Beach

both

Level 5/10

Playa Avellanas

Guanacaste, Costa Rica

🌀Strong rips

Playa Avellanas is Tamarindo's cooler cousin—a quality beach break famous for Lola's restaurant and the curious spectacle of pigs wandering the beach. The wave is a noticeable step up from Tamarindo's beginner-friendly peaks, with more power and better shape that attracts intermediate surfers seeking progression without the crowds. The dirt road access filters out day-trippers, preserving a more authentic vibe than the tourist strip. When larger swells arrive, "Little Hawaii" (the main peak) produces genuinely impressive waves that have hosted professional contests.

10-Day Forecast

Today

Good

1.7mSW

@13s

32km/h

Wed

Fair

1.7mSSW

@14s

31km/h

Thu

Good

1.7mS

@14s

13km/h

Groomed

Fri

Good

1.7mS

@14s

15km/h

Groomed

Sat

Good

1.7mS

@15s

10km/h

Groomed

Sun

Fair

1.6mS

@15s

10km/h

Mon

Good

1.6mS

@14s

11km/h

Tue

Fair

1.5mSSW

@13s

33km/h

Wed

Fair

1.6mS

@14s

31km/h

Groomed

Today

Tue, Jan 20

1.7m @ 13s SW

32 km/h NE

Wed

Wed, Jan 21

1.7m @ 14s SSW

31 km/h NE

Thu

Thu, Jan 22

1.7m @ 14s S

13 km/h ENE

Groomed

Fri

Fri, Jan 23

1.7m @ 14s S

15 km/h ESE

Groomed

Sat

Sat, Jan 24

1.7m @ 15s S

10 km/h SSE

Groomed

Sun

Sun, Jan 25

1.6m @ 15s S

10 km/h SSE

Mon

Mon, Jan 26

1.6m @ 14s S

11 km/h SE

Tue

Tue, Jan 27

1.5m @ 13s SSW

33 km/h NE

Wed

Wed, Jan 28

1.6m @ 14s S

31 km/h ENE

Groomed

Today's Conditions

Swell

1.7m

SW(218°)

Score: 24/25

Period

13s

Medium period swell

Score: 25/25

Wind

32km/h

NE(47°)

Score: 6/25

Weather

30°C

0.0mm17%

Windswell Component

0.3mENE@2s

Secondary Swell

0.6mW

Forecast Confidence

100%

Sources: open-meteo-marine, open-meteo-weather

Best Session

afternoon

Strike Score Breakdown

Good

Swell Direction

10/25

How well swell angle matches the spot

Swell Size

24/25

Wave height in the ideal range

Swell Period

25/25

Each spot has different period requirements. Points and reefs can handle longer periods than beaches.

Wind

6/25

Offshore/glassy conditions

Total Score65/100

Location & Conditions

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Swell

Wind

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Spot Details

Swell Requirements

Optimal direction: SW (230°)
Direction range: 200° - 270°
Size range: 0.8m - 2.5m
Ideal period: 14s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction: E (90°)
Offshore range: 45° - 135°
Best window: morning

Tide Requirements

Optimal tide: mid
Optimal range: 0.3m - 1.6m

Water temp

28°C

Wetsuit

Boardshorts / Rashguard

Difficulty

5/10

Crowd level

5/10

Access: Dirt road from main highway. Famous Lola's beach bar.

Getting There

Airport

LIR

Drive time

90 min

Best Season

Peak: Apr-Oct

Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

Year-round. Bigger swells in rainy season.

Data Quality

verified

Verified by Costa Rica surf guides