The Ultimate Guide to Playa Hermosa Surf
Playa Hermosa surf is pretty awesome. An official World Surfing Reserve, this one’s ranked among some of the best places on the globe – think the likes of Malibu and Ericeira. It’s a place of sheer quality, barrels and beach peaks glore. One of the best in Central America.
An introduction to Playa Hermosa surf
One of the newest Save the Waves World Surfing Reserves and one of the only surfing reserves in Central America, Playa Hermosa is what brings the quality to Jaco. It’s about 10-15 minute’s drive south of that resort, running for a couple of miles in a perfect diagonal line across the Pacific. It seems almost tailor-made to pick up ANY SW swell that comes in here, and the reliability is off the charts.
Wave wise, you’re looking at all sorts of lippy wedges and points. Lefts, rights, and A-frame sanbars – plus lots of close outs – abound up and down the shoreline. There is so much space that you rarely have to share a peak. Surf schools sometimes stray down, but the power means it’s mainly an intermediate+ destination and that manifests in emptier line ups than in Jaco proper, or Tamarindo, say.
Heavier days can turn the Playa Hermosa surf into a board-breaking festival. Ideal conditions are something in the 5-9 foot range with good easterly offshores and medium S-SW swells, usually in the wet season. Sorry, the Green Season. (May-October).
The hazards are just too much for some – Hermosa is a breeding ground for crocs and stingrays. Accidents have happened, too, so always be alert.
A lot of surfers choose to stay in the nearby resort of Jaco, which not only has plenty of hotels but also smaller waves on Playa Jaco and oodles of nightlife to boot. That’s okay, but we think Hermosa itself has more character and better beach hotels with a more chilled vibe. There’s no reason this can’t be the place you base yourself for surfing every day in Costa Rica.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Costa Rica
Playa Hermosa surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Playa Hermosa surf?
Where is Playa Hermosa?
Playa Hermosa is on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It’s just under two hours’ drive from the capital at San Jose.
The closest major town is Jaco, a major surf destination in its own right. That sits a mere 10-15 minutes’ drive north along a very pretty coastal section of the main 34 Highway, also known as the Costanera Highway. (It’s so close that many surfers heading here will choose to stay there and make trips to Playa Hermosa during the day, but more on that later).
Playa Hermosa is located within the province of Puntarenas. That can be a bit confusing becuase there’s actually another Playa Hermosa further south in the same region close to Uvita and it’s also a surf town. And there’s a Playa Hermosa up in Guanacaste Province.
The one you’re looking for is Playa hermosa de Garabito, or Playa Hermosa Jaco.
How to get to Playa Hermosa?
First thing’s first: Get to Costa Rica. You’ll want to fly into San Jose – the capital. It’s the closest airport to this part of the Pacific coast AND – here’s the good news – the biggest in the country.
No matter if you’re flying over from Europe or North America, there’s a good chance that the cheapest connections will be straight to Jaco.
Try using Kiwi to search flights – they have a unique algo that links together all airlines to get the best deal, not just the ones that use codeshares. It can turn up some great bargains.
Once you’re on the ground there, it should be easy to get to Playa Hermosa.
Aim for Jaco, as that’s only a few minutes in a taxi to the north of the beach and where most of the transport goes.
We’d say there are two main choices:
- Minibus – Minibuses are a cheap and easy way to travel. The good news is that there are dedicated services from the airport and from San Jose town that can bring you straight to Jaco in 1.5 hours. From there you can get a taxi to Playa Hermosa for a couple of $$. MyPinkBus do daily services and have very comfy buses.
- Rent a car – Renting a car is becoming a much more common way to go in Costa Rica. Roads have improved greatly in the last 5 years and the coast highway is very decent. You could make a driving trip of it and cruise the whole coast from Jaco down to Quepos surfing as you go. Tempted? Search using RentalCars – we think they have some of the best rates of any aggregator on the internet, plus some generous late-cancellation options. It’s a good idea to go 4WD in Costa Rica.
Playa Hermosa surf spots
Playa Hermosa runs for about 6.5 miles from end to end. There are countless peaks that don’t have names all up and down its length.
Some have been named because they have the consistent barrels or lefts and rights. We’ve listed them here, along with some nearby spots within a 40-minute radius that are definitely worth knowing about…
Boca Barranca
Boca Barranca is considered one of the world’s very best longboard lefts, but it’s kinda good fun no matter if you bring the 9 foot log or the 5″3 fish twinny.
It’s tucked right up into the Gulf of Nicoya, so demands the biggest SW swells to get firing. When it’s on, it can match even Chicama for length of rides. Oddly for Costa Rica, N is offshore here, which is great news cos that’s dominant.
Still, we’d get in early to dodge the crowds. With all the loggers out there, you’ll be contending with quite some volume of fiberglass to get a good ride. It’s party waves all over the shop.
Where to stay? Casa Jana sits just over the road from the inside section of Boca. Think calm, quiet, quaint apartments with a pool that won’t break the bank.
We have a complete guide to the left hander at Boca Barranca (Coming soon)
Playa Jaco
Don’t aim for Hermosa if you’re heading to Costa Rica to learn to surf. Jaco is a WAY better bet.
It’s only 10-15 minutes’ drive to the north and has a whole bay of slightly-smaller waves that are great for beginners. It’s also a complete town, packed with surf schools and surf shops.
Where to stay? Surf Synergy All-Inclusive Surf Retreat is a gorgeous hotel on the hills just above Jaco. They can organize surf-training packages in house and offer transport to loads of local breaks.
We’ve got a complete guide to surfing in Jaco
Roca Loca & El Gato
Two reef breaks that work on the headland between Jaco town and Playa Hermosa itself.
Roca Loca is a hard right hander on shallow reef that needs big, pushy south swells, so is basically rainy season only. El Gato is a left that can get shallow and sucky but can work on a single overhead.
Terrazas
Terrazas is probably the most-surfed of all the Playa Hermosa spots. That’s not because it’s great. It is great. But it’s because it sits right by the bulk of the hotels on Playa Hermosa.
The wave is a hollow left that can be rippable for nice top turns. The main danger is the submerged reef, which has some jagged rocks that like to make a nuisance of themselves when the wave is working best on high tide. Keep your eyes on em’.
Backyards
Backyards is an uber-reliable wave, working throughout the dry and wet seasons. It likes north or south swells with any element of W in them – so that’s virtually everything, then.
The wave is pretty epic, too. You’re looking at classic Pacific-coast sandbank barrels that form very steep and strong when the water’s on the push. Don’t expect it to be empty, and don’t be tempted by low tide.
Almendros
Bigger days can see nice rippable shoulders at Almendros. It’s a very high quality wave that needs 5-9 foot to work at least. That’s the sweet spot cos anything more than 12 and it’ll just slam shut and close out. At it’s prime it’s a shortboarder’s dream, with big shoulders that can be cut up. Look for it right in the middle of Playa Hermosa. Only works on a pushing mid-tide and up.
La Curva
Another 800 meters or so along the Playa Hermosa dirt track from Almendros, La Curva is a hollow spot that offers both left and rights.
We’d say the rights are generally of better quality, but there are small hollow sections and even the odd almond barrel to be had on either if there’s decent size in the swell (anything above 6 foot).
Popular with foamers. Watch out for the shallow bottom. It’s sand but it can still hurt!
Tulin
Tulin is towards the southernmost end of the beach and is among the punchiest of the Playa Hermosa surf spots . Barrels are common here, even in the quieter dry season.
They form like a Hossegor French wedge on the sandbanks at low tide and peel beautifully right and left.
When Tulin is working well the word will spread so we’d recommend early sessions if possible. Crocodiles can also come by, so be very, very careful.
Esterillos
Esterillos, about 15 minutes’ drive south of Playa Hermosa, has three beaches but the most famous for surf is Esterillos Oeste, the westernmost of the trio. It points almost head-on due-south (unlike Hermosa, which faces SW), which means it tends to work better with strong S elements in the swell. There’s an epic A-frame there.
The low sand shelf helps to temper most swells into knee- or chest-high sets that are fantastic for learners and longboarders. They spread up and down a long beach and have a sandy bottom. To put it another way: This is a great place to learn.
The one downside is that there have been croc attacks here. Also, be wary of resident stingrays.
More advanced surfers can head actoss to Esterillos Centro. It’s about 2km of pure beach break wedges that are really good fun in the dry season. Rarely busy, too.
Where to stay? The Marala Hotel is excellent. It’s on the hillsides above Esterillos Centro, offering a pool with 180-degree views of the jungles and a super-nice lounge-bar space.
Check out our full guide to the surf and more in Esterillos Beach
Best hotels (for surfers) in Playa Hermosa
The way we see it, there are two choices when you come to pick that Playa Hermosa surf hotel. Either stay in Jaco town, for nightlife and shops and cafes. Or, stay on the way to Playa Hermosa, where the coast is fringed by more relaxed beach hotels that have better access to the waves. We’ve gone for a mix…
Surf Inn Hermosa
These guys have one of the best locations on the beach for surfers. You’re right in front of Backyards, one of the most inviting A-frame peaks on the beach that works all year round. Literally 2 seconds out of your suite and you’ll be at the take-off zone.
Rooms are studios and apartments, some with basica facilities like coffee machines, others with more substantial cooking areas. Good vibes. Nice people.
Casa La Cima
There’s no better family accommodation on Hermosa beach than Casa La Cima. A glorious modern villa within walking distance of the waves, it’s armed with a stunning L-shaped pool, spacious lounges, and fabulous self-catering kitchen-diner. Can sleep up to six people across three bedrooms.
Hotel Terraza del Pacifico
There are stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the beach of Playa Hermosa from this hotel. They also offer a huge outdoor pool and pretty contemporary rooms with lots of mod cons.
There are lots more hotel options running pretty much the whole length of Hermosa Beach. We like to use Booking.com’s map feature to see EXACTLY how close they are to specific waves and the beachfront itself before we reserve. Being within walking distance in the morning makes all the difference.
For more inspiration on surf hotels here, be sure to check out our complete guide to the best surf hotels in Costa Rica, too!
Surf camps in Playa Hermosa
Booking your own hotel on Hermosa beach is a great way to go if you like the freedom to choose where you surf and when. But, for complete beginners who need surf lessons and gear rental and everything else, there’s no substitute for guided surf camps.
They’re now in vogue: You pay a set price for all your accomodation, surf lessons, and transport to the waves in the region. Sometimes there will be extras like yoga and whatnot.
Around Playa Hermosa, most camps are based up in Jaco town or nearby it. The best of them right now, for us, are…
- School of the World Surf Camp (7-day double surf camp) – If you are serious about improving your surfing then this camp is one of the best in Costa Rica. They focus on packing in LOADS of practice: 2x 120-minute surf lessons EVERY DAY! They’re based in a hostel-style lodge in Jaco and tend to surf multiple breaks in the region depending on your level.
- Damo Surf Camp (7-day surf camp) – The budget and beginner-friendly choice in town, Damo do this full week’s package for under $800 per person. Accomodation is included of course, as are 6x surf lessons and regular yoga and mediation classes.
We also have a guide to all the best surf camps in Costa Rica right now, offering the lowdown on the very best packaged surf trips across the country.
Surf lessons in Playa Hermosa
We’ll make this easy: Don’t waste your time looking for surf lessons in Hermosa. Make the 10-minute drive/taxi north to Jaco and do your lessons there. The waves are WAYAYYYY more beginner-friendly.
That advice doesn’t count if you’re an intermediate+ and want more technical lessons. Hermosa is probably perfect for that, so stick around and ask in the local schools, who are generally more suited to advanced surfers.
Back to the beginners, here are our Jaco picks to pre-book…
- Jaco Beach: Learn to Surf in Costa Rica – Surf for Families – It’s kinda’ rare to see a 3-hour package but here’s one that’s tailored specifically for families. As we mentioned, it’s in Jaco, not Playa Hermosa.
- 2-Hour Private Surf Lesson with Instructor in Jacó Beach – If you want one-on-one teaching then you’d be hard-pushed to find a lesson that’s cheaper than this. We think you could ask for it to happen in Hermosa instead of Jaco if you want too,
When to surf in Playa Hermosa?
iStock.com / Gianfranco ViviPlaya Hermosa does best when there’s a southern element in the swell direction. That’s true of pretty much all of western Costa Rica. It means waiting for the rainy season, when most people depart the beaches. However, Hermosa has such reliability you can surf here pretty much all year round…
Rainy season (May-November)
The swell channels shift to the south for the rainy season in Costa Rica. That pushes some excellent surf into the whole Nicoya and Pacific coastline. It’s prime time for advanced surfers to hit the waves here, with heavy overheads and double overheads happening very often.
Don’t be shy of calling it too big in Playa Hermosa. Where this surfing reserve suffers is in having TOO much energy. It’s not uncommon for close outs to run the length of the sand.
Dry season (December-April)
A gradual shift in the swell direction to the W and the N can cut some power from the waves on Playa Hermosa. It’s not the end of the action, because it also means there’s less of a chance of those heavy close outs on the more south-sensetive spots.
In fact, dry-season days down here can be wonderful, with some great barrel options at the more consistent breaks – especially Tulin.
Beginners should also like this season, mainly for the whitewash and surf camps that happen up in Jaco Bay.
Surf shops in Playa Hermosa
From ding repairs to new boards, the surf shops of Playa Hermosa and Jaco should have you covered for most things…
- Carton Surfboards – Carton Surfboards is a depot-like workshop of a surf outlet that’s neatly placed on the road between Jaco and Playa Hermosa. The owner – Carton – is a great guy, and a maestro ding repairer to boot. There’s also some new and second-hand surfboard stock all shaped in house.
- Hermosa Riders Surf School – These guys have a nice rental space but also a very good surf shop. It’s at the northern end of Playa Hermosa. They sell some boards and fins, along with lots of branded clothes, flip flops, and sunscreen.
Where to eat and drink in Playa Hermosa?
Hermosa is a lot more chilled than Jaco to the north. At night, there are plenty of places to have a sunset beer after a golden-hour session but it’s not no-holds-barred partying like its near-neighbor.
A lot of the time, people make the quick trip to Jaco to eat and drink but you don’t have to do that.
- The Surfing Co – We don’t know whether to list The Surfing Co. as a surf shop or a cafe. We went with cafe because it’s more of a hangout than a gear pickup point. They’ve channeled a bit of Bali with that polished concrete, serve great coffee, and even stock longboards, surfboards, and surf fashion.
- Vida Hermosa Bar and Restaurant – This is a cool hangout spot with front-row views over the north end of Playa Hermosa. It’s built in the style of a classic beach eatery, with creaky timber decks and timber bars that look plucked from the Caribbean. Regular live music makes it fun, and so do the cocktails – the margaritas are something special for $3900 CRC ($6.50 USD).
- Bowie’s Point – We’ve had many a chilled brunch and later-on cocktail on the wooden decks of Bowie’s Point. It’s a very nice spot with a very nice view. Pet-friendly, too, so look for the doggies AND the resident pig.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
