Costa Rica Surf Report for March 9, 2000

Brought to you each Thursday evening by local surf businesses throughout Costa Rica. See http://www.crsurf.com/links.html for pics., forecast links, and tide charts. Check the new feature - THE TIME MACHINE - which shows a picture and the surf report from 1999 !!!!

FEATURES
National Stats:
Tides
Swell Direction

Area Reports:
Wave Heights & Conditions
Forecasts & Best Spot
Upcoming Events / Contests

SPONSORS by Area

1) Surfpati at Vista Villas / R.A. surf shop Tamarindo (506-653-0114) in Tamarindo - surfpati@racsa.co.cr

2) Louis at Hotel Las Tortugas (653-0458) in Playa Grande - nela@cool.co.cr

3) Steve at Tropicos Latino (640-0062) in Playa Santa Teresa
troplat@sol.racsa.co.cr

Kristian up in the North Nicoya Peninsula
surf_witch@hotmail.com

4) Martine at Hotel Café de Paris (682-0087) in Nosara
cafepari@sol.racsa.co.cr

5) Chuck at Chosita del Surf (643-3328) in Jaco
chucks@sol.racsa.co.cr

6) Tommy at Fuego del Sol Hotel (in Playa Hermosa)

7) Todd at Alacran Surf Tours in Manuel Antonio (777-1721)
alacran@sol.racsa.co.cr

David at Escuela D’Amore (777-1143) in Manuel Antonio – damore@sol.racsa.co.cr

Vida Verde Land Management & Sales (787-0116) in Dominical
vidaverde@sol.racsa.co.cr

Paco at Hotel Rio Lindo (787-0078) in Dominical
hotelriolindo@sol.racsa.co.cr

Mel Baker at A.T.E.C. (750-0191) in Puerto Viejo - atecmail@sol.racsa.co.cr

Cabinas Casa Verde (750-0015 fax 750-0047) in Puerto Viejo
http://www.greencoast.com/casaverd.htm or atecmail@sol.racsa.co.cr

TIDES (for Puntarenas) – Mareas
** New Moon - March 4th, Full Moon - March 19th **
High tide (Friday) – Marea alta (viernes)
5:36 a.m. @ 8.8 ft. – 268 cm.

Low tide – Marea baja
11:36 a.m. @ (-.4) ft. – (-12) cm.

SWELL DIRECTION -- DIRECIÓN DEL SWELL

Pacific – Set your alarm clocks, the early morning seshes will be the best, with high tide on Tues. at 9 a.m. Expect continued SW swell for the next 3 days. Then there will be another bump from the NW, increasing the set wave count. Then another SW swell should arrive by next weekend. The surf should not drop below headhigh at any location. **Local knowledge - the formula for the best surf is 3-5 days after the new and full moon **

Caribbean – This side is still sporting some surf, mostly in the chest to head range. Puerto Vargas, Bonita, and Uvita will have 1-2 overhead sets all through the weekend until next Tuesday. Use the website to see the daily weather conditions in Limon.

AREA REPORTS

NICOYA (N)

(1) From Patti at Best Western Vista Villas in Tamarindo -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
Headhigh(5-6) to double overhead(10-12)(Witch's on Thursday) should continue with a swell push from the southwest, switching to south late Friday. Offshore winds bringing in glassy, barreling surf....

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
Weather a little cloudy, but offshore prevailing with some gusty burst.
Chance of onshore switch during the day. Surf Dawn Patrol and sunset sessions. Swell should be more out of the south making some good surf on south and southwest facing breaks.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
Try a boat trip to Ollie's, Sat or Sun. where the conditions should be
headhigh with offshore flow. Playa Langosta - headhigh early morning: Playa Grande - 4'-6' with a chance of sidewinds: Playa Negra - headhigh with possible variable winds during the day. Water temp is still cool (68 degrees at Witch's/Oli's)

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
It's a March madness music event all month at Best Western Vista Villas- Tamarindo. Check out the new pizza and deli. St. Pati's day party with the Leatherbacks - Friday March 17th......


(2) From Louis at Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
On Tuesday, a raw bumpy overhead SW swell arrived. Some well overhead waves, but very few clean ones. You had to pick them. The wind has been flukey, but offshore all day most days. With the March change of weather, we expect offshores in the morning and onshores in the afternoon becoming more prevalent. The South swells, which are beginning to arrive now, will mean consistent surf as long as the wind is offshore. Focus on morning surf here in Playa Grande and slipping down to Tamarindo Rivermouth when it's too big out front.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
High tide is moving into the morning sessions. We`ll be going out for dawn patrol. And on Wednesday, the swell settled a bit and was much cleaner in the morning.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
In front of Las Tortugas hotel until it closes out. Then we`ll head towards the Tamarindo end of the bay.


(3) From Hotel Cafe de Paris in Nosara -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
GOOD CONDITIONS IN THE MORNING 5 FEET WITH SOME BIG SETS MORE THAN OVERHEAD.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
SAME WAY

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
IN FRONT OF THE PALM TREE IN PLAYA GUIONES


(4) From Steve at Tropico Latinos in Santa Teresa -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
2 - 4' of swell, SW with something else mixed in to make for good peaks on the overhead sets. Clean in the morning with evening glass offs.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND.
Looks like more of the same - SW swells should increase in size and frequency now that March is here.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND.
High tide is moving into the morning so Playa Carmen will be the place. Check the points if it gets big.


JACO & HERMOSA

(5) From Chuck at Chosita del Surf in Jaco -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
Here's the scoop on Jaco ! 4-6 ft some with shape most without ! Evening glass off but the big ones are 300 yds long and breaking all at once !

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
We have had size all week , got a couple of dawn sessions at Roca Loca with just 2 friends out this week , I expect it to hold up size wise but who knows @ the shape ! Weather has been WEIRD < rain, cloudy strange for sure!

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
Who Knows but possible Escondida and plenty of big beach break !

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
Alvaro is in the Galapagos , hope he is doing well !

(6) From Tommy at Hotel Fuego del Sol in Hermosa -

We have a southwest swell running about four feet. The tide is at around six today in the afternoon. The water temp is about 85 f. so, go for a swim any ways. Tides are running about 9.5 ft today. More Pictures at: www.fuegodelsol.com/page3.html


QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO

(7) From Alacran Tours in Manuel Antonio –

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
Monday conditions were ideal in Playitas. Glassy conditions with waves ranging from 4-7'...Teusday the size diminished a little still with glassy conditions in the afternoon with nice offshore breeze.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
With signs of the swell diminishing, expect for the size to drop off over the weekend in the 4' range...weather has been a little cloudy lately with possible afternoon showers, creating a nice offshore breeze.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
For the best surf, get to Playitas or Bajos 2 hours before high tide and then move on to Playitas as the tide moves out. Also, if you are looking for some more challenging waves, check out some of the more exposed beaches to the north or south of Quepos.

DOMINICAL & SOUTHERN PACIFIC
See National Report

CARRIBEAN
See National Report