Surfing Tour

Big waves are not commonly found for Costa Rica surfing. Consistent head-high surf lures surfers to this country for some of the world's best surfing chances that exist all year around. Summer time in Costa Rica extends from mid-December to April. Temperatures during these months are very hot with little likelihood of any rain falling. This is also Costa Rica's High Season with more tourists visiting the Country than any other time of year. Two popular surfing locations during these months are Nicoya and the Caribbean.

The most popular location for surfing Costa Rica's northern Pacific Coast is Tamarindo, a small beach community that draws many returning visitors with its central location and easy access to surf breaks for all skill levels. Tamarindo offers beach surfing, rivermouth surfing, and well known reefs like Witches Rock and Ollie's Point. The surf break between Playa Negra and Witches Rock is world famous for avid surfers to experience challenging surfing opportunities. In Playa Negra surfers can avoid the larger crowds who frequent Tamarindo and surf some of the most consistent waves in Costa Rica. Witches Rock, a two-mile long beach, is where surfers can find long lefts and rights making surfing easy at incoming and high tides. Ollie's Point offers South and Southwest waves that endlessly roll on to the beach with take off best at mid-low tides.

Salsa Bravo is the heaviest wave in Costa Rica and can be found in Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean. Breaking over a shallow reef, Salsa Bravo is a Hawaiian-style thick wave that builds in deep water with a fast right and steep entry. The triple overhead surf and easterly swells Salsa Bravo can produce makes it recommended for expert surfers only. Surfers on the Caribbean coast often make Playa Cocles one of their most favorite surfing spots. Playa Cocles offers surfers consistent lefts and rights and a steep break entry full of strong currents. All day surfing can be found at Playa Cocles because the winds improve the lack of wave forms. Isla Uvita, located off Limon's coast, is the most powerful left in all Costa Rica with three sections facing a coral reef, ten-foot faces, and it is only accessible by boat.

Located on the Osa Peninsula, Matapalo is one of the last remaining remote surfing spots in Costa Rica. Matapalo offers world class surfing in a remote, peaceful setting, three excellent breaks, and a right swell, but has inconsistent surf. Playa Matapalo is a powerful steep right for faster rides. Backwash Bay offers large, slower rights with excellent longboarding chances. Pan Dulce provides a long right that needs a large swell for 500 yard tubular wave rides.

Located on the Nicoya Peninsula, Nosara is another Costa Rican surfing hot spot with many repeat visitors. Playa Nosara, a popular location for longboarders on the peninsula, offers consistent swells, good breaks, barreling lefts, and ideal wind conditions. Playa Marbella provides excellent offshore surfing conditions. Playa Ostional has good rights and lefts, beach, and reef break opportunities for surfers to enjoy.