Esterillos Oeste, Costa Rica
Also within 20 km of Esterillos Oeste
- Punta mala Surf spot · 2.9 km from Esterillos Oeste
- Turtle farms Surf spot · 5.3 km from Esterillos Oeste
- Playa Hermosa Jaco Surf spot · 9 km from Esterillos Oeste
- The Tree Surf spot · 10.7 km from Esterillos Oeste
- Gully's Surf spot · 11.6 km from Esterillos Oeste
- Roca Loca Surf spot · 15.2 km from Esterillos Oeste
- T box Surf spot · 15.2 km from Esterillos Oeste
- Perro Fino Surf spot · 15.3 km from Esterillos Oeste
Watch this spot We email you when Esterillos Oeste is worth the trip.
About Esterillos Oeste
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces S (180°), so it takes swell from the S. The wind blows offshore from the N (0°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 1.3 km out (1 in 127). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 28°C in October, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 30°C in March, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually March, April, May and June, with about 6 good days in 7; in January, about 4. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Esterillos Oeste, 0.5 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
Water about 28°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 11 h 10 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to SJO, direct.
See flights ORD → SJO · Skyscanner from about £255 returnAdGetting there. 2 h 10 from the airport to Esterillos Oeste.
Accommodation.
Stay in Esterillos OesteAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Esterillos Oeste (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Esterillos Oeste 1 min by car · rooms from £65 a night · 23 places to stay · where Esterillos Oeste stays
Places to stay in Esterillos Oeste · Booking.com AdJacó 30 min by car · rooms from £65 a night · 187 places to stay
Places to stay in Jacó · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Esterillos Oeste · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Esterillos Oeste · GetYourGuideAd
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Esterillos Oeste on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Esterillos Oeste does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Scorefor Intermediate | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 55, good | 5 ft14 ssoft | 863kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 4 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 54, good | 5 ft11 ssoft | 561kJ | wind from the north-west, 3 knots | 28°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 61, good | 4 ft12 ssoft | 334kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 3 knots | 29°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 66, good | 4 ft10 ssoft | 315kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 3 knots | 28°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 59, good | 5 ft11 ssoft | 490kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 4 knots | 28°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 59, good | 5 ft12 ssoft | 524kJ | wind from the east, 2 knots | 28°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 67, good | 4 ft10 ssoft | 253kJ | wind from the north-east, 3 knots | 27°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 51, good | 3 ft9 ssoft | 137kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 1 knot | 28°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 54, good | 3 ft9 ssoft | 152kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 4 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 51, good | 3 ft8 ssoft | 102kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 3 knots | 27°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to SJO, then 2h 10 by road. About 11h 10 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Esterillos Oeste
Best 06:00 to 09:00 local time: 4 ft at 12 s, wind 3 kn (5 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctSurf Punta mala
Best 09:00 to 12:00 local time: 4 ft at 10 s, wind 3 kn (6 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctSurf Punta mala
Best 06:00 to 09:00 local time: 5 ft at 11 s, wind 4 kn (7 km/h).
- Fri 23 OctSurf Esterillos Oeste
Best 09:00 to 12:00 local time: 5 ft at 12 s, wind 2 kn (3 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctSurf Punta mala
Best 06:00 to 09:00 local time: 4 ft at 10 s, wind 3 kn (6 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to SJO, then 2h 10 by road. About 11h 10 door to door
The plan picks the best of 2 spots near Esterillos Oeste each day: Esterillos Oeste, Punta mala.
Rough cost
About £760–£1,415 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to SJO, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £255–£530 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £70–£120 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £170–£280 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £160–£300 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £70–£120 |
| Total | £760–£1,415 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Esterillos Oeste
- El Patio Bar & GrillBar and grill · 0.1 km from the centre
- Los Almendros0.2 km from the centre
- El Velero RestaurantSeafood · 0.6 km from the centre
- Zoco Restaurant0.6 km from the centre
- CR Macaws0.8 km from the centre
- Restaurante El patioMexican · 0.8 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
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Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.