The beginnings of fame
Surfing in Costa Rica first came to public attention in 1994 with the film The Endless Summer II and the Witches Rock waves north of Tamarindo. You can see desert beaches, endless waves and a dream lifestyle. Surfing in Costa Rica is also Pura Vida.
The destination has since surfed (yes, pun intended) on this idyllic image of a surfing destination with good vibes.
But what about the surfing destination of Costa Rica in 2019?
According to statistics from the Costa Rican tourism office (2016 data), tourism dedicated to surfing accounts for around 11% of visitors.
Also, many tour operators, travel agencies, hotels and specialized stores are surfing on the not usurped reputation of Costa Rica and surfing.
Costa Rica offers a wide range of beaches for all levels of surfers. Let's take a non-exhaustive tour of the country's many spots.
Surfing on the Pacific coast
Let's start in the north, in the region known as
Guanacaste offers surf spots for all levels.
From the north to the south of Guanacaste, the main surf spots are :
Playa Potrero Grande
Better known as Ollie's Point, it's one of the most beautiful waves in Costa Rica.
Many (expensive) excursions are organized from Playa del Coco. The only way to get there is by boat. The name Ollie's Point refers to the airstrip that the American colonel had built to land planes loaded with weapons. These weapons were destined to fuel the Nicaraguan guerrilla movement and the Contras. This wave also features in the film The Endless Summer II.
Playa Naranjo
Also known as Witches Rock, or
witch's rock. This is the famous wave from the film The Endless Summer II. It's without doubt one of the most beautiful waves in the world. You're surfing in a breathtaking setting, alone on the peak, with pelicans coming to say hello and all facing a tropical forest. In short, paradise.
Wave level: intermediate to expert. It's a Beachbreak hollow wave located in the middle of Santa Rosa National Park.
Accessible only by 4×4, and only if it hasn't rained too hard the days before. There are no hotels nearby, but it is possible to camp on site.
Playa Grande
This wave is located north of Tamarindo and the river mouth. It's an excellent beachbreak, much appreciated by the sea turtles that come here to lay their eggs. You can reach it by car (40 min.) or on foot (20 min.) along the beach. Be careful crossing the river mouth, as there are crocodiles.
Tamarindo
One of Costa Rica's best-known surf spots, but not necessarily one of the most beautiful waves.
Indeed, it isn't,
Tamarindo is mainly reserved for
beginners.
However, on days with a good swell, Estero Peak offers beautiful, fast and regular waves. Numerous beachbreak straights are available for beginners and intermediates.
Tamarindo also offers a lively town scene, with numerous surf shops where you can hire decent boards.
Some boards can also be rented on the beach, but their quality is deplorable (missing fins, multiple repairs, unsuitable sizes). The only advantage of this type of rental is that, for 10$, you rent a board for the day, with no deposit required.
Playa Langosta
This river mouth offers waves that break over rocks. Interesting if you want to surf in complete tranquillity, as the peaks here are seldom frequented.
Playa Avellana
This beach is nicknamed Little Hawaii. Located south of Tamarindo, it offers more consistent waves. The river mouth has a beautiful peak, and the many rocky islets create solid, regular peaks. This surf spot offers powerful waves only for good surfers.
Playa Negra
This little-known beach offers superb straight runs from Playa Negra's northern reef. Tubing is frequent.
Playa Ostional
Best known for its
arrivadas Ostional beach features waves with well-defined lips. Many similar waves can be seen between Ostional and Nosara. Few people in the water.
Playa Nosara-Guiones
Here's one of Costa Rica's queens. This world-renowned wave can be ridden by all levels of surfers. From beginners to experts, Nosara Guiones offers superb waves virtually all year round. This beachbreak can be surfed at low tide and high tide, but on big swell days, only the most experienced will be able to take advantage of the wave's power. Left or right-handed, there are plenty of peaks to choose from, allowing a good spread of participants.
The village of
Nosara is almost entirely devoted to surfing. All hotels offer surfboard rental or surf lessons. There are many "secret" surf spots nearby.
Playa Santa Teresa and Malpais
The white color of the sand and the hollow waves have made
Santa Teresa one of Costa Rica's top surfing destinations. Mostly surfed at low tide. Santa Teresa offers great waves for all levels. Carmen beach (playa Carmen) is more suitable for beginners.
There are many surf shops, hotels and camps dedicated to surfing.
Surfing the Central Pacific
Playa Escondida
Despite its difficult access, the peaks are often crowded. It's a reef wave north of Jaco. It can be reached from Playa Herradura. Beginners please.
Jaco
Jaco is one of Costa Rica's main surfing destinations. Its large bay offers numerous peaks and moderately powerful waves, making it suitable for all levels and all year round.
There are plenty of surf stores where you can rent good boards, and a wide range of hotels.
This medium-sized wave is best surfed at high tide.
Playa Hermosa
This 7 km black sand beach offers one of the most powerful waves in Costa Rica. Very powerful, regular waves for experts only.
Esterillo
A popular wave on the Jaco side, it offers low-to-medium power waves, especially on the left. Right-handers are also possible. Numerous peaks allow practice for all levels.
Manuel Antonio
The area around
Manuel Antonio offer numerous spots and beachbreaks for all levels, from beginners to intermediates. The power and shape of the waves won't satisfy experienced surfers, but they're still great fun in a sumptuous setting. The main drawback of this surf spot is the large number of tourists in the water and at the peaks.
Boca Damas
The mouth of Boca Damas offers fast, long and sometimes hollow lefts. It's a little-frequented spot due to the many rocks and strong current.
Playa Dominical
This beach offers powerful waves all year round. Especially at high tide. The many peaks along the miles around the village center offer surfing for all levels. Beachbreak waves: watch out for currents and wave power. Especially on the Baru River side. Beginners can take refuge in Dominicalito or punta Dominical.
Punta Uvita
Known for its whale-tail-shaped tombolo, the large bay of Uvita. For all levels. Choose the second entrance to the national park for access to a less-frequented beach.
Surfing the South Pacific
Playa Zancudo
A beautiful beach for serene surfing. Often little frequented, as conditions have to be optimal for the wave to work.
Pavones
Considered the second longest left in the world, Pavones has a worldwide reputation.
Beachbreak wave, which can roll out over 1 km in optimal conditions. Operating only in S - SW swells, the spot is often saturated. Going up the wave via the beach will be less tiring after this long left.
Surfing the Caribbean coast
Surfing on the Caribbean coast is mainly concentrated in the southern part, from Limon to the border with Panama.
There are few surfers on this black-sand beach. Waves for beginners to intermediates.
Salsa Brava
This is the most powerful and dangerous wave in the country. Beginners please, only experts can enjoy this wave. The reef of the barrier reef provides a solid wave consistency of up to 4m. For strong swells, the season generally runs from December to March. What's more, the village of
Puerto Viejo will allow you to relax in a Caribbean atmosphere after a good surf session.
Playa Cocles
Ideal for beginners, Cocles' idyllic beaches alone are worth the detour. The waves at Cocles are easy to surf, and can reach medium sizes.
Punta Uva
The waves at Punta Uva offer an alternative for intermediate surfers. More consistent than Cocles, Punta Uva remains accessible to many surfers.
What time of year is Costa Rica's surfing season?
Costa Rica is blessed with year-round waves. However, there is a season that is favorable to the best swells. It runs from June to November on the Pacific coast and from June to November on the Caribbean coast.
These seasons are constantly changing, so be sure to check the weather and swell conditions a few days in advance.
If you'd like to find out more about surfing conditions in Costa Rica, we recommend the following websites
Windguru and
Surf Forecast.
Travel to Costa Rica with your surfboard
The cost of transporting a surfboard is still quite high.
For your information, Air France offers this service. You will need to notify the airline 48 hours before the day of your flight.
A surfboard is considered standard hold baggage if it is no longer than 300 cm in length and weighs less than 23kg. However, if you don't have any other baggage, the board will be included in your ticket (except for special-fare tickets).
If you have hold baggage and would like to bring your board, the current rate (14/01/2019) is €100.
This gives you the option of flying your board with you. You can also take out insurance for it. You can also buy one on site, or rent one from one of the many surf shops or specialist stores located near the surf spots.
Would you like to get an idea of
Costa Rica surf trip?
