Costa Rica Surf Expert

Mike, I will be staying at the Marriott Los Suenos from 4/24-29. I am traveling with 3 other non-surfers and I was wondering if you have any suggestions for surf lessons or even a surf guide. I am an intermediate surfer who surfs mainly beach breaks but I am looking for anything in the 3-5 foot range and good form. What are some key breaks around the Marriott and how accessible are they? Thanks.

Hello Catherine, there are a couple of breaks that you can take a boat out to from the Marriott Los Sueños area but on the most part there are pretty advanced breaks very hollow with reef bottom. But there are a couple of other spots 10-15 minutes away in Playa Jaco and Playa Hermosa area that would fit the bill they are pretty easy to find if you ask around.

If you would like to have a surfguide come by and take you surfing the group rate is $95 per person for a ½ day IIf you wanted your own personal surfguide to take you to different breaks in the area the cost is $500 for the day.

Hi mike I wrote you earlier this week I wanted to know how big the surf was in Playa Grande in may and how are the crowds are. How far is the drive to Negra and Nosara from Playa Grande? Are there any good spots in between? I have been to Hermosa and Jaco and like them alot. Is there a similar break (like Hermosa ) close to Playa Grande? I already have reservations in Playa Grande so going too far south is not a option

How big the surf was in Playa Grande in May

Usually chest to head high

How are the crowds are.

May should not be to bad most kids start coming in June and July

How far is the drive to Negra and Nosara from Playa Grande?

About 45 to Negra and maybe 2 hr or less to Nosara

Are there any good spots in between?

Avellanes

I have been to Hermosa and Jaco and like them alot. Is there a similar break (like Hermosa ) close to Playa Grande?

Not really with the same power of Hermosa in that area

Mike, I want to take my son to CR on a surf trip in June for his high school graduation. He has been surfing about 5 years and I have been surfing 35+ years. I am looking for a quality trip good food good accommodations. I have heard bad things about CR getting crowded. Looking for left point breaks where I won’t have to scrap too much for waves.

Hi, The cool thing about Costa Rica is that it is so consistent and there are tons of different surf breaks. And like most places people tend to congregate to certain breaks and peaks and you can always find a peak to yourself if you look around a little. Most of the point breaks in Costa Rica are pretty well know and can be a little crowded at times especially in the Summer but noting like the crowds we see in most spots in the U.S. and the crowds tend to be very mellow because there are always lot more tourist than local and the locals are very friendly anyways.

You really cant go wrong in the Central Pacific area of Costa Rica (Playa Jaco /Hermosa) there are lots of breaks within easy driving distance and some very nice places to stay. Or You could stay in Tamarindo as a base Camp in the NW pacific area and than drive to some of the local spots to get away form the Tamarindo crowds. The third option is Mal Pais it is probably the least crowded with lots of beach break up and down the coast.

Check out our Costa Rica Hotel section at http://www.ticotravel.com/index/hotelsmain.htm to see what we offer in those areas and get back with me and I will be happy to give you more details and book whatever you need.

HI have heard that Jaco beach is very crowded and that it is hard to just get a couple of rides there. Is that true?. What about playa hermosa is it crowded, and does it break on the shore or set up like a sandbar a liite offshore. One other Question, the season we are going in is the wet season, does this mean constant rain or what.

Hey Pat! There are usually quite a few people surfing in Jaco but it is about a 2 mile stretch of beach and it breaks all up and down the beach so it really spreads people out and behind the Jaco beach Hotel is usually not bad because most people don’t want to walk way down the beach to get there Playa Hermosa is also popular but it is about 4 miles along so people are even more spaced out you can usually find a peak by yourself at either spot.

Jaco usually breaks closer to the beach on High Tide and out a little further on the sand bar at low tide there is a huge difference in how it breaks depending on the tide because there is such a big fluxuation between high and low tide. Rainy season usually means it will rain everyday at some point in the day or night but usually only for about 30 minutes but pretty hard. So it usually will not effect your trip too much.

Hi Mike, A female co-worker and I are planning to trip to Costa Rica around February 9th til the 14th. I'm comfortable in most situations, but she wants a mellow trip, like 6 foot waves or less. Are there any places, maybe Nicoya, that you would suggest? We are not looking to break the bank on accommodation but would love a 2 room situation (we're just co workers and want to remain that way!), like a bungalow or suite. Plus we would need to rent a car, and preferably boards down there too. I'd rather not have to travel with boards and pay $100 each way on American Airlines : )

Hello Sanjay, It will be my pleasure to assist you. We do have some accommodations in the Nicoya area in Mal Pais and in the Nosara check out our hotel section under the North Pacific hotel section at the Tropico Latino in Mal Pais and the Harmony House in Nosara. Also Playa Jaco would be a really mellow place to surf that time of the year and a lot closer and it is a nice sand bottom and seeing that you guys are not looking for a lot of alone time together the Playa Jaco has a lot more going on for night life and restaurants. The Jaco Beach Best Western you can check it out in the Central Pacific area of our Hotel section or if you want something even cheaper in that area you could stay at the Cabañas Las Arenas in Playa Hermosa.

FYI: There are toms of surf shops in Jaco that you can rent boards from. But at $20 per day you will end up spending about $100 anyway.

After you have checked out the accommodations let me know what you think I can also set up private transfers form the airport to the hotel if you like.

I came across your site while looking for some cheap places to stay at. You definitely seem to know what you're doing, so I was hoping you could help me plan a trip to CR. To start out, I live in Miami, so I'm dying to find a place to shred(since there are crappy waves here) for as cheap as possible(this is my biggest concern) I'm a 17 year old guy, and will be traveling with another 17 year old. We are both decent shortboarders. We hope to stay in Costa Rica for about a week in December, and/or sometime during Summer. Oh, and we both speak spanish fluently.

I hope to only spend money on the flight there and back, transportation to the place where we can stay( thats of walking distance to a beach with hopefully great waves) and for food. So my Q basically is: Where can I go to shred some waves in mid-December, and what would be the least I can expect to pay for the trip, considering I'm staying in a tiny place in walking distance from a beach and eating food a 17 year old would need to survive?

Happy to you get setup to get some good waves in CRVPlaya Hermosa is one of the most consistent surf breaks in CR and I have a place that is right down your alley its on the beach and its CHEAP.;-) check it out at http://www.ticotravel.com/hotels/arenas.htm The next step is trying to get you some cheap airfare. December is not the cheapest time to go but let me know what dates you would like ( the earlier the better because, the closer you get to X-mas the more expensive the tickets) if the prices are just too expensive in Dec than we could look at some dates in the Summer.

Hi There - I'm headed to Costa Rica on a volunteering project for turtle conservation and will most likely be placed at Matapalo Beach near Manuel Antonio. We'd like to head north to Jaco after we finish our work but am struggling to find transportation?? I know there are several shuttle buses but cannot find much info online. Can you recommend the best way to travel from Matapalo Beach up to Jaco and then onto San Jose Intl Airport? Many Thanks, Mika.

There are buses going back and fourth all day long between M.A. and Jaco area you could either do the public transit bus or you could go to the Best western Hotel in Quepos (it is the town right next to M.A.) and book a transfer with a Grey line Bus it will cost a little more than the public transit system but it is definitely a lot more comfortable.

There are buses going back and fourth all day long between M.A. and Jaco area you could either do the public transit bus or you could go to the Best western Hotel in Quepos (it is the town right next to M.A.) and book a transfer with a Grey line Bus it will cost a little more than the public transit system but it is definitely a lot more comfortable.(You could also book the Grey line bus form Jaco to san Jose as well )You could just book the bus once you get down there ( try to book at least one day in advance to be safe ) but if you prefer to have it pre-booked we could book Grey lines or a another similar transfer company for you if you like ? Also if you need a place to stay in Jaco or San Jose I would be happy to recommend and or book a place for you

My boyfriend and I are down in Costa Rica until Christmas. We are currently in Santa Teresa but would like some input on other places to go. We are both "advanced beginners" (?) as we can pop up on whitewater consistently and occasionally catch a 'real wave'. We would love to find a beach that has gentle, rolling waves with a sloopy face so we can get out of the white water. Santa Teresa is often too big with barreling waves that close out quickly. Where would you suggest we go in November and December? I read that Pavones in December can be a great place to learn to catch a gentle rolling wave. Thanks for your input!

That is a great Q and I would be happy to give you my 2 cents worth …

I would have to say though that Pavones would not have been my first choice for you guys One because it really does not break consistently at that time you really need a pretty good South Swell to get into that bay and even f it were breaking it does peel but it peel really fast and is not ideal for learning to ride the face for that time of the year the Central Pacific area is very consistent and very clean and a little bit smaller than in the Summer months you can really get some fun waves between Boca Borranca and Playa Hermosa ( Boca Borranca would be perfect for you when it breaks) and also Playa Jaco can really you could stay in the Jaco area as a base and surf a lot of spots within an easy drive form therelet me know what you think and I will be happy to give more details and or book whatever you like

I always like to get feedback form people if you don’t mind me asking are you guys happy with the accommodations you are staying and are there any thing you would recommend or not recommend in the area you are staying

Hey, i'm planning on going to Costa Rica for spring break. I justwanted to know if that would be a good time to go with a beginner surfer who wants to learn how to surf. Are there areas where the surf wouldn't be too big for a first time learner? And would it be a good idea to bring my 5'10 shortboard around that time? Thanks.

Spring would be a great time to go to Costa Rica to learn to surf .I would recommend you go to Manuel Antonio or Jaco beach both spots are perfect places to learn to surf If you would be interested in getting surf lessons or having a surfguide while you are there just let me know.Our surfguide will meet you at your hotel and take you to the best surf spot in the area depending on the type of wave that would suit you best ( the rate is $90 per day for the lessons)

And yes I think a 5’10” would work just fine

We plan to go surfing in Santa Teresa for one month in May .I can not find any info about wind direction for May. What is the wind like during May, is it offshore from east or onshore from west.

Generally the winds are pretty light in May offshore early in the morning and late afternoon(onshore would be out of the West) on shore winds don't usually pick up until around 2:00pm and even than usually it is not much and doesn't really chop it up much