Pavones
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Wed, Nov 4 – Sat, Nov 7
- 4–5 ft · 15sSurf on your dates
- Is the fare low?Sign up to see
- BWI → SJONearest airport
- 82°F waterBoardshorts
Get a phone alert when Pavones fires.
Get the iPhone appiPhone app
Know when Pavones fires and the flight from your airport is cheap.
Cheap Waves: cheap flights to firing waves. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pavones surf forecast
Better surfweekendSun 1 Nov – Wed 4 Nov
Updated
Trip dates
Friday, Oct 23
6ft8/10Best at dusk
- Swell
- 11s SSW
- Wind
- 3kt glassy
- Water
- 85°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:20am to 5:13pm
- Dawn5:20 to 7am7ft5kt offshore6/10
- Morning7 to 11am6ft5kt cross-shore6/10
- Midday11am to 2pm6ft4kt cross-shore4/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm6ft2kt glassy7/10
- Dusk3 to 5:13pm6ft1kt glassy8/10
Saturday, Oct 24
7ft5/10Best in the morning
- Swell
- 11s SSW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:20am to 5:12pm
- Dawn5:20 to 7am7ft2kt glassy5/10
- Morning7 to 11am7ft0kt glassy5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm7ft8kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm7ft8kt onshore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:12pm7ft3kt glassy3/10
Sunday, Oct 25
6ft4/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 10s SSW
- Wind
- 6kt onshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:20am to 5:12pm
- Dawn5:20 to 7am6ft2kt glassy4/10
- Morning7 to 11am6ft5kt onshore2/10
- Midday11am to 2pm6ft9kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm6ft8kt onshore1/10
- Dusk3 to 5:12pm5ft4kt onshore3/10
Monday, Oct 26
5ft6/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 9s SSW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:20am to 5:12pm
- Dawn5:20 to 7am5ft1kt glassy6/10
- Morning7 to 11am5ft6kt cross-shore2/10
- Midday11am to 2pm5ft7kt cross-shore4/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm5ft3kt glassy3/10
- Dusk3 to 5:12pm5ft4kt onshore2/10
Tuesday, Oct 27
4ft6/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 9s SSW
- Wind
- 5kt cross-shore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:20am to 5:11pm
- Dawn5:20 to 7am4ft2kt glassy6/10
- Morning7 to 11am4ft2kt glassy5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm4ft7kt onshore3/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm4ft8kt cross-shore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:11pm4ft5kt cross-shore2/10
Wednesday, Oct 28
3ft4/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 15s SSW
- Wind
- 6kt cross-shore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:20am to 5:11pm
- Dawn5:20 to 7am3ft2kt glassy4/10
- Morning7 to 11am3ft3kt glassy4/10
- Midday11am to 2pm3ft9kt onshore3/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm3ft7kt cross-shore3/10
- Dusk3 to 5:11pm3ft5kt cross-shore3/10
Thursday, Oct 29
3ft5/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 14s SSW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:20am to 5:11pm
- Dawn5:20 to 7am3ft0kt glassy5/10
- Morning7 to 11am3ft2kt glassy3/10
- Midday11am to 2pm3ft8kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm3ft7kt onshore3/10
- Dusk3 to 5:11pm3ft3kt glassy3/10
Friday, Oct 30
3ft3/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 13s SSW
- Wind
- 6kt onshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:21am to 5:11pm
- Dawn5:21 to 7am3ft1kt glassy3/10
- Morning7 to 11am3ft3kt glassy3/10
- Midday11am to 2pm3ft8kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm3ft7kt onshore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:11pm3ft5kt onshore3/10
Saturday, Oct 31
3-5ft5/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 15s SW
- Wind
- 5kt onshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:21am to 5:10pm
- Dawn5:21 to 7am4ft1kt glassy5/10
- Morning7 to 11am3ft1kt glassy5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm2-3ft7kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm2ft7kt onshore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:10pm5ft6kt onshore2/10
Sunday, Nov 1
3-5ft6/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 13s SW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:21am to 5:10pm
- Dawn5:21 to 7am6ft1kt glassy6/10
- Morning7 to 11am3-5ft1kt glassy4/10
- Midday11am to 2pm3-4ft7kt onshore3/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm4ft5kt onshore3/10
- Dusk3 to 5:10pm4ft2kt glassy4/10
Monday, Nov 2 Long range
3ft6/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 15s SW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Light
- 5:21am to 5:10pm
- Dawn5:21 to 7am3-4ft1kt glassy6/10
- Morning7 to 11am4ft1kt glassy5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm3-4ft8kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm3ft6kt onshore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:10pm3ft4kt onshore3/10
Tuesday, Nov 3 Long range
3ft6/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 14s SW
- Wind
- 6kt onshore
- Light
- 5:21am to 5:10pm
- Dawn5:21 to 7am3ft2kt glassy6/10
- Morning7 to 11am3ft2kt glassy4/10
- Midday11am to 2pm3ft9kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm3ft8kt onshore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:10pm3ft5kt onshore2/10
Wednesday, Nov 4 Long range
4-5ft6/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 19s SSW
- Wind
- 6kt onshore
- Light
- 5:21am to 5:10pm
- Dawn5:21 to 7am3ft2kt glassy6/10
- Morning7 to 11am3-4ft1kt glassy5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm4-5ft10kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm5ft9kt onshore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:10pm5ft5kt onshore3/10
Thursday, Nov 5 Long range
4ft6/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 15s SSW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Light
- 5:22am to 5:10pm
- Dawn5:22 to 7am5ft1kt glassy6/10
- Morning7 to 11am4-5ft1kt glassy4/10
- Midday11am to 2pm5ft6kt onshore3/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm4ft6kt onshore3/10
- Dusk3 to 5:10pm4ft4kt onshore3/10
Friday, Nov 6 Long range
3ft3/10Best at dusk
- Swell
- 14s SSW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Light
- 5:22am to 5:09pm
- Dawn5:22 to 7am4ft1kt glassy3/10
- Morning7 to 11am3-4ft3kt glassy3/10
- Midday11am to 2pm3ft6kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm3ft5kt onshore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:09pm3ft4kt onshore3/10
Saturday, Nov 7 Long range
3ft5/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 13s SSW
- Wind
- 3kt glassy
- Light
- 5:22am to 5:09pm
- Dawn5:22 to 7am3ft2kt glassy5/10
- Morning7 to 11am2ft1kt glassy3/10
- Midday11am to 2pm2ft4kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm3ft5kt onshore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:09pm3ft3kt glassy3/10
Pavones surf guide
The wave. Pavones is a left-hand point break over sand and rocks near the mouth of the Golfo Dulce. South swell slips between the tip of the Osa Peninsula and the mainland, hits a rocky point and peels left for 300 to 500 meters, and the best rides run past a kilometer. Kenny Easton is reported to have first surfed it in the early 1960s.
Who it suits. Small south swells give intermediates long, easy walls, and goofy-footers face the wave on their toes. Big swells bring speed and length that reward experienced surfers.
Read the full guide, with its sources (checked Oct 2026).
Getting there
An expedition, about 7 hr from SJO
- SJO
- 368 km, about 6 hr 34 min
- the wave
The road south from San Jose is long and the last stretch turns to gravel.
Free-flow driving time, not traffic.
12345Arrival500 mWhere to stay
1
2
3
4
5
6
Price per night$24 – $265+
-
2 -
5
No places in this price range.
Checked Oct 2026
Season
PeakShoulderOff
Best months: Mar–May · typically 4–6 ft faces
Month by month
Best Mar–May. Good Feb–Aug. Worth avoiding Nov–Dec.
| Month | Relative quality | Typical face | Surfable days | Water | Wear | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 ft | 88% | 29 C / 84 F | boardshorts | Shoulder | |
| Feb | 4 ft | 95% | 30 C / 86 F | boardshorts | Good | |
| Mar | 4 ft | 100% | 30 C / 86 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Apr | 5 ft | 98% | 30 C / 86 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| May | 6 ft | 99% | 30 C / 85 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Jun | 5 ft | 97% | 29 C / 84 F | boardshorts | Good | |
| Jul | 5 ft | 100% | 29 C / 84 F | boardshorts | Good | |
| Aug | 5 ft | 97% | 29 C / 84 F | boardshorts | Good | |
| Sep | 5 ft | 96% | 29 C / 84 F | boardshorts | Shoulder | |
| Oct | 5 ft | 90% | 28 C / 83 F | boardshorts | Shoulder | |
| Nov | 4 ft | 90% | 28 C / 82 F | boardshorts | Worth avoiding | |
| Dec | 3 ft | 94% | 29 C / 84 F | boardshorts | Worth avoiding |
Medians from years of hindcast, not a forecast (how we read the hindcast). Water temperatures come from an offshore model grid, which reads a little warm on an upwelling coast. More on the break in the Costa Rica guide.