Costa Rica surf is some seriously epic stuff. From the party-mad surf town of Tamarindo to the remote Pacific breaks of Santa Teresa, there’s something special going on in this corner of Central America. We rate it as one of the very best countries for budding beginners because the surf-camp offering is so awesome. But it also covers the bases for improving intermediates and still has epic spots and gnarly barrels for advanced surf travelers.
An introduction to Costa Rica surfing
Ask 100 surfers to name their top three surf destinations on the planet and it’s likely that Costa Rica will come up time and time again. Now firmly up there with Bali and Portugal among the world’s most revered wave hotspots, this big chunk of Latin America rarely fails to impress.
The reason for its prowess? Geography, of course. In fact, CR enjoys exposure on two coastlines: The Pacific and the Caribbean Sea. The first is the most famous for surf, but the latter can also shine when the stars align.
The Pacific side is a real playground for surfers. Different regions work with different seasons, though virtually all work to some degree, no matter if it’s July or December. That’s down to the prevailing easterly trade winds (consistently offshore) and the almost ceaseless SW swells that work their way up from New Zealand. Throw in a trace of NW Pacific swells down from Cali and a dotting of seasonal hurricanes, and you begin to get an idea of just how many waves are up for grabs in these parts.
Don’t discount the Caribbean, either. Towns like Puerto Viejo de Talamanca there sit on the cusp of slabby barrels that are fueled by hurricane swells and the arrangement of coral reefs under the water. It can be pretty epic stuff out east.
Finally, Costa Rica is a joy to explore even if you’re not surfing. On the forefront of eco tourism, it hosts reserves like Monteverde and the adventure mecca of Arenal. You’ll spend non-surf days hiking rainforests to find sloths, watching whales on the Osa Peninsula, and hiking up active volcanoes. So fricking cool.
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This is just one part of our guide to surfing in Central America
Costa Rica surf at a glance
The good:
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What will I find in this guide to Costa Rica surf?
Quality and quantity – the hallmark of Costa Rica surf
But it’s not just quantity where Costa Rica really excels. There’s serious quality to the waves. Guanacaste Province harnesses that NW hits into A-frame peaks that turn to cruisy beach breaks for beginners in Tamarindo. Then there’s the Nicoya, which hosts still-remote surf towns like Santa Teresa along a stretch of shoreline that’s a true intermediate wonder – think beefy but forgiving sets of fat water that’s rippable and almost always glassy.
The surf on the Caribbean is a welcome change for many who are bruised and battered by the Pacific come December (it only works in December-March really). That’s not to say it’s easy. It ain’t. Coming off stray hurricane systems, the waves are punchy and fast, but a whole different beast than the western ocean. The Caribbean Costa Rica surf really focuses around one town: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
The top Costa Rica surf destinations
It can help to split up Costa Rica into individual regions. Each offers something a little different, with varying swell windows and wave types. Let’s take a look…
Guanacaste
Guanacaste is best known for Tamarindo, which is the most famous surf town in Cota Rica by a country mile. It’s home to a big beach break that works wonderfully for all levels, especially in the morning before the winds pick up.
However, Guanacaste shouldn’t be judged on Tama alone. Head north and you can enter one of the remoter parts o the country, where the surf territory meets the borderlands with Nicaragua. It’s all largely undiscovered up there, mainly down to protected nature reserves. If you’re willing to travel and have money to burn, it’s the place for boat trips to hidden reef breaks where it should be just you an a few other intrepid surfers.
Top surf spots in Guanacaste
- Witches Rock – a remote sandbar break at a rivermouth that’s a fast and zippy left and wonderfully hollow on high tides. Hard to get to because it’s at Playa Naranjo deep inside a national park Boat transfers and 4X4s are pretty much the only option.
- Playa Negra – A mecca for quick right tubes. Fantastic at high tide, but better for experienced surfers.
- Nosara (click for complete guide) – On the Nicoya Peninsula but still int he state of Guanacaste, Nosara is one of Costa Rica’s surf capitals. It’s got waves for all levels, going from reefy rights at Punta Guiones to more beginner breaks in sheltered coves.
- Tamarindo (click for complete guide) – The surf town numero uno of Costa Rica, Tamarindo has access to the long stretch of punchy beach breaks along Playa Grande. It’s also packed with surf camps and has buzzing nightlife. We love it but it’s busy.
Nicoya Peninsula
We could wax lyrical about the surf on the Nicoya Peninsula from morning to night. For intermediates who want a chilled intro to Costa Rica surf, this is the the perfect place to come. It’s best known for waves like Santa Teresa and Mal Pais. They’re beefy, fat beach breaks that wedge up nicely and have some good kick in the main season. Rippable to the T, you’ll have fun here if you’re just about starting to turn and shift on the wave.
Top surf spots on the Nicoya Peninsula
- Santa Teresa (click for complete guide) – Escape to Santa Teresa to find the more secluded breaks of the Nicoya Peninsular. There smaller line ups and it’s a real intermediate dream, with rippable Pacific swells that work virtually all year round.
- Mal Pais – Just south of Santa Teresa, Mal Pais has access to similar breaks but has a more upper-intermediate edge thanks to the variety of reef breaks.
Puntarenas
Puntarenas is the first region of Costa Rica surf that solely relies on those SW Pacific swell channels. That’s no a bad thing, because they work virtually all year. It just means that there’s a noticeable uptick in the quality of the sets come June and July.
The town of Dominical is the main anchor of the surf coast here. It provides access to hidden beach stretches backed by jungles that have similarly rippable sets to Santa Teresa.
Top surf spots in Puntarenas
- Jaco – Get mid to high tide and you’ll find Jaco’s beach break churning out lovely lefts and rights that cater to a whole variety of levels. It’s not for nothing that this one has risen to become one of CR’s top surf destinations!
- Dominical – An intermediate+ spot that’s got lush drop ins and reliable SW swells in the Pacific channel. Rewards those paddling into the offshore with clean-face A-frames. Usually quite busy.
- Uvita – Uvita is best known for its whale watching but there’s surf too, much of it shared with the more surfy town of Dominical to the north. We say it’s a great destination for intermediates and beginners.
- Playa Hermosa – Not to be confused with the chilled break of Playa Hermosa on the Nicoya Peninsula near Santa Teresa, this Puntarenas break is a heavy barrel that rocks up on high tides and holds to well overhead. Scary stuff for the pros.
Golfo Dulce
Golfo Dulce pulls in those SW groundswells and turns them into something pretty darn special at Pavones. It’s among the best goofy waves in the country, with a sectiony left that cruises and barrels around three headlands at once. The rest of the region is actually better for rights. They tend to have a bit more pizzazz than other rights and break over sand and rock mixes. The downside is really the accessibility – Golfo Dulce is one of the remotest corners of Costa Rica.
Top surf spots in Golfo Dulce
- Pavones – A series of two points arranged in a sort of dog-leg pointing SW on the Golfo make up the legendary spot of Pavones. It’s an ultra-long left with rippable peaks and neat hollow sections. One of the best rides in Central America!
Caribbean
The Caribbean side of Costa Rica surf scene is a whole load more particular. The beaches tend to be rocky and sheltered by out-at-sea reefs. That means you need to go beyond the breakwater to catch anything heavy. Out there, the coral gardens glimmer sometimes only feet below where you’ll be dropping in – it’s scratch-the-board territory extraordinaire. The waves are much more fickle, needing Colombian cold fronts or hurricanes (usually August)
When to surf in Costa Rica
The best time to surf in Costa Rica is the wet season that runs between May and November. That’s nothing to do with the rains, but rather to do with the oncoming SW swells. In fact, they’re the reason the whole Pacific coast here gets reliable sets of 4-foot+ and glassy conditions. Check it out…
Wet season/Green Season (May-November)
The peak surfing season in Costa Rica lasts throughout the so-called Green Season, from May until November. The SW Pacific groundswells turn on the goods about then, reaching all the way across from New Zealand to give quality conditions. They’re bolstered even more by the dominant easterly offshore winds (they usually only hit in the morning before switching to onshore – this is dawnie territory).
Mid-season can go pretty gnarly when the hurricane storms that brush Mexico and the Oaxaca coast can be felt along the north-west. They turn the otherwise beginner havens of Guanacaste into something more challenging for a brief day or two.
The Caribbean surf in Costa Rica tends to be much smaller in May through to November. You might get lucky and find a stray typhoon system hitting somewhere north-east of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, which can bring storm swells. However, we’d say the Pacific coast is by far the best bet!
Dry season (December-March)
You’ll feel the SW channels that bless Guancaste and the Nicoya Peninsula with their endless sets of 5-10 footers slacken a little around November. They never shut off entirely, so don’t go thinking a Pacific surf trip in Costa Rica is a total no go. Things are just a little less reliable, but arguably better for beginners as the size of most sets dips somewhat.
The northernmost end of the Costa Rican Pacific coast can get some of the wintertime NW swells down from the northern Pacific. That helps add consistency throughout this season, meaning Tamarindo and north is a decent choice.
Meanwhile, the unique flow-through of cold air from Colombia helps the Caribbean hit a high in December. It usually lasts until March, offering reliability to the reefs and fast shore-break tubes of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
The best surf hotels in Costa Rica
There are more surf camps in Costa Rica than you can shake an endangered toucan at – but don’t do that, please! Most are located on the Pacific side, where the waves are more reliable. However, you can also catch a few over in the Caribbean. We’ve included both here…
The Green House, Santa Teresa – Adults Only ($-$$)
Our top pick
The Green House, Santa Teresa, has a very special place in our hearts. Perched in the jungles above the uber-consistent beaches of Puntarenas, it’s part luxury hotel, part eco escape. The best units have Bali-style plunge pools overlooking the canopy where you can spot howler monkeys.
Mal Pais Surf Camp ($-$$)
Best for: Intermediate surfers
Mal Pais Surf Camp offers a stay down at the far end of the wave-bashed Nicoya Peninsular (an intermediates heaven!). The rooms are simple but modern and have access to a private pool. Most importantly, the awesome waves of Carmen Beach are just a short walk away!
Playa Grande Surf Camp ($-$$)
Best for: Partying and surfing
The Playa Grande Surf Camp is a top choice for hitting the popular waves of Tamarindo. Okay, so you won’t be alone on the break, but this is Costa Rica’s most lively surf town. The pad has its own colorful pool and tropical garden, along with fun palapa-style bungalows to stay in.
La Tica y la Gata ($$)
Best for: Surfing the Caribbean
La Tica y la Gata is just a stone’s throw from Cocles Beach (the main surf spot in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca). It’s a pretty darn cool spot with sleek interiors done out in polished concrete and whatnot. It’s also pretty peaceful, with a pool and a sunning terrace in the private grounds. There’s also lots of space to stash the board.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Costa Rica surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Costa Rica surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
What to do when you aren’t surfing in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a wonderland of adventure. From smoking volcanic peaks to hidden Shangri-La national parks filled with howler monkeys, it’s the perfect place for an intrepid traveler, even when there’s not much surf happening (and that’s pretty rare too!).
Manuel Antonio National Park
Every first-time visitor to Costa Rica should consider hitting the wonderful Manuel Antonio National Park. It’s an eye-watering showcasing of the stunning biodiversity of the country, with swinging howler monkeys and gorgeous capuchins making their home within. The beaches are also something else!
Check out what surfing is like in Manuel Antonio
Arenal
The Arenal Volcano has risen to become one of the top adventure destinations in Costa Rica. There’s no surfing, sadly, but there is hiking in the jungles, whitewater rafting, and camping on the banks of nearby Arenal Lake.
Monteverde cloud forests
Monteverde is the gateway to the famous cloud forests of central Costa Rica. They town is awash with adventure hostels where you can organize canopy treks to walk through the jungle. Keep the eyes peeled for rare monkeys, blooming orchids, and multi-colored resplendent quetzals folks!
Getting to Costa Rica
Most people will choose to fly into either San Jose or Liberia (where there’s a new and growing airport). The first is better for reaching the Caribbean coast and the southern Pacific side of the country, including the likes of Nosara and Manuel Antonio. The latter is a better arrival point if you’ve got your heart set on surfing in the Nicoya Peninsula, which includes everywhere from Tamarindo down to Santa Teresa.
Questions about the Costa Rica surf
Tamarindo is widely considered to be one of the best beginner surf spots in Costa Rica. It has lots of peaks and decent shelter from the uber-strong SW swells. We also like the beach breaks of Nosara (on Playa Guiones) when conditions are smaller and the low-tide whitewash around Jaco. The winter months from November to April are perfect for surfing as a beginner in Costa Rica.
The northern breaks of Guanacaste province do well to hoover up the NW Pacific swells when the SW swells go low in the winter. They’re a better bet than down in the Golfo Dulce for sure. Experienced surfers might also want to consider the more challenging Costa Rica surf that waits in the Caribbean, which is at its best in December and January.
There’s fantastic surf in Costa Rica. We’d say it’s one of the world’s top five surf destinations, mainly thanks to the uber-efficient ocean swells that hit the west coast all year round.
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!