Costa Rica’s top hot spots for surfers

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If you’re a surfer, you know it already. Costa Rica is one of the world’s premier surf destinations. You also know why.

For initiates, or would-be-surfers eager to learn, here’s why surfers-in-the-know rank Costa Rica up there with California and Hawaii.
• Thousands of beach breaks
• Two coastlines—Caribbean and Pacific—adding up to 700 miles of shore
• Fabulous surf camps and surfers hostels
• Consistent year-round surf
That said, all that’s left is to choose when and where. Here’s a regional break-down to the best that Costa Rica has to offer.

Caribbean
Best time:
November to March
Best locations:
Cahuita—Black Beach is an excellent beach break year-round.
Puerto Viejo—A large tubular wave called ‘Salsa Brava’ roars ashore onto a shallow reef on the south side of the village.
Manzanillo—At the end of the road south of Puerto Viejo, this funky hamlet faces a fast beach break.

Northern Pacific
Best time:
December to April has powerful and consistent offshore winds and ideal swells
Best locations:
Malpaís/Santa Teresa—Take your pick of breaks along miles of shore speckled with surf camps.
Playa Grande—One of the most consistent beach breaks, it is good for beginners and intermediates.
Playa Naranjo—In Santa Rosa National Park, and reached solely by 4WD (you’ll also need to be self-sufficient for camping), this wilderness site has one of Costa Rica’s best beach breaks, better known as ‘Witch’s Rock.’
Playa Negra—A superb right point break with very fast waves.
Playa Nosara—A great beginner’s spot with surf camps and schools, plus left and right beach breaks.
Playa Tamarindo—Its two points include an excellent rivermouth break, and Langosta (immediately south of Tamarindo) has two other point breaks. Tamarindo has several surf schools and surf camps.

Central Pacific
Best time:
May to November for the southerly swell
Best locations:
Boca Barranca—Just south of Puerto Calderas, its waters are sometimes polluted, but otherwise it has some of the best waves in the country.
Dominical—Left and right beach breaks and powerful waves at this popular resort village populated mainly by surfers.
Playa Hermosa—With an enclave of surf camps, it also boasts a powerful beach break, especially on a rising tide.
Playa Jacó—This lackluster yet lively beach resort (the country’s largest) has a good beach break, albeit unpredictable waves.

South Pacific
Best time:
Same as Central Pacific
Best locations:
Cabo Matapalo—On the southeast tip of the Osa Peninsula, it has perfect waves and excellent right point breaks.
Pavones—Its left point runs for up to one kilometer on good days and is one of the longest in the world.

For complete information about surfing and travel in Costa Rica, buy Moon Costa Rica

If you're traveling only to San José and the Caribbean, buy Moon Spotlight Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast pocket guide.
If you're traveling only to the beaches of Nicoya, buy Moon Spotlight Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula pocket guide.
If you're traveling only to Arenal and/or Monteverde, buy Moon Spotlight Costa Rica's Arenal&Monteverde pocket guide.

Learn more about Christopher P. Baker.

Disclosure: I occasionally accept free or discounted travel when it coincides with my editorial goals. However, my opinion is never for sale. The opinions you see in Cuba & Costa Rica Journal are my unbiased reflection of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Copyright © Christopher P. Baker