Playa Estero surf forecast
Santa Catalina · Veraguas · Panama
The sandy beach just east of Santa Catalina village and the town's learning spot. It is soft and easy at low tide, but on a decent swell at high tide it gets fast and powerful, well overhead. Mind the tide if you park on the sand.
- Break
- beach break, lefts and rights; faces SSW
- Level
- beginner
- Best swell
- SW, S, W
- Best wind
- NE, N, E (offshore)
- Best tide
- mid tide
- Season
- March-November
- Typical size
- 0.5-2.5 m
- Crowd
- medium
- Hazards
- rips; tide reaching the beach parking
Best time to surf Playa Estero
For intermediate surfers the best months are March to July: in April about 14 days have rideable waves and 7 rate good or better. Beginners find the friendliest waves in March to August. Experienced surfers looking for size and power: April. Local guides: March-November.
Water 28 °C in November to 30 °C in August: Boardshorts / rash vest in winter, Boardshorts / rash vest at the warmest.
| Month | Rideable days | Good days | Beginner days | Typical size | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0.8 m | 29 °C |
| Feb | 3 | 1 | 10 | 0.8 m | 29 °C |
| Mar | 11 | 3 | 21 | 0.9 m | 29 °C |
| Apr | 14 | 7 | 21 | 1.0 m | 29 °C |
| May | 14 | 5 | 20 | 1.0 m | 30 °C |
| Jun | 14 | 2 | 24 | 1.0 m | 29 °C |
| Jul | 12 | 2 | 24 | 0.8 m | 30 °C |
| Aug | 6 | 2 | 19 | 1.0 m | 30 °C |
| Sep | 5 | 1 | 14 | 1.0 m | 29 °C |
| Oct | 3 | 1 | 14 | 0.8 m | 29 °C |
| Nov | 5 | 1 | 13 | 1.1 m | 28 °C |
| Dec | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0.7 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.
More surf spots nearby: surf spots in Santa Catalina.
Nearby spots
- Santa Catalina, Santa Catalina
- Punta Brava, Santa Catalina
- Punta Roca, Santa Catalina
Questions
When is the best time to surf Playa Estero?
For intermediate surfers March to July; in April about 14 days a month have rideable waves and 7 are good or better. For beginners March to August. Local guides say: March-November.
What is the water temperature at Playa Estero and which wetsuit do I need?
The sea ranges from about 28 °C in November to 30 °C in August. Wear a Boardshorts / rash vest in the coldest months and a Boardshorts / rash vest in the warmest.
Is Playa Estero good for beginners?
Yes, on small days: it is a beach break that suits beginners. Watch out for: rips; tide reaching the beach parking. Take a lesson or surf near the lifeguards if you are new.
What swell, wind and tide work best at Playa Estero?
SW, S, W swell, NE, N, E wind (offshore), at mid tide. Typical size 0.5-2.5 m.
Live swell, wind, tide, a 14-day outlook, satellite pictures and webcams for Playa Estero are in the Surf Spoting app.