Playitas - Puntarenas
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Timezone: America/Costa_Rica
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Friday 17
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Playitas - Puntarenas surf guide

Playitas, located in Puntarenas, is a lesser-known surf spot that offers a mix of waves suitable for different skill levels. It's not as crowded as the more popular spots nearby, making it a decent choice if you're looking for a bit of space. The area features a combination of beach and reef breaks along its coastline, which gives surfers some variety to work with. The vibe here is pretty relaxed, attracting both locals and visitors alike looking for a chill day on the water.

The surf at Playitas tends to be best during mid to high tide. You can expect optimal swell coming from the southwest, with some reliable waves from the south and west as well. The spot can handle swell sizes up to about 3 feet (around 1 meter), and the waves break over uneven reef and sand. You'll find both left and right-breaking waves, making it a versatile place for surfers. Conditions are best when the wind is coming from the northeast, so keep that in mind when planning your sessions. It's a suitable spot for beginners looking to gain confidence in their surfing skills.

While the waves here can be fun, they may not always be consistent, so itโ€™s worth checking the conditions often. The local crowd is generally friendly, making it a good environment for newcomers to the surf scene. If youโ€™re hunting for more waves in the area, you might want to check out Playa Espadilla Sur, which can offer additional options depending on the conditions.

Surf reports and surf forecasts nearby Playitas - Puntarenas

Playa Esterillos
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Beach break, Reef break
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
Esterillos Oeste
Unknown Region, Unknown Country
Beach break
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
Boca Damas
Unknown Region, Unknown Country
Rivermouth break
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
Quepos Jetty
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Rivermouth break
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
Quepos Bombie
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Reef break
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
Playitas - Puntarenas
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Beach break
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
Manuel Antonio
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Beach break, Point break
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
Playa El Rey
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Beach break
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
Playa Matapalo
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Beach break
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
Playa Dominical
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Beach break
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
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Readme

Welcome! If youโ€™re new to surf forecasting, check out this quick guide.

Forecast Table

The forecast table (the section on the page with all the numbers) is designed to pack as much information in the screen as possible. Although intimidating at first, it will help you make informed decisions about the waves faster, trust me :D. The table consists of roughly four sections, time and predictions, wind, waves, and tides:

๐Ÿ”ฎ Time and predictions section

Here we show the forecast thour and the overall surf quality prediction. This is determined based on the wave, wind and tide quality prediction. These individual predictions can be found on the forecast map.

๐Ÿ’จ Wind section

The first row on the table (with the ๐Ÿ’จ icon) shows wind speed, direction and gust. The more the wind speed the more aggressive the color (from blue, green, orange to red).

๐ŸŒŠ Wave section

The waves section consists of three rows, one for wave height and direction, one for period and one for wave energy. Our algorithm choices the "dominant wave". This is normally the first swell partition, but with heavy local storms it displays the wind waves. If that's the case, we display the numbers in italic and in gray.

๐ŸŒ’ Tide section

The tide section consists of a row with the actual heights per hour (measured at the half hour) and a table that displays the flow of the tide and the extremes (lows and highs).

Forecast map

The forecast map consists of arrows. These arrows represent all wave partitions (swell partitions and wind wave partition) and the wind. This allows you to see things like: a secondary swell or wind waves messes up the surf, or the wind is just a tick offshore so very surfable. Click a metric label in the bottom left to bring that arrow to the front โ€” handy when arrows overlap.

Forecast Cheat Sheet

Short on time? Focus on wave energy. Itโ€™s the best single metric to gauge how big and powerful the waves will be.

Click any table cell to jump to that forecast hour. The map will update with forecast arrows, so you can see if wind and swell direction are lining up.

Use the table sidebar to switch units for height and speed.

Log your surf sessions to compare forecasts with real sessions and sharpen future predictions.

Models and Updates

Surfnerd blends multiple global and local wind and swell models using advanced interpolation and spatial techniques to create an "ensemble" forecast. Forecasts are refreshed hourly.

Surf Predictions

Our AI-driven algorithm scores surf quality, shown by green, orange, and gray dots. Each forecast hour is rated for wind, swell, and tide quality, then combined into an overall score. Hereโ€™s the scale:

Perfect
Good
Average
Bad or No Data

Session logs also feed the algorithm โ€” the more you log, the smarter your forecasts get.

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Wind certainty

Wind certainty tells you how much the weather models agree on the forecast.

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