 ft12 shollow	423kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots	30°C
Tue 20Oct	72, good	4 ft12 shollow	331kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Wed 21Oct	65, good	4 ft12 shollow	328kJ	wind from the north-east, 0 knots, offshore	30°C
Thu 22Oct	75, good	4 ft12 shollow	374kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore	30°C
Fri 23Oct	65, good	4 ft11 shollow	303kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Sat 24Oct	50, good	3 ft11 shollow	213kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	30°C
Sun 25Oct	39, fair	3 ft10 shollow	140kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 1 knot	31°C

Playa Langosta5 kmabout 10 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 6 kmIntermediate and up

5 ft603 kJ

4 ft331 kJ

4 ft328 kJ

4 ft374 kJ

4 ft303 kJ

3 ft213 kJ

3 ft140 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Playa Langosta, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	55, good	5 ft11 shollow	603kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore	29°C
Tue 20Oct	72, good	4 ft12 shollow	331kJ	wind from the east, 6 knots, offshore	28°C
Wed 21Oct	62, good	4 ft12 shollow	328kJ	wind from the north-north-west, 3 knots	29°C
Thu 22Oct	73, good	4 ft12 shollow	374kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore	30°C
Fri 23Oct	61, good	4 ft11 shollow	303kJ	wind from the east, 6 knots, offshore	28°C
Sat 24Oct	44, fair	3 ft11 shollow	213kJ	wind from the east, 7 knots, offshore	28°C
Sun 25Oct	36, fair	3 ft10 shollow	140kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 3 knots	29°C

raps18.3 kmabout 35 min by carStays in Junquillal, 2 kmIntermediate and up

5 ft656 kJ

4 ft377 kJ

4 ft361 kJ

4 ft390 kJ

4 ft317 kJ

3 ft225 kJ

3 ft145 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at raps, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	58, good	5 ft11 sslab	656kJ	wind from the north-east, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Tue 20Oct	72, good	4 ft12 shollow	377kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 2 knots	28°C
Wed 21Oct	66, good	4 ft12 shollow	361kJ	wind from the north, 3 knots	29°C
Thu 22Oct	71, good	4 ft12 shollow	390kJ	wind from the north-east, 6 knots, offshore	28°C
Fri 23Oct	62, good	4 ft11 shollow	317kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 5 knots	28°C
Sat 24Oct	41, fair	3 ft11 shollow	225kJ	wind from the east-south-east, 3 knots	27°C
Sun 25Oct	40, fair	3 ft10 shollow	145kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 4 knots	28°C

Suizo4.1 kmabout 10 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 5 kmNeeds 5 ft+

5 ft603 kJ

4 ft331 kJ

4 ft328 kJ

4 ft374 kJ

4 ft303 kJ

3 ft213 kJ

3 ft140 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Suizo, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	48, good	5 ft11 scrumbling	603kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore	30°C
Tue 20Oct	40, fair	4 ft12 shollow	331kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Wed 21Oct	34, too small	4 ft12 shollow	328kJ	wind from the north-east, 0 knots	30°C
Thu 22Oct	44, fair	4 ft12 shollow	374kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore	30°C
Fri 23Oct	36, fair	4 ft11 shollow	303kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Sat 24Oct	25, too small	3 ft11 shollow	213kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	30°C
Sun 25Oct	19, too small	3 ft10 scrumbling	140kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 1 knot	31°C

Tamarindo3.8 kmabout 10 min by carStays in Tamarindo, 4 kmNeeds 4 ft+

4 ft423 kJ

4 ft331 kJ

4 ft328 kJ

4 ft374 kJ

4 ft303 kJ

3 ft213 kJ

3 ft140 kJ

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Tamarindo, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	58, good	4 ft12 shollow	423kJ	wind from the south-south-west, 5 knots	30°C
Tue 20Oct	56, good	4 ft12 shollow	331kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	28°C
Wed 21Oct	48, good	4 ft12 shollow	328kJ	wind from the north-east, 0 knots	30°C
Thu 22Oct	61, good	4 ft12 shollow	374kJ	wind from the east-north-east, 6 knots, offshore	30°C
Fri 23Oct	50, good	4 ft11 shollow	303kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	29°C
Sat 24Oct	35, too small	3 ft11 shollow	213kJ	wind from the east, 5 knots, offshore	30°C
Sun 25Oct	26, too small	3 ft10 shollow	140kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 1 knot	31°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