Punta Banco surf forecast
Punta Banco · Puntarenas · Costa Rica
Reef peaks with solid rights and lefts off the village at the end of the road, about 5 km south of Pavones. It is far less crowded than Pavones on a big swell; waves stand up quickly and then soften, so they can be tricky to catch.
- Break
- reef break, lefts and rights; faces SW
- Level
- intermediate
- Best swell
- SW, S, W
- Best wind
- NE, N, E (offshore)
- Best tide
- all tides
- Season
- April-October
- Typical size
- 1-3.5 m
- Crowd
- low
- Hazards
- reef; rocks
Best time to surf Punta Banco
For intermediate surfers the best months are March to August, October: in May about 21 days have rideable waves and 3 rate good or better. It is rarely small and clean enough for beginners. Experienced surfers looking for size and power: April to June. Local guides: April-October.
Water 28 °C in November to 30 °C in April: Boardshorts / rash vest in winter, Boardshorts / rash vest at the warmest.
| Month | Rideable days | Good days | Beginner days | Typical size | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1.1 m | 29 °C |
| Feb | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1.1 m | 29 °C |
| Mar | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1.2 m | 30 °C |
| Apr | 23 | 1 | 1 | 1.4 m | 30 °C |
| May | 21 | 3 | 2 | 1.4 m | 30 °C |
| Jun | 23 | 2 | 2 | 1.3 m | 29 °C |
| Jul | 23 | 0 | 2 | 1.3 m | 30 °C |
| Aug | 18 | 1 | 2 | 1.3 m | 30 °C |
| Sep | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1.3 m | 29 °C |
| Oct | 18 | 2 | 2 | 1.2 m | 28 °C |
| Nov | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 m | 28 °C |
| Dec | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1.0 m | 29 °C |
Days per month, typical of the last three years of wave and wind model data, rated with the same scale as the forecast. Not a forecast: some years are better than others.
Nearby spots
- Pavones, Pavones
- Pan Dulce, Puerto Jimenez
- Cabo Matapalo, Matapalo
- Dominical, Dominical
- Playa Espadilla (Manuel Antonio), Manuel Antonio
- Playa Bejuco, Bejuco
Questions
When is the best time to surf Punta Banco?
For intermediate surfers March to August, October; in May about 21 days a month have rideable waves and 3 are good or better. Local guides say: April-October.
What is the water temperature at Punta Banco and which wetsuit do I need?
The sea ranges from about 28 °C in November to 30 °C in April. Wear a Boardshorts / rash vest in the coldest months and a Boardshorts / rash vest in the warmest.
Is Punta Banco good for beginners?
It is best for intermediate surfers (reef; rocks). Beginners nearby can try Playa Espadilla (Manuel Antonio), Manuel Antonio.
What swell, wind and tide work best at Punta Banco?
SW, S, W swell, NE, N, E wind (offshore), at all tides. Typical size 1-3.5 m.
Live swell, wind, tide, a 14-day outlook, satellite pictures and webcams for Punta Banco are in the Surf Spoting app.