Travel & Surf Costa Rica Surf Spot
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A complete guide to the best surf destinations in Costa Rica.
Tips for traveling and surfing and more.
Costa Rica Surf Best Surf Beaches
Costa Rica is a small country with large areas of coastline on the Pacific and the Caribbean, with only 243 miles through reference in Jaco Beach Central Pacific and Puerto Limon on the Caribbean coast separately.
This stretch of coastline offer a variety of beaches and waves of all kinds, for all levels of surfers.
Photos Provided By Surfer Factory
This surf guide divide the country into four regions.
North Pacific Ocean and ranges from rock to Witch Malpais. Central Pacific, which runs from Puntarenas to Manuel Antonio.
South Pacific, Dominical to Pavones, and the Caribbean.
The waves, which in turn are a function of their level of difficulty for beginner surfers, intermediate and advanced.
Note that the conditions vary by varying the difficulty of the same.
Costa Rica Surf Safety Tips and off the water:
Costa Rica Surf Travel & Surf
• If you leave anything valuable Go Surfing in the car.
• On the streets of Costa Rica with caution and must be processed at low speed.
One factor is the lack of signs, holes and damaged roads and the large number of wild animals crossing the road every minute, especially at night, such as monkeys, coatis, crabs, raccoons, anteaters, opossums, deer and cougars, among many others.
• As much as you have a rented four-wheel drive car does not pass through the sand yet it parquees.
Prevents contamination and damage to the environment, as well as the risk of stagnating.
• In Costa Rica there are countless surf shops, everything you need for your practice, supports the local economy to offer.
• If you enter or leave the water, shuffling steps, so as not stung by stingrays.
• Wait your turn for the wave in Costa Rica for all tastes.
• Respect the locals and the rest of the surfers.
• Do you surf alone, except when you do not know, on the beach.
Costa Rica Surf North Pacific
Best travel time. In the summer, from December to April, Papagayo winds from the coast in the Caribbean, across the country and triggers strong winds offshore in the Gulf of Papagayo, weather phenomenon, which is 300 days a year of favorable winds make for the formation of perfect waves in the region of Guanacaste.
Transportation. The best option for traveling in this part of the country and all over Costa Rica in general, is it possible to rent a car all-wheel drive.
Public transportation for the San Jose Alfaro Bus Stop 22-22-26-66.
In the bus station there are buses in Liberia to Tamarindo. Of the Central Pacific, if they have cars, it is best to use a private shuttle company that routes directly from Jaco to have rent in Tamarindo.
Potrero Grande. Beginner Costa Rica Surf
Also known as Ollie’s Point is famous for the film Endless Summer sixties. This wave is a smooth and perfectly level sand bottom right, is not hollow, but is fast. He surfs better low tide with a South swell.
The only way to get there is by boat, you can book in Tamarindo or take you directly to Coco Beach.
Roca Bruja. Advanced Costa Rica Surf
This beach is a symbol of surfing in Costa Rica thanks to the perfection of its waves, natural environment and the impressive rock that name, in Santa Rosa National Park, where flooded with natural and animal world. It focuses a white sandy beach break waves perfectly with the left and right. The main peak is between the rocks of the Witch, and orifice.
This wave can be surfed at any tide, which makes your level of difficulty varies, to achieve perfection when half full. Its wave is the section of cylindrical tube.
To get there, you can access by car-wheel drive and preferably in the summer for Liberia, where the entrance to the Santa Rosa Nacional Park.
The park has camping area, do not forget to bring fresh water. The entrance has a value is about $15 . For more information, please visit the protected areas in Costa Rica www.sinac.go.cr
Boat is a good option because you can surf to Potrero Grande Roca Bruja one day.
Coco takes the boat or you can book various tour operators or surf shops in Tamarindo.
Playa Grande. Intermediate
This beautiful beach is part of the National Marine Park lute, where thousands of giant leatherback turtles come to nest every year between October to March.
The Beach Break has several peaks, but the main one located across the parking lot.
High tide was surfing a wave form highly ordered, crystalline waters. The only negative factor is the enormous amount of surfers who are making a practice of patience on this beach where everyone is local.
Works with the south swell, provided that you do not have the size as much as the wave closes.
Playa Grande is about 20 minutes north of Tamarindo, on the paved road, crossing to the left at the junction of Villareal.
The Tamarindo estuary. Beginners
This wave is not very coherent, but it is almost a legend, that when it comes out is excellent. This wave is located across the creek that separates Playa Grande Tamarindo.
Before urban development in this area, this wave is a right tube. It is now a very soft wave to surf where they learn most residents and visitors.
The best conditions are filled at low tide and a heavy swell from the north.
The estuary of Tamarindo is located at the entrance of the village, where is the parking lot, walk a bit north. You must go rowing or cross the river by the sea
Playa Langosta. Intermediate Surf Costa Rica
On this beach there are two points of waves. The first is the frog, an outer reef just outside the hotel Barceló surf at low tide. It is a form properly and force, sometimes left out. The other wave is the Estero de Langosta, where the waves broke on both sides.
This beach is very close to Tamarindo.
The main crossing to the left in the first inning and end on the right. Then follow the left path a few miles.
Avellanas. Intermediate Costa Rica Surf
One of the favorite beaches of Guanacaste for its crystal clear waters of green, white sand, and the different peaks which provides at all levels and types of surfers.
Starting at the car park, small Hawaiian Avellanas El Estero, El Palo and La Purruja. Some high tide surf better and others with dry, mostly with swells from the north and south.
No public buses arrive at this idyllic beach. You can take a taxi from Tamarindo, which will not be an economic, since the road is unpaved and the trip can take an hour because of this detail. For you must turn right at the intersection of Villareal, ie to the south.
Playa Negra. Advanced
Can be regarded as the most consistent beach. This is a breaking point right with the rocky bottom which makes it quite hold size. Can surf with any tide and swell at all, showing caution when dry rocks that are closer to the surface.
Playa Negra is located about 4 kilometers south of hazelnuts.
Marbella. Advanced Surf
His real name is Frijolar, but everyone called by the people of Marbella, next to it.
This beach is almost untouched, has not built one miles around and is very remote from the vibrant growth in northern Guanacaste.
It is an open sea, so deep that it is intimidating and vulnerable to wind. Its waves are strong, have to be left sections of pipe and sand bottom wall or the right.
To get there, follow the dirt road to Black Beach in the south, drive an hour to reach a peaceful people. By finding the football field, turn right until he ran into the beach, a street full of vegetation, where howler monkeys and coatis are the true owners of the sector.
Nosara. Intermediate Surf
Scripts Beach, better known as Nosara known, is a wide beach with many peaks above them. High tide makes it perfect for long boarders and beginners, while the tide is faster and pipe sections for advanced surfers. T
he shaft is deeper than most beach breaks in Costa Rica, but it’s worth the club moves.
Note that the beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula, Nosara is to get Santa Teresa and Malpais, no direct influence of the winds as the Papagayo beaches north of Guanacaste.
To reach this beach from San Jose to go to Santa Cruz and diverted to Samara and Nosara. Tamarindo is about three hours, or Santa Cruz or the coast in summer. In Puntarenas take the ferry can be Drum and climb Santa Teresa only in summer or stop by the Friendship Bridge and follow the signs.
Santa Teresa. Intermediate Surfing in Costa Rica
Another beach bread smooth and consistent, Santa Teresa breaks at low tide, swell from the north, have more travel and not more than seven feet. With south swell of the shaft is normally closed.
Reach Santa Teresa can be a fun ordeal, with beautiful scenery and sunsets to be purple filled. Is south of Nosara. Of the Central Pacific and San Jose, take the ferry to Puntarenas Tambor. Before leaving, the same hours by phone 2641 0515th
From San Jose you can take buses from Terminal Coca-Cola
Playa El Carmen. Beginner Costa Rica Surf
South of Santa Teresa, El Carmen is a beach break to surf preferably flood.
Malpais. Advanced
His wave of rock-bottom left is better if you add a South swell. High water is ideal.
Central Pacific Costa Rica Surf
Best time: April to October. The advantage of this area is that it has waves all year round easy access and facilities such as banks, hotels in all price and health centers.
The distances are short and easily accessible. No need to rent car, public transport is efficient and taxis are very expensive. To have received from San Jose to bring the road to the airport and where they differ, Manuel Antonio, says through a steep winding road. The trip takes about two hours, these are the beaches near the capital.
By bus from Terminal Coca Cola at regular intervals all the buses to drive this sector of the country.
Legendary wave came, from which many of the first surfers in the country, the left is the second longest in Costa Rica, making it very popular. Works with South swell in size.
As a point of rest holds large and can be surfed at mean high water is soft, long and clean, although many say the first surfers, that was before the construction of the port of Caldera stronger with three different heights and a criminal section of pipe.
To get there, take the road to Puntarenas. Boca Barranca is the beach which is on the left side at 57 km north of Canyon Bridge Jaco.
El Hoyo. Advanced
This wave of crime, completely hollow, fast and strong is ideal for experienced surfers and bodyboarders Kamikaze.
You do not need a big swell to work, but works best south swells. Surf in the middle of flood control, although the local bodyboarders prefer drier with the flood, when the droplet is suicidal.
To reach this beach you have to the harbor, whose entrance is about to enter the bridge from Caldera. You need to park your car at the entrance of the harbor and walk a mile. Alternatively, take a boat on the southern end of the bridge caldera.
Escondida. Advanced Costa Rica Surf
He is considered one of the best waves in the country, this bottom point break coral and crystal clear water with the best waves as left to right, has the privilege of big waves when the swell, preferably in the south, is about seven meters, unbearable for the rest of the nearby beaches and tide.
Escondida is located in a private high standards of safety, if you do not have permission to give the ground the only way is by boat, Playa Herradura, which is pretty cheap.
Jaco. Intermediate Cossta Rica
Your offer different points on waves for beginners, you need only look to even walk to the beach where the wave is better. It’s surfs with half tide or vice versa. The main peak is in the middle, down the road of the hat. Further south, the wave is small and elegant, in the end is where most surf schools teach.
There are buses from San Jose to Jaco terminal on the basis of Coca Cola.
Tamarindo is a feat is possible, then it is better to pay a direct shuttle to three or four buses needed to take the Odyssey.
Roca Loca. Advanced
Lower right coral, better with a big South swell and ebb. Roca Loca lot size holds up to triple overhead. From the outside, not so big actual size, but given the huge rocks that surrounded it to see.
It is based on the road between Jaco and Hermosa, at the top of the mountain. When you use the cars parked on the side of the road from the lookout point.
Surf Costa Rica Hermosa. Advanced
This beach is approximately seven miles long and grow about five main peaks, as it approaches the south. Each of the different tidal waves. Tulin Terrace and the surf at low tide, back yard, the tree and the mid-tide curve preferably.
Hermosa is famous for being one of the most powerful beach breaks in the world. Its shaft is strong, fast and not suitable for wimps. Throughout the year, offers waves for surfers who dare to run it.
To arrive by car have like five minutes south of Jaco handle. By bus you can take in the Coca Cola terminal in San Jose to Quepos bus and tell the driver to stop at Playa Hermosa, Jaco, or to stop and take a taxi. There is a way to Quepos Puntarenas Beautiful pass several times a day.
Esterillos Oeste. Beginner Costa Riaca Surf
Many of the summits at this beach. His right hand is long, soft, and when the conditions are reasonable, orderly line. He surfs better flood.
To get there, 15 miles south of Playa Hermosa to go, is the second entry (to Punta Mala) to Esterillos Oeste
Esterillos Centro. Intermediate
Mid tide the wave is amazing, worthy of magazine covers. It breaks the typical peak waves in the middle generate the two right and left.
It comes after the Costanera, 3 miles south of Esterillos Oeste.
Bejuco . Advanced Costa Rica Surf
So strong and powerful as well, but less crowded and more pristine, Bejuco is a jewel in the central Pacific.
At the same coastline that Jaco, Hermosa and Esterillos but further south, this beach is about the same way up, that the South has been reached.
Quepos. Intermediate
Although Rune is very fickle wave, the right of Quepos is often very funny when a big swell hits on these shores. You surf at low tide.
Quepos is one hour south of Jaco, the wave breaks in front of the restaurant, The Great Escape.
Passing Quepos, Manuel Antonio, where some peaks constant burst Quepos.
South Pacific Costa Rica Surf
Best time: April to September, when the goal starts to the south swells one after the other, so that unusual waves to all who dare to explore the wildest part of the country.
Public transport is available but not recommended because the number of buses to be taken, how long is the journey and damaged roads so this is a very uncomfortable journey. The best option is to rent a car 4X4.
Sunday. Advanced
Away from the shore, this beach break bursts tubular, fast and challenging. Mean high tide is ideal to have a better shape. You do not need a big swell, the former being the recommended time of the day.
The easiest thing is to Sunday, to get from the coast, along the coastal road. From Quepos to Dominical the road and is in excellent condition, and the journey takes about 40 minutes.
There is also the traditional way, the hill of death. You can take the Panamerican Highway south and turn off at San Isidro del General (Perez Zeledon also known as known). From there, trips to the West and is about an hour Sunday.
Costa Rica Surf Matapalo. Advanced
In this area there are three completely different peaks, this beautiful and wild nature that accompanies characterize the south.
Matapalos lower right is a long stone and enough power in every surf waves to mid tide.
Backwashing is the next high point before Matapalo. Pop with rocky soil, it quickly back and forth at low tide, although the law is usually best.
Pan Dulce is the first summit that we are in the area. It is much softer than backwash and Matapalo, with other rock-bottom right. You surf and high tide in the dry rock that out of the water.
Puerto Jimenez is the nearest town to the Matapalo area. From there, four-wheel drive vehicles are rustic, which serve as public transportation to Carate to Matapalo. Puerto Jimenez is 18 kilometers from the Pan Dulce, the first point on the road is not paved, so it is advisable to go in four wheel drive vehicle either owned or rented.
Carate. Advanced Costa Rica Surfing
Waves with a period of inconsistent surf, the flood of offers, Carate one of the exotic beaches in Costa Rica, awash with lush nature in an almost impenetrable jungle in the rainy season.
Past Dominical, Matapalo about two hours north along the road parallel to the beach. It is a rustic truck route out of Puerto Jimenez.
Pavones Costa Rica Surf
It is the second longest left in the world, exposed in the southern Pacific Costa Rica in a small town, which corresponds in the eyes of the world thanks to this incredible wave of rocky ground with a length of 10 football fields, was removed.
You can surf all day and when the waves were about head full of surfers, so it must be very patient, just as if he can take in two waves each session is enough.
Its shaft is smooth, fast and pipe sections that never close. If there are no waves can take a boat to Matapalos whose shaft is consistently increasing.
CARIBBEAN Costa Rica Surf
Crossing the Caribbean we have a completely different part of the country with a culture and traditions with their own characteristics. The sea moves and feels different. May one day be the wave can be very large, wild, and the next day, the ocean seems like a blue pool.
The best waves occur between December and March, with a wave period in June and July.
The Caribbean in San Jose drive-bus terminal. By car, take the road to Guápiles, crossing the Braulio Carrillo Park, an intimidating mountain humid and rainy.
If they have the Puerto Viejo on public transport in the terminal make sure you buy the ticket to Puerto Viejo de Limon and Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, which is in the mountains far from the coast
Playa Bonita. Advanced
Located in Limon, the capital town of the region, left the ground Bonita coral is fast and precise. Transformed by the earthquake in 1991, this wave was more critical and radical move the coral below.
Isla Uvita. Advanced
Perfection and beauty are the qualities of this left. His background makes reef keeping hold large order and speed.
On the island to 3 miles from Puerto Limon you will be reached only by boat. The district is on the San Juan 150 m east and 25 south to take from the school.
Playa Negra Costa Rica Surf Intermediate
There is a Caribbean beach break with plenty of exercise. It is very stable, but works well when Salsa Brava and Cocles full of surfers are on a good swell from the north.
This is the first beach at the entrance to Puerto Viejo.
Salsa Brava. Advanced Costa Rica Surf
It is the most radical wave of the country, those waves that suck in and below the sea level due to its huge plate corals. You go left and right, but the right has more travel.
To enter you must follow a narrow channel which lies between the corals in very shallow water.
Salsa Brava is not for the surfers who do not know what they are doing, is recommended. The same wave is responsible for the demonstration, which are local and those who do not, you can see on his face when it comes to the set.
This beach is located in the center of Puerto Viejo.
Cocles. Intermediate Surf Costa Rica
It is the most popular beach break and consistently in the area. With multiple peaks from the right and left, have not Cocles very long waves, but fun and neat and strong.
Like all waves of the Caribbean with tropical storms increases.
Costa Rica is full of beaches and mountains, some more popular than others, many secrets to their premises and many other undiscovered. It is decided at the surfers, the danger of these waves to explore the country in a conscious and responsible to its people and their environment, without taking a trace.