Beach break · Costa Rica · Guanacaste (Las Baulas) · Intermediate → Charger
Forecast for Monday 31 August
Intermediate : Dark out. Tomorrow looks good — aim for 5h. — Best window: 5h–7h
Today's score by level (at the day's best, out of 100)
The most powerful beach break around: fast, hollow A-frames that throw short, square barrels. The wind stays offshore all day thanks to Lake Nicaragua — a rare luxury.
Surfable all year. Autumn (Sep-Nov) is the best season: powerful swells, water still mild, less crowd.
Good level required. You can stand, paddle and read a peak. When it fires, better know what you're doing.
Easy beach access, parking usually nearby. Ask locally about seasonal currents.
Wear an appropriate wetsuit. Scout the currents before you paddle out. Respect the locals and right-of-way. Check weather and tides.
Playa Grande usually works best around mid-rising. The tide shapes the sandbanks and the depth over the reef, so check the day's tide times before your session.
Playa Grande is rather recommended for intermediate surfers. If you're a beginner, prefer a surf school, a small swell and a suitable tide, or look for a more sheltered nearby spot.
The ideal wind at Playa Grande comes broadly from North-East: it's offshore, which helps shape and hold the waves. A strong onshore wind generally degrades conditions.
Around Playa Grande, you can also check conditions at Tamarindo, Playa Negra, Nosara. Compare the scores, wind and swell direction before choosing where to surf.