Surfing Costa Rica Waters

Some of the best surfing in the world is off of the Costa Rica coasts. From Petrero Grand to Pavones and Tortuguero to Manzanillo.

The Pacific Northwest Guanacaste Coast of Costa Rica has the most consistent swell activity anywhere in Costa Rica. The waves are perfect for beginners and experts alike, with daily offshore winds creating long rides with easy take offs and hollow barrel sections. The Central Pacific Coast has all the surfer needs with surf spots up and down the coast. The roots of surfing in Costa Rica started in the Central Pacific. The South Pacific has excellent swells. Getting there can be a challenge but well rewarded. Some of the best surfing in the country can be found on the Caribbean coast during certain times of the year. With good planning and a bit of luck you can hop from one spot to the next in just a few hours.

North Pacific

1. Potrero Grande right point break, with very fast and hollow waves. Its location is very secluded. It is only a few kms from the Nicaragua border. Accommodations are scarce so plan accordingly.

2. Playa Naranjo (Witch's rock) one of the best breaks in the country. December through March there are very strong off-shore winds which produce excellent swells. Arguably the best surfing spot in Costa Rica. Located in the Santa Rosa National Park. There are no facilities in the immediate area so go prepared. Most of the surfers travel by boat from playas del Coco and Tamarindo. We recommend a 4WD to visit by road.

3. Playa Grande located in between Playa Flamingo and Tamarindo about 20 minutes north of Tamarindo. Very nice and long beach break. Playa Grande is also known for its leather back turtle nesting.

4. Playa Tamarindo there are two mains points- a rocky point in front of the hotel Tamarindo, and an excellent river mouth break. Very popular surfing destination. Unless you want to surf with a lot of amigo’s and amiga’s your better surfing else where. Easy for the beginner to find board rentals and surfing lessons.

5. Langosta has a right and left point break that curls off the mouth of a small river, located 1 km south of Tamarindo. To some its better surfing in Langosta than the more populated Tamarindo.

6. Avellanas excellent beach break, featuring very hollow rights and lefts. Located 8 or so kms south of Langosta.

7. Playa Negra there is a right point break with very fast waves. Arguably Playa Negra has one of the best breaks in the country. Located 5 km south of playa Avellanas. Easy to access and you will not be dissappointed.

8. Playa Nosara beach break, with lefts and rights. Easy to access with few accommodations.

9. Playa Coyote beach breaks, with very consistent lefts and rights and several points. A 4WD vehicle is recommended.

10. Manzanillo consistent lefts and rights. Accommodations are easy to find.

11. Mal Pais also has consistent lefts and rights. Mal Pais and the previous two are very much alike with the lefts and right breaks. Just pick your spot and spend the day surfing.

Central Pacific

12. Boca Barranca has a river mouth with a very long left, located only 100 kms from San Jose gives this location a local flare. There are paved roads and many places to stay. During the rainy season the water is very dark and most surfers find other locations to surf,leaving the opportunist the waves all to themselves. This is good because Boca Barranca has some of the best swells in the country.

13. Puerto Caldera, just down the road from Boca Barranca, has very good lefts. You may find this surfing spot more inviting during the high season do to its location. Many flock to the Boca Barranca.

14. Playa Tivives and Valor feature a variety of waves from beach breaks at Tivives and a rocky point at Valor. Excellent lefts and rights.

15. Playa Escondida excellent point break that peaks up forming a very good left and a surfable right. If you are a member of the beach club or a guest you will find access much easier. You reach by boat if you are not a guest of the club. Local rentals can help you with the transportation.

16. Playa Jaco is an excellent place to surf but tends to close out when the swells reach 5 feet. The swells are very dependable as other locations in the area. Because of it’s location Jaco is one of the most popular surf spots in all of Costa Rica. Some enthusiasts say that the Costa Rica surfing industry got its start here.

17. Roca Loca Located 1.5 km south of playa Jaco. Large rocky point with rights that break over submerged rocks. Not so easy to access do to a hill that stands between surfing and parking. Well worth the effort.

18. Playa Hermosa has a very strong beach break. This long stretch of swells are best when the tide is coming in. Excellent surfing and has held several competitions over the past several years. Plenty of surfers to compare yourself to. No problem finding board rentals and surfing lessons.

19. Esterillos Este beach breaks and very good wave forms, the points located very close to playa Hermosa, making easy access and many nearby accommodations. The wave conditions are very similar to those of playa Hermosa.

20. Esterillos Oeste wave forms and beach breaks similar to that of playa Hermosa

21. Bejuco much the same as the previous two surfs-

22. Boca Damas has long beach breaks. Arrive when the tide is coming in and you will not be dissappointed.

23. Quepos has a small left point near the river mouth. For the beginner you will find it easy locating surf board rentals and surfing lessons.

24. Playita - Manuel Antonio Beach break, lefts and rights with good shape. This is where the jungle meats the sea. Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the most visited areas in Costa Rica. Most of the tourist are visiting the National Park which leaves plenty of space for the surfers.

South Pacific

25. Playa El Rey rights and lefts beach break. Located on the road to playa Dominical, 25 minutes south of Quepos.

26. Playa Dominical the beaches in Dominical are absolutely gorgeous, arguably the prettiest on the Pacific. There are board rentals located on the beach.

Dominical has excellent strong beach breaks with lefts and rights.

27. Drake's Bay when the swell is running there are strong powerful waves in this remote area. The only way to take advantage of these powerful waves is by boat. Be prepared when visiting it’s a long way to the nearest population. Catch the waves at Boca Del Rio Seirpe while you are in the area. Accessible by boat only.

28. Matapalo great series of rights located across the mouth of the bay from Pavones. You can get there by car but we recommend a 4WD. One half hour boat ride from Pavones.

29. Pavones has an excellent left break it’s considered one of the longest in the world. These swells are very fast and are shaped good. Accommodations near by.

Caribbean

30. The North Caribbean Coast has a good beach break surf accessible via the Tortuguero channels by boat. Travel from Puerto Moin, 15 km north of playa Bonita through the channels until you reach the Caribbean coast.

31. Isla Uvita an island off the coast of Limon. Here you will find a good left. Isla Uvita is about a 20 minutes boat ride from Limon with passage available at certain times of the year.

32. Portete A small bay located north of playa Bonita. With a right working off the southerly point. Since it is close to limon, you will find easy access and plenty of accommodations. For the beginner it’s easy to find board rentals and surfing lessons. .

33. Playa Bonita A point/reef break known for its very thick, powerful and dangerous left. Located 5 km north of Limon (downtown).

34. Westfalia A stretch of beach breaks extending south from limon to Cahuita, offering lefts and rights that tend to close out where the swell gets too big.

35.Black Beach, Cahuita An excellent beach break, not well known and therefore not heavily visited. Nevertheless, there are waves all year round.

36. Puerto Viejo A very thick and voluminous wave that comes from deep water onto a shallow reef, also called "salsa", for its juice power. This place gets very big and tubular (legitimate big wave). Salsa is approximately a 3-1/2 hour drive from San Jose and there is a restaurant and accommodation close to the point.

37. Manzanillo A very fast beach break located 20 km from Puerto Viejo. Here you find rustic lodging and typical food. Located close to an unpaved road, and easy to get to.