Manuel Antonio • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (March - September)

Manuel Antonio faces SSW, and the surf year revolves around the pulse of Southern Hemisphere groundswell traveling north across the Pacific. From March through September, the average wave height at this exposed stretch of the Costa Rican coast climbs to 3.6-4.6ft (1.1-1.4m) and average periods reach a solid 13-14s. This is the most powerful, organized window of the year, with SSW and SW swells dominating over 90% of the spectrum in many months. The Intertropical Convergence Zone shifts north and the South Pacific storm track gets busy, sending long-period energy into the SSW-facing bay. The season is not perfect-afternoon onshore S/SW sea breezes are common, and ideal wind frequencies hover around 20-25%-but the surf is at its punchiest, and early mornings often offer clean, land-breeze sides.

Fair Surf Season (October - November)

As autumn transitions in the northern tropics, the Southern Hemisphere source begins to ease back. October still averages 4.6ft (1.4m) swell, but the period drops to a less organized 12.8s, and November sees size fall to 3.9ft (1.2m) while ideal wind plummets to just 15%-the lowest of the year. Onshore SW/SSW flow becomes more frequent, and the swell becomes choppier as periods shrink. There are still waves, but you have to work harder to find an open face, making these fair-to-middling months for the average surfer.

Low Surf Season (December - February)

From December through February, the Southern Hemisphere storm track quiets and average wave heights slump to 3.3ft (1.0m). The silver lining is the dry-season wind regime: N and NE flow blows more consistently offshore, and ideal wind frequencies peak at 22-28%, the best of the year. While the power is lower, the water remains a bath-like 28°C and the lineups groom themselves into clean, rippable 2-4ft (0.6-1.2m) waves. For longboarders, beginner surfers, or those seeking the most user-friendly conditions, this low-swell window still has its appeal.