10-day surf forecast with Strike Scores for Pavones, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Pavones is one of the longest left-hand point breaks in the world—a legendary wave in remote southern Costa Rica that can run for 800+ meters when conditions align. Getting here requires a serious commitment (6+ hour drive from San Jose on rough roads), but the payoff is tropical perfection with jungle-clad hills as your backdrop. The wave needs long-period SW swells to really connect, and when it does, you'll understand why people relocate their lives to this tiny village.
Best day in the forecast: 2026-08-12 with a score of 40/100 (Poor)
Poor conditions overall: Average score 33/100. Look for spots with better forecasts.
Perfect alignment: Swell from 199° is within 5° of optimal 200°.
Marginal size: 1.3m is 1.1m from ideal 2.4m.
Short period: 10s is below minimum 14s. Windswell-dominated (choppy, weak waves).
Onshore/cross-shore: 10 km/h from 224° (SW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 45°-135°.
Groundswell-dominant conditions (clean, long-period waves).
Poor conditions at Pavones. Either swell direction (199°), size (1.3m), or wind (10 km/h from 224°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
1.3m (4.3ft) swell from 199° (SSW) at 10s period
Good alignment: Swell from 198° is 2° off optimal 200°, still within prime range.
Short period: 9s is below minimum 14s. Windswell-dominated (choppy, weak waves).
Onshore/cross-shore: 8 km/h from 214° (SW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 45°-135°.
Poor conditions at Pavones. Either swell direction (198°), size (1.3m), or wind (8 km/h from 214°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
1.3m (4.3ft) swell from 198° (SSW) at 9s period
Perfect alignment: Swell from 201° is within 5° of optimal 200°.
Too small: 1.1m is below minimum 1.2m. Waves will be weak/mushy.
Short period: 11s is below minimum 14s. Windswell-dominated (choppy, weak waves).
Onshore/cross-shore: 7 km/h from 247° (WSW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 45°-135°.
Poor conditions at Pavones. Either swell direction (201°), size (1.1m), or wind (7 km/h from 247°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
1.1m (3.6ft) swell from 201° (SSW) at 11s period
Short period: 12s is below minimum 14s. Windswell-dominated (choppy, weak waves).
Onshore/cross-shore: 9 km/h from 249° (WSW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 45°-135°.
Poor conditions at Pavones. Either swell direction (201°), size (1.1m), or wind (9 km/h from 249°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
1.1m (3.6ft) swell from 201° (SSW) at 12s period
Moderate alignment: Swell from 210° is 10° off optimal 200°, workable but not ideal.
Marginal size: 1.4m is 1.0m from ideal 2.4m.
Moderate period: 15s meets minimum 14s but below ideal 18s. Some groundswell energy present.
Onshore/cross-shore: 12 km/h from 264° (W). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 45°-135°.
Poor conditions at Pavones. Either swell direction (210°), size (1.4m), or wind (12 km/h from 264°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
1.4m (4.6ft) swell from 210° (SSW) at 15s period
Marginal size: 1.2m is 1.2m from ideal 2.4m.
Onshore/cross-shore: 11 km/h from 241° (WSW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 45°-135°.
Poor conditions at Pavones. Either swell direction (198°), size (1.2m), or wind (11 km/h from 241°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
1.2m (3.9ft) swell from 198° (SSW) at 15s period
Good alignment: Swell from 196° is 4° off optimal 200°, still within prime range.
Too small: 0.9m is below minimum 1.2m. Waves will be weak/mushy.
Moderate period: 14s meets minimum 14s but below ideal 18s. Some groundswell energy present.
Onshore/cross-shore: 10 km/h from 274° (W). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 45°-135°.
Poor conditions at Pavones. Either swell direction (196°), size (0.9m), or wind (10 km/h from 274°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.9m (3.0ft) swell from 196° (SSW) at 14s period
Too small: 0.6m is below minimum 1.2m. Waves will be weak/mushy.
Moderate period: 16s meets minimum 14s but below ideal 18s. Some groundswell energy present.
Onshore/cross-shore: 12 km/h from 259° (W). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 45°-135°.
Poor conditions at Pavones. Either swell direction (198°), size (0.6m), or wind (12 km/h from 259°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
0.6m (2.0ft) swell from 198° (SSW) at 16s period
Very low confidence (8-10 day forecast, conditions may change)
Moderate alignment: Swell from 192° is 8° off optimal 200°, workable but not ideal.
Too small: 1.0m is below minimum 1.2m. Waves will be weak/mushy.
Onshore/cross-shore: 13 km/h from 243° (WSW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 45°-135°.
Poor conditions at Pavones. Either swell direction (192°), size (1.0m), or wind (13 km/h from 243°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
1.0m (3.3ft) swell from 192° (SSW) at 16s period
Moderate alignment: Swell from 190° is 10° off optimal 200°, workable but not ideal.
Short period: 13s is below minimum 14s. Windswell-dominated (choppy, weak waves).
Onshore/cross-shore: 9 km/h from 240° (WSW). Destroying wave quality. Offshore range: 45°-135°.
Poor conditions at Pavones. Either swell direction (190°), size (1.0m), or wind (9 km/h from 240°) is unfavorable. Consider other spots or wait for better conditions.
1.0m (3.3ft) swell from 190° (S) at 13s period
Open-Meteo Weather API (wind/weather data)