surfing near san jose costa rica

Youll find the more challenging waves around low tide (sometimes as high as 10 feet), but if youre a newbie, the whitewash closer to shore is fun to surf too. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 12 Best Places to go Surfing in Costa Rica & Complete Surfers Guide, the best places to stay in Jaco, including the best hotels, plenty of budget-friendly things to do and see in Santa Teresa, In Nosara, youll find lots of other fun things to do, restaurants to cafs to food stalls nearby in the town of Puerto Viejo, the best places to stay in Puerto Viejo, including hotels and hostels. If you want to avoid the crowd, come during the week when its quieter or walk to the far south end of the beach, where not as many people go. At Playa Hermosa and Dominical the instructors are trained by the ISA (International Surfing Association) so they know how to teach. In summer dry season, near constant NE offshores prevail, particularly in Guanacaste. Here are the six best beaches near San Jose, that can be reached by car or bus in under five hours. San Jose, Costa Rica 10104. The sandy shorelines are less crowded than the beaches of Southern California, Hawaii and Sydney, ideal for shredding. During the pandemic, theyve even gone as far as to pay for our last-minute flights back to Canada before the border closed! Ask about rocks and marine life before you start surfing on the Caribbean coast. The area is home to some of the best surfing beaches in Costa Rica. For beginners, head to the southern end at high tide for smaller, gentle waves. Tamarindo is a mostly sandy-beach break, and one section has lifeguards. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This is partly because this isnt a surfing beach for beginners and you also cant go swimming here because of the strong currents. I often ask for recommendations and get many responses. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. The Central Pacific Coast has some of the best surfing around places like Jaco, including some great waves for beginners. That makes this a perfect time of year for beginners looking to get stuck into lessons with one of the local Jaco surf schools. Haha! Glad you like the piece man. And there are many surf schools to choose from. You can surf on both coastlines here the Pacific and the Caribbean sides. Its about a 45-minute boat ride from Playas del Coco or 1.5 hours from Tamarindo. From May to mid-November, there are great swells along the Pacific Coast. Caribbean Salsa Brava close to Puerto Viejo Beach has public access to epic fast, powerful hollow right reef waves only pros should handle. At two hours, it's the closest major beach destination to Costa Rica's capital, San Jos, and is based in the most populated region, the Central Valley. Bookthis tour to Witchs Rockwhich includes transportation to some of the best remote beaches in the Guanacaste area. The rip currents and sharks are a concern. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The camp includes organic breakfast daily as well as yoga classes. Its the main beach in Manuel Antonio and is fantastic for strolling along or going for a surf. Depending on when you go, the waves range from 3 feet all the way up to 8 feet. Sunnys isnt in Jacos heart but we like it because you get good access to the intermediate and expert breaks of Playa Hermosa (arguably the best spot in the whole region). This 10-day guaranteed departure tour is the perfect combination of surfing and wildlife adventure. The Caribbean. The Caribbean side has a short surfing season and. The beach breaks here are surfable at all tides, depending on which part of the beach youre at. However, swells are common here and will increase the wave height and frequency. The waves are bigger on the north end of the beach if you want more of a challenge and the south side has waves that hold their shape better (meaning a longer ride!). It has consistent waves across the long beach (2.5 miles) and deep blue water. For a shorter add-on to your trip to Tamarindo, this3-day surf experienceincludes two surf lessons, a trip to a nearby break, unlimited board rentals, and photos. The break here isnt as heavy because of the outer reefs that protect the area, so its a great place for beginners. Both are furnished. This beautiful beach was the site of Billabongs ISA World Surfing Games back in 2009. Playa Hermosa near Jaco Beach, Witches Rock and Playa Grande are all famous surfing beaches in Guanacaste. Whats more, there are far less people around and the beaches are mainly given over to surfers at this time of year. Once youve learned the basics, board rentals are around $10 USD per day, or some places offer weekly rentals for $60 USD. Related Read: Planning on visiting Jaco? When students stand up on waves, everyone is excited, explains Sofie Kysla, owner of Tuanis Surf School. Its one of the centers of surfing in the country and attracts surfers from across the globe to take on its top-notch waves. Once youre here, the tranquility and waves are totally worth it. Multi-day Tours River Rafting & Tubing. Costa Rica is known for being a mecca for surfers from around the world. Visiting the stunning stretch of Espadilla Beach is one of myfavorite things to do in Manuel Antonioand a fantastic Costa Rica surf spot. Los anunciantes son todas empresas locales, no anuncios de Google. The waves here are consistent pretty much year-round, though! Keep an eye out for the red flag that will be posted at the beach if the water is too dangerous to swim in. In fact, they're the reason the whole Pacific coast here gets reliable sets of 4-foot+ and glassy conditions. There are several different breaks along the stretch of the beach, with the most popular place to surf being right in front of the parking lot. I like looking for a school that has really good ratings and offers lessons in small groups. Since usingSafetyWingweve been reimbursed thousands of dollars when weve gotten sick. After making about 50 trips over the last 22 years, I put together this list of surf breaks in Costa Rica that are great for beginners. If you wish to reproduce anything contained herein, please contact the owner first. There are two seasons in Costa Rica, the rainy season and the dry season. Even in San Jos's most urban alleyways, it's hard to forget you're in a tropical nation as the steamy air and warbling jungle birds remain. The many seaside towns offer great nightlife, while the surf is top-notch. A big, modern building with an indoor communal area and an outdoor patio leading to tropical gardens. Its a good idea to talk to locals about when and where you should be surfing. Any cover you get above that is extra. And dont forget the warm and friendly Costa Rican people, and you, too, can adopt the life is good attitude that locals and visitors are happy to share. Dominical is pristine and off the beaten path so there arent as many tourists as some of the more popular beaches in the north. You can surf here pretty much every day, but its ideal to head out around low tide. This Playa Hermosa is located about 15 minutes from Dominical and only five minutes from Uvita. A 1.29-acre ocean-view lot close to the surf is on the market for $136,000. However, these storms produce some . The best part is that it only costs $45 USD per 4 weeks. Good cocktails, too. If youre heading here, make sure you pick the right Hermosa Beach there are several of them in Costa Rica! Its undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips! Waves are constant for about 95% of the year, and you wont find waves any smaller than about waist height. The North region encompasses the Guanacaste Coast and has some really well-known surfing spots like Witch's Rock and Ollie's Point. Still, theres epic surf infrastructure loads of schools and surf hostels and board rentals. Tamarindo Beach, Jaco Beach, Samara Beach, Guiones Beach, and Espadilla Beach (the main beach of Manuel Antonio) are all great for beginning surfers. Trust us, they're worth the drive. Many of the remote beaches and breaks along both coasts are accessible, but the following world-class surf destinations are the most popular. 10 Best Tamarindo Tours and Excursions You NEED to Check Out! The gorgeous white-sand beach has super consistent surfing conditions with surfable waves more than 300 days a year. To get here from Tamarindo, youll need to cross an estuary (small river) full of crocodiles. AtTortuga Surf School, youll be able to completely immerse yourself in the surfing and Pura Vida lifestyle. It meant I could practice without a huge crowd watching! Espadilla is the main beach of Manuel Antonio in the Central Pacific region. Educating yourself about an area before surfing is always key. Youll find bigger, more consistent waves during the rainy season. Paying out of pocket for trip interruptions or medical treatment will add to what might already be a stressful situation. If youre intimidated to jump in, book a surf lesson here with a pro. There are plenty of surf schools, yoga instructors, restaurants, shops, bars and small hotels along the beach road. With over 35 years of experience, we make the difference between a good trip and a lifetime memory. Home Things To Do in Costa Rica Costa Rica Surfing. Surfing lessons are offered here seven days a week, and there are a TON of surf schools in town. As one of Costa Ricas original surf towns, Jaco is no stranger to surf shops. Learn more about Costa Rica and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Because Dominical Beach is known for its powerful waves, its best to have some surfing experience before you arrive or go with a guide on a surfing lesson. To guarantee you get a great day of surfing and wont have to worry about getting here, there are tours specifically to this area. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Hermosa Beach near Jaco (there are many Playa Hermosas), is known for its easy access and proximity to Costa Ricas biggest surf town, Jaco Beach. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. This beautiful beach is dotted with palm trees and rows and rows of surfboards in the sand. This means youre more likely to be able to stand up and ride a wave here quickly, even without any previous experience. Dominical is one of the best beach towns in Costa Rica for surfing. This is a great base for surfing. It is more challenging to find a rental in Tamarindo these days. We're a team of ocean-loving people that includes writers in Australia, Wales, and Europe, each passionate about spending as much time in the saltwater as they can. Youll be surfing waves on your first lesson, with longer wave-riding sessions on your second and third day. Mellower waves and sunnier days reign supreme when the dry season swings around on the Jaco coast. Opportunities are increasing with residential and high-end commercial development. If you're looking for more of a party scene, check out Playa Tamarindo or Jaco. Thankfully, on Discover Cars its easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that dont. Happy Jaco surfs! Playa Negra has a wave that is too far out for me to take a beginner since it takes a lot of paddle strength to reach the wave, Sofie explains. Because its a baymaking it more protected Tamarindo is a great place to learn, so youll find many surf schools here. This famous dangerous surf break is for the most experienced of surfers. San Jose, Costa Rica Helpful answer. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. Kalon Surf Resort. 1999-2020 All information on this site is the 'soul' property of CR Surf Travel Co. unless noted. It goes on to read, but its main wave is far from one of the best in the country. Haha Either way, thanks for the article. Expect to be up and riding waves before the end of the lesson! Hermosa Beach is one of the best places to surf in Costa Rica, with eight kilometers of dark sands and powerful, fast hollows for expert surfers. Rip currents are something to always be aware of while in Costa Rica, and look out for local signs warning about them. Its easy to get to and a perfect place to spend the day, or, stay a couple of nights in Dominical and really get to know this hippie town! The issue is that Jaco is almost too well placed to hoover up the SWerlies in the rainy season, so expect a few complete close out days (or snapped boards if you do paddle out). In Cocles, theres a cluster of restaurants and small hotels here, considered one of the best surf spots in the country. One of the most famous places to go surfing in Costa Rica, Potrero Grande Beach, is better known as Ollies Point. Samara (about 20 miles south of Nosara) is a little bay with smaller, rounder, gentler waves.. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. When it is wet in the northwestern part of Costa Rica, from August through October, the Caribbean coast experiences dryer weather. Once youre here, get ready for constant waves that will be fun for those finding their groove in surfing or the most experienced surfers. If youre really up for a day of surfing, come for both the morning and evening. . Even the Osa Peninsula has some nice surf breaks. It can be difficult to choose where exactly you want to spend your surf trip in Costa Rica. Because surfing is so good here, it can be a challenge to pick where you want to go! Wed still probably pack our own board, though. Exposed breaks What's in this guide to Jaco surf? Youre looking for the one closest to Jaco. Langosta has a place where you can surf right on top of the rocks or by the river. That's nothing to do with the rains, but rather to do with the oncoming SW swells. Get . The best option is taking a boat, as walking across is dangerous. for you. Casitas has a nice little wave that is super fun for beginners, Sofie adds, but at high tide, its wave gets big, too big for lessons. This is a nice beach to hang around as there are lots of places to eat, from restaurants to cafs to food stalls nearby in the town of Puerto Viejo. You can surf year-round in Costa Rica, even in the green season (May December). Getting good at surfing is all about practice! Yep, youll find water, sand, and grass-covered dunes here. Youll eat, sleep and breathe surfing!! Usually needs at least overhead in the swell to start working. In between the two is an entire length of beach with consistent swells of pretty average peaks. Usually, boats are around $400 USD for a group, so if youre with friends, split the cost. The South has great surfing, but the waves aren't as consistent as in the North and Central areas. The road and bridge needed to get here can be completely impassable in the rainy season. Because of the frequent larger swells here, its best to surf here if youre an intermediate to advanced surfer. Tuanis is a local slang word representing a generally good sense of well-being. The southern end of the beach at high tide is a good starting spot for beginning surfers. If youre okay with planning ahead, its worth it not to have to share the waves with hundreds of people. This blog may contain affiliate links. . Jaco itself is a bit of a ramshackle town without the tropical charms of somewhere like Tamarindo. Its geography makes it a classic trip choice, having two coastlines the Caribbean and the Pacific which both produce great waves and have quality surf spots. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Most of the plaudits are down to the huge SW-facing bay that fronts the town. Discover the best surfing day retreats near San Jose, Costa Rica! Because of this, its a popular spot, especially on weekends. It also embodies what Sofie wanted to create when she moved to this area from Sweden in 2017; a surfing community empowering women. Airlines have been charging more each year for surfboard bag travel. If youve surfed before, but want to hone your skills, the experts at a surfing school can take your surfing ability to the next level. Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you a FREE REPORT Costa Rica: The Land of Pura Vida. Tropical Jaco has wet and dry seasons, just like the rest of Costa Rica. Best Surfing in San Jose, CA - Surf School Santa Cruz, Richard Schmidt School of Surfing, Fun and Sun Water Sports Club, Santa Cruz Surf Academy, Pillar Point Surf School, Adventure Out, Sea, Surf & Fun, Nor-Cal Surf Shop, The Hook, Traveler Surf Club & Coastal Outpost But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Playa Langosta is accessible through Tamarindo. Its so easy to naturally fall into the rhythms of beach life. This part of Costa Rica is a surfing hot spot! Being the closest beach to Costa Rica's capital, San Jos, Playa Jaco is a booming destination for a variety of tourism activities. (888) 651-9785 Chat now Top Costa Rica Surfing Lessons Surfing Lessons Outdoor Activities Classes & Workshops On the Water Active & Outdoor Classes Sports Lessons Surfing Lessons Extreme Sports Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises It is worth mentioning Playa Hermosa in more detail since it is right down the beach from Jac. we stayed in We truly felt we got to see a great sampling of the beauty of Costa Rica and met its wonderful people. Cabo Matapalo, on Osassouthern tip near Puerto Jimenez, has a few dependable right surf breaks. A simple wooden mountain-view home is available for $110,000 in Cocles. Here are some choices for local instructors https://crsurf.com/travel-blog/surf-lessons-and-surf-tours-around-dominical-and-uvita/, Your email address will not be published. That said, you shouldnt be without waves in the dry season, such is the consistency of this corner of the Puntarenas coastline. If you are looking for quieter or more affordable options, Tamarindos surrounding area may be for you. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book. In Playa Negra, a jungle 0.24-acre mixed lot (meaning there is no limit to the number of buildings you can build) costs $39,000. The road there is good because its asphalt along the beaches. Getting there by itself is an adventure, it is all worth it in the end! If youve surfed before and are looking to take on some of the best breaks in the Guanacaste area, head to Guiones Beach. Rooms are colorful and artsy, with a touch of luxury, there are affordable dorms, along with uber-cool cylinder rooms that resemble glamping pods. The popular spot in front of the parking lot works best at mid to high tide, the river mouth at low tide, and the point after mid-tide. Thats not good news, though, because theres so little protection there that bigger days can be as messy as a Costa Rican volcano eruption. There is a road to get here, but its rough, so youll need a 44. As for sharks, I have never seen a shark at Playa Hermosa or Dominical in 25 years of surfing both spots so at those spots you are safe from them. Surfing here is the best when the waves are in the 5-9 foot range with medium swells. I wanted to learn to surf, but not sure if Im strong enough. You can also swim in the waves closer to shore. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier! For some of the best surfing that Costa Ricas Caribbean Coast has to offer, head to Playa Cocles. Its chilled, filling food for a post-surf session eat. Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more. Votes. You can also access Playa Grande from the north side via a grassy parking lot at the end of the road and follow a beach path down. Sometimes though the swell is too big and these spots are not safe or easy. Frijoles Locos Surf Shopoffers group lessons for $40 USD per person, and the group size is a max of four people. If you want the full low-down on Costa Rica, get the new, updated Stormrider Surf Guide Costa Rica eBook for iBooks . I should know, it was the beach where I learned to surf! Witchs Rock is one of the most iconic surf spots in Costa Rica! Waves tend to cut down a few feet and the whitewash in Jaco Bay is prime for learning. Ed #2798 Oficina #8 .stk-010f81f{max-width:300px !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-left:0px !important} .stk-df0a503{background-color:#f6f2e7 !important}.stk-df0a503:before{background-color:#f6f2e7 !important}.stk-df0a503-container{min-height:450px !important;display:flex !important;flex-direction:column !important}.stk-df0a503-inner-blocks{justify-content:flex-end !important} .stk-05c9ba3 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:25px !important;color:#000000 !important;font-family:"Poppins",Sans-serif !important}@media screen and (max-width:1023px){.stk-05c9ba3 .stk-block-heading__text{font-size:25px !important}}Let us drop in on you .stk-2aa11c6 .stk-block-text__text{color:#000000 !important}Sign up to our emails. For a more relaxes surf town, try Santa Teresa. Some breaks, like in Pavoneson the Southern Pacific Coast, offer the longest rides of the world. Even if the waves are higher further out, youll still be able to practice on smaller secondary swells closer to shore. But if you can make the journey here, its totally worth it! Scheduled minibus transfers to Jaco from the airport (SJO) usually take a little longer around two hours or so. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Jac (and Hermosa) iStock/gionnixxx. In addition, Playa Avellanas can be a good beginner beach too. From my perspective, its very earthy, vegan, and alternative, less commercialized than other areas, Sophie shares. The tour is $469 USD for up to 6 people and doesnt include the $15 USD park entrance fee. Matapalo is on the northern side of Golfo Dulce. To the north of Dominical, about 90 minutes by car, is the central Pacific beach town of Jac. Can you guess which beach I was checking the surf? Homes, shops, and restaurants are spread out in the forest along the coast, with sandy roads snaking between the trees. This is the most popular time to visit Costa Rica. All Rights Reserved. 12 people - 3 Rooms REF. If youre hoping to surf here, there are four regions: North, South, Central, and Caribbean. The main surfing beach, Playa Guiones, has a beach break surfable at all tides, with multiple line-ups. Things to do in Costa Rica Costa Rica Tours Classes & Workshops Active & Outdoor Classes Surfing Lessons Questions? There are great glassy waves here for those experienced surfers to carve! Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica, El Jobo: "Is there surfing close by?" | Check out answers, plus 5,259 reviews and 7,066 candid photos Ranked #1 of 1 hotel in El Jobo and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor. If youre looking for more of a party scene, check out Playa Tamarindo or Jaco.

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