Nicoya Peninsula · Playa Carmen
Punta Barrigona Santa Teresa
Swell almost every day, a dirt road, and no timetable after 11am.
To the water3minWalkable
Breaks linked3Within reach
From€69.61Per night, this month
Nicoya Peninsula · Costa Rica
Playa Carmen
A a-frame beach break over sand, works on swell from S–WSW, offshore in an ENE, and holds through the tide.
Beach breakSandA-framePlatform-verified data
Asks of youIntermediateIn JUL, 55 of 100
Power4/10Paddle-out 2 of 5
Face range60cm–2.4mAcross the whole year
Position9°39′N 85°10′WData confidence 85%
Wind, water and the year
What has to line up
Playa Carmen clears 55 out of 100 November to May. A wave needs swell from the right sector, wind off the land and the tide in its window — all three, on the same morning.
Swell window and offshore wind
Tide, and where it works
The year
This month at Playa Carmen
Face, typical2.1mUp to 2.4m on the bigger days
Rideable days66%Share of days with a wave
Offshore mornings46%Wind from ENE
Water28°Crowd index 5 of 5
Twelve rows, one per month
Every month on record
| Month | Face | Big days | Rideable | Offshore | Water | Crowd | Asks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.5m | 2.4m | 59% | 80% | 27° | 5/5 | Intermediate |
| February | 1.4m | 2.4m | 57% | 82% | 27° | 5/5 | Improver |
| March | 1.6m | 2.4m | 60% | 80% | 28° | 5/5 | Intermediate |
| April | 1.9m | 2.4m | 66% | 66% | 28° | 5/5 | Intermediate |
| May | 2.1m | 2.4m | 69% | 50% | 28° | 4/5 | Intermediate |
| June | 2.2m | 2.4m | 68% | 44% | 28° | 4/5 | Intermediate |
| July | 2.1m | 2.4m | 66% | 46% | 28° | 5/5 | Intermediate |
| August | 2.2m | 2.4m | 68% | 44% | 28° | 4/5 | Intermediate |
| September | 2.1m | 2.4m | 65% | 40% | 28° | 4/5 | Intermediate |
| October | 1.9m | 2.4m | 62% | 42% | 28° | 4/5 | Intermediate |
| November | 1.6m | 2.4m | 59% | 62% | 28° | 5/5 | Intermediate |
| December | 1.5m | 2.4m | 57% | 76% | 27° | 5/5 | Intermediate |
Data confidence 85%. These are editorial estimates from long-run observation, not a forecast — check the forecast before you paddle out.
Stated plainly
What can hurt you here
- Strong rips. Know where the channel is before you paddle out.
Camps linked to this break
All of Nicoya Peninsula