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.

3-Day Forecast
Today
29
53
Fair
1.4m
@14s
12km/h
Thu
30
70
Good
1.4m
@13s
9km/h
Fri
1
55
Fair
1.2m
@13s
10km/h
+7
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Today's Conditions

Swell
1.4m
S(190°)
Score: 14/25
Period
14s
Long period groundswell
Score: 25/25
Wind
12km/h
SSW(198°)
Score: 7/25
Weather
30°C
0.0mm18%
Secondary Swell
0.4mW
Forecast Confidence
100%
Sources: open-meteo-marine, open-meteo-weather
Best Session
afternoon
AM: 17 km/h ENE|PM: 10 km/h WSW
10 km/h vs 17 km/h morning
Tide at 12pm (1.4m)

Location & Conditions

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0°45°90°135°180°225°270°315°NESW
Swell
Wind
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Tide Times

12:32 am
High tide - 1.11m
6:32 am
Low tide - -0.47m
12:52 pm
High tide - 1.38m
7:10 pm
Low tide - -0.54m
Times shown in spot-local time.

Strike Score Breakdown

53
Fair
Components
Swell Direction7/25
Swell Size14/25
Swell Period25/25
Wind7/25
Raw Score53/100
Confidence
Multiplier×1.00
Final Score53

Spot Details

Swell Requirements

Optimal direction
SW (230°)
Direction range
200° - 270°
Size range
0.8m - 2.5m
Ideal size
2.0m
Height multiplier
0.97×
Ideal period
14s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction
E (90°)
Offshore range
45° - 135°

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.

Best Season

Peak: Apr-Oct

Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

Year-round. Bigger swells in rainy season.

Getting There

Airport
LIR
Drive time
90 min
Data quality
verified

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Family Travel

🎡Kid Activities
🦜 Wildlife tours🏖️ Beach play

Strike Log

Community Discussion