Costa Rica Surfing

Costa Rica Surfing – Costa Rica’s renowned waves and breaks have been drawing internationally surfers since the 1960s.

Today, it boasts a number of dedicated surf towns filled with surf schools offering lessons, shops offering board rental, cabinas offering simple (and cheap) accommodation and plenty of bars and restaurants offering the all-important party atmosphere with which the sport is traditionally associated.

Costa Rica offers world-class surfing and warm waters year-round. The greatest concentration of surfing beaches is in Northern Nicoya, where Pacific breakers pump ashore all year.

Conditions are ideal between December and March, when the Papagayo winds kick up high waves. Dozens of beaches guarantee that surfers will find a fairly challenging ride on any day, while extremely varied tidal conditions provide breaks for every level of experience.

Be warned, however; riptides are common and many surfers lose their lives every year; few beaches have lifeguards. Numerous villages and resorts have become surfer’s heavens and are heavily reliant on the wave board trade, with scores of surf camps and surf shops.

Surfing Beaches of Northern Nicoya

Palaya Naranjo

This remote beach in the Golfo de Papagayo boasts a superb beach brek, called Witch’s Rock. Naranjo is accessed by 4WD or by boat from the resorts of Northern Nocoya.

Palaya Grande

Consistently high waves pump ashore into this long, easily accessible beach. It is protected as part of a prime nesting site of the leatherback turtle.

Tamarindo

The surf capital of Northern Nicoya, Tamarindo offers a rivermouth break, rocky point break, and beach breaks. It is also the gateway to nearby isolated surfing beaches such as Playas Langosta, Avellanas, and Negra.

Playa Nosara

Discovered only recently by surfers, Nosara has a fine beach break and a dramatic setting. It is backed by mangroves and has warm, rocky tide pools.

Palayas Bejuco and San Miguel

Long slivers of silvery sand are washed by good surf. These beaches are oriented to budget travellers.

Palayas Bongo, Ario and Manzanillo

All three are as off-the-beaten-track as possible in Costa Rica. Just getting there is half the fun. Cracking waves, combined with the solitude, guarantee surfers bliss. Facilities are virtually

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