The 5 Best Tamarindo Surf Camps [Updated 2024]

• Iguana Surf Camp – The best all-round surf camp (but especially good for beginners)
• Dreamsea Costa Rica – Best for escaping the crowds
• La Botella de Leche Hostel – Partiers, backpackers
• Mai Ke Kai Surf House – Best budget surf camp
• Selina Tamarindo – Best for remote workers on a budget

Of all the places in Tamarindo, it’s the small and welcoming Iguana Surf Camp that we think hits most of the right notes.

Catering best to beginners and lower intermediates, it’s aimed squarely at that demographic that most needs surf camps and most needs the cruisy waves of Tamarindo itself.

What’s more, the in-house surf teachers been doing this for more than three decades and have ISA-level qualifications (some 1, some 2), so know a thing or two about helping folks progress from whitewash to green waves and making it fun along the way.

There are multiple accommodation tiers. Go private and bag yourself a lovely beachside cottage that’s steps from the waves. Or book the shared dorm to keep costs on the down low.

Whichever you plump for, you can look forward to 4x 120-minute surf lessons and unlimited board rental for your entire stay. There’s also a very enlightening video analysis sesh to help you overcome those bad habits before they set in.

Iguana remains our top pick for 2024, and is now even our favorite for learners in the whole of Costa Rica.

The all-new Dreamsea camp in Tamarindo is pretty darn nice to behold. It swaps a glitzy beachfront location for a 15,000-square-meter dash of coastal jungle up in the hills. That’s where you’ll stay, in either a shared bunk in the sleek Dreamsea dorms (6- or 4-person rooms available) or in a private double with ensuite, falling asleep to the sound of howler monkeys and rustling teak trees and all that.

What we love is that the full eight-day package here should set you back around the $600 mark, which is nowhere near as hefty a price tag as lots of other surf camps in the region. For that, you’ll score five surf lessons, transport to and from one of the four local beach breaks, 3x yoga sessions, and an off-water practical theory session to help you with the basics of pop-up technique.

However, there’s another ace up the sleeve here: Dreamsea’s new location takes you south of Tamarindo. You’ll go away from the raucous party bars and crowds of sunburned gringos to Playa Avellana. It’s one of the upcoming learner locations in Costa Rica, with hardly a jot of the lineups of central Tamarindo Playa and a lovely backing of mangroves and palm forests.

La Botella de Leche Hostel straddles the boundary between rambunctious backpacker hangout and full-blown surf camp. It occupies a perfect spot between the Tamarindo Night Market and the main party strips close to the beach, and fields one of the most affordable surf and stay packages in the whole town – you’re looking at a little over $450 for a full six dayer here. 

Over those six days, you’ll complete four fully guided surf lessons. They usually take place on Tamarindo Playa itself and are mainly suited to lower intermediates and below. That said, the vibe in the lessons is more casual than it is in out-and-out surf camps in the town, which is why we usually suggest this for complete novices who just want to sample the sport without being overwhelmed with technical input and whatnot.

Guests can also make the most of free surfboard rental for the whole week, so you can pack more practice sessions in between lessons, and a crocodiles tour, for a bit of bonding over CR’s deadly river reptiles when you aren’t doing battle with the waves.

We pick out Mai Ke Kai Surf House here for its uber-cheap offering but we could just as well look at its quality tuition, small-group lessons, and homey accomodation. Basically, if we didn’t list it becuase you can score four days of top-notch lessons for under $600 then we’d be listing it for something else.

Our recommendation would be to plump for the slightly longer 5-day package. It’s still a bargain (starting at around the $825) but lets you settle in a little better. And, since one of the highlights here is the family feel to the villa and the group, that’s kinda’ important. No one wants to have to pack up and depart just as the group is gelling!

Days are balanced well. You start with a pre-breakfast yoga class and then fuel up before heading to the beach. There, you get up to 2.5 hours of surf training both in and out of the water. Lunch is next, followed by evening classes in surf-skate, which is cracking if you’re looking to iron out the flow of your surf turns and cutbacks.

There’s a certain type of surf-traveler that simply adores the Selina brand. We can see why: They take care of all the needs of remote workers (fast WiFi and good communal working spaces) but also make adventure holidays to the surf very easy to organize.

This one’s less like a surf camp and a bit more like a hostel/holiday rental where you’ll hang out with other travelers between sessions on the waves. It’s got a communal pool (see above), a shared kitchen for cooking and chilling, and plenty of nice communal spaces.

When it comes to the surfing, it’s pay-as-you-go. Just head to reception or message ahead of your arrival and they’ll sort it all out for you. You can choose single, standalone surf lessons or go for five-day packages that include daily lessons. There’s also bare-bones equipment rental if you just wanna’ stroll to the beach and surf in your own time.

Camps are a cracking option if you want to surf but don’t want the hassle of planning anything.

We’d say they’re especially fantastic for beginner surfers on account of the tuition and guided surfing that’s included. Most come with at least a single guided surf session every day of the week. Some will have two sessions daily.

And when we say guided, we mean you basically get constant feedback and tips on what you’re doing wrong and how to fix it. Most camps also back that up with out-of-the-water theory sessions and video analysis. 

Most of all, though, these Tamarindo surf camps really simplify the whole experience. Costa Rica can be a tricky place to come for surfing if it’s your first time because different breaks work on different tides and wind and whatnot. Here, you’ll get the local know-how to pick the right spot at the right moments, plus all the tuition and gear rental you could need for however long you’re in town.

The alternative would be to book your hotel and then book surf lessons or surf guiding when you arrive (or beforehand) with either your hotel or a third-party. That works well if you don’t mind sorting the logistics and tends to be better if you’re an advanced surfer who might not need lessons each day. (For that, be sure to check out our pick of the best uber-lux surf hotels in Costa Rica!)