Recreation FAQ
What Is Surfing Like In Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has great surfing spots- With a coastline on two oceans, there are plenty of waves to go around! If one coast is flat, there are sure to be waves breaking on the other shore. And with the long stretches of oceanfront, there is plenty of room for everyone. Another advantage to surfing in Costa Rica is the warm water- which allows you to skip the wet suit all together. Most locations have surf shops where board sales and rentals are offered as well as surf camps. Many hotels and car rental companies offer discounts to surfers too.
So, where to go?
The Caribbean has fewer breaks than the Pacific, but still offers great surfing during winter and spring. The best time is late May through early September (hurricane season) and December–March (when Atlantic storms push through the Caribbean, creating three-meter swells).
The Pacific Northwest offers more than 50 prime surf spots. The best time is during the rainy season (May–October), when the surf can build to three meters; there are large offshore winds throughout the dry season (November–April), but the waves are smaller.
Puerto Viejo has the biggest waves in Costa Rica (up to seven meters at times, mostly in December). Witch’s Rock at Playa Naranjo (one of the best beach breaks in the country, with strong offshore winds December–March) require four-wheel drive or boat for access. You can rent a boat from Playa del Coco and other beach resorts for visits to Naranjo and Potrero Grande. Tamarindo is the surfing capital and is an excellent jumping-off place for a surf safari south to more isolated beaches. Just north of Tamarindo is Playa Grande, with a five-km-long beach break acclaimed as Costa Rica’s most accessible consistent break. There’s fine surfing the whole way south from Tamarindo. Continuing south you’ll find Nosara, Sámara, Camaronal, Coyote, Manzanillo, and Mal País, all with good surf, lively action, and several surf camps.
Ocean windsurfing is another fun option. Bahía Salinas and Lake Arenal are recommended. Lake Arenal has acquired an international reputation as one of the best all-year freshwater windsurfing spots in the world, with two dedicated windsurfing centers.
