Playa Negra Guanacaste, Costa Rica
No town nearby. No stay checked for this site yet: Junquillal, 5 km away, is the nearest town we list. Nearest airport: NOB (NOB), 31 km.
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About Playa Negra Guanacaste
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SW (243°), so it takes swell from the SW. The wind blows offshore from the NE (63°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea is about 28°C in January, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 30°C in May, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually April, with about 7 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. No town nearby. No stay checked for this site yet: Junquillal, 5 km away, is the nearest town we list. Nearest airport: NOB (NOB), 31 km. Within 5 km we also list 5 surf spots.
Water about 28°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 10 h 55 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to LIR, direct.
See flights ORD → LIR · Skyscanner from about £250 returnAdGetting there. 2 h from the airport to Playa Negra Guanacaste.
Accommodation.
No town nearby
No stay checked for this site yet: Junquillal, 5 km away, is the nearest town we list. Nearest airport: NOB (NOB), 31 km.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Playa Negra Guanacaste · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Playa Negra Guanacaste · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Playa Negra Guanacaste on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 0, too big | 6 ft13 s | 1,050kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots | 29°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 58, good | 5 ft11 s | 656kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 72, good | 4 ft12 s | 377kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 2 knots | 29°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 66, good | 4 ft12 s | 358kJ | offshorewind from the north-north-east, 2 knots, offshore | 30°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 72, good | 4 ft12 s | 390kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 7 knots, offshore | 30°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 63, good | 4 ft11 s | 317kJ | offshorewind from the east, 4 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 47, fair | 3 ft11 s | 225kJ | offshorewind from the east, 3 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 43, fair | 3 ft10 s | 145kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 1 knot | 31°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 47, fair | 3 ft9 s | 112kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore | 32°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 34, too small | 2 ft7 s | 54kJ | offshorewind from the east, 1 knot, offshore | 29°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. 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 LIR, then 2h by road. About 10h 55 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Playa Negra Guanacaste
Best 15:00 to 18:00 local time: 4 ft at 12 s, wind 2 kn (3 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctSurf Playa Negra Guanacaste
Best 06:00 to 09:00 local time: 4 ft at 12 s, offshore wind.
- Thu 22 OctSurf Playa Negra Guanacaste
Best 06:00 to 09:00 local time: 4 ft at 12 s, offshore wind.
- Fri 23 OctSurf Playa Negra Guanacaste
Best 06:00 to 09:00 local time: 4 ft at 11 s, offshore wind.
- Sat 24 OctSurf Playa Negra Guanacaste
Best 06:00 to 09:00 local time: 3 ft at 11 s, offshore wind.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to LIR, then 2h by road. About 10h 55 door to door
Rough cost
About £585–£1,125 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book. No town nearby, so no stay is in it.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to LIR, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £250–£520 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £70–£120 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £160–£300 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £70–£120 |
| Total | £585–£1,125 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
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