Surfing Costa Rica

If you’re a surfer, a surfer-in-training, or just a guy named Jim who likes fries, come surf in Costa Rica! The Central American paradise is home to many of the best surf breaks in the world, including Tamarindo, Jaco, Hermosa and more!

First of all, surfing is a great way to meet all kinds of people here! Local Costa Ricans, expats, and tourists gather on the beaches for days of surfing! Group lessons are offered at most hot spots, which is recommended for beginners. If you’re surfing for the first time, don’t feel bad when a young guy slides easily. While in other countries boys and girls learn to ride a bicycle at age 5, in Costa Rica they learn to surf.

If you’ve done your research on taking a surfing vacation in Costa Rica, Tamarindo has probably popped up. It is a very popular city for surfers, vacationers and passers-by. With cheap hostels, good hotels, excellent restaurants, booming bars and clubs, and fantastic surfing, Tamarindo is undoubtedly a good place to go on vacation.

Not far from Tamarindo are the two most extreme surf spots on the Pacific coast: Hermosa and Jaco. Playa Hermosa is a surf destination known for having more difficult wave breaks, which attracts experienced surfers. Jaco Beach is very similar to Tamarindo in that it is a surf town also geared towards the average traveler. Both Hermosa and Jaco are a few hours drive from Tamarindo, so it is common for surfers to travel along the coast in search of fresh waves every day.

On the Caribbean side, the most popular surf destination is Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, where the most experienced surfers come to surf in Costa Rica. Known for its famous Salsa Brava waves, the biggest and heaviest in the country, brave surfers from all over the world regularly visit Puerto Viejo to test their skills. The waves and surrounding beaches in Puerto Viejo provide waves for all levels of surfers, so don’t worry about losing your swimsuit at Salsa Brava!

In general, however, Costa Rica is not known for the size of its waves, but for their consistency. Depending on the location, there are specific times of the year when the waves crash all day. You can surf year-round in popular spots, but sometimes the waves take a few days off. For all the guys and girls out there who like to munch on delicious waves, come surf Costa Rica ASAP!