Petty Crime in Costa Rica – Pt 3
Whether you’re a pro or a beginner, the waves, warm water and laid-back vibe make Costa Rica a surfer’s paradise. With its unique geography and climate, Costa Rica boasts of having year ‘round surfing. The key to the ideal Costa Rica surf trip is to match your skill level and budget to the right surf spots.
When to Go
If you’re new to the Costa Rica surfing experience, the first thing you need to know is that the Pacific side is much more popular. Although there are surf-able waves year round, swell size (and crowds) vary by season. The “dry season” runs from December through April, with smaller and cleaner waves. There are smaller crowds on typical mornings and waves generally run from 3-4 ft., making it ideal for beginner and intermediate surfers. However, sunny days and offshore winds mean that while the days are extremely pleasant, it can get crowded, particularly in popular tourist areas such as Tamarindo.
By contrast, the green season is ideal for advanced surfers. From May to November, the swells are bigger with epic waves and lush scenery. Your stay in Costa Rica can also cost up to 25% less during wet/green season, too. For the budget conscious, this is certainly something to consider.
Tips for Beginning Surfers
Consider the dry season in Playa Dominical (Pacific Coast). Mornings are ideal as they tend to be less crowded and the winds more consistently offshore. Manageable waves and gentle breaks are perfect for those still trying to master balance and pop-ups. Also, the area has plenty of surf schools and camps that offer lessons.
Tips for Advanced Surfers
For advanced surfers, try Pavones during green season for one of the longest left-hand breaks in the world. Reefs and river mouths add variety. On the Caribbean side, Salsa Brava (Puerto Viejo) features hurricane-fueled swells from August to October and winter storm swells from December to February, but one must have expert reef skills. Nosara is great for all skill levels during the green season.
Tips for All Surfers
- Avoid Easter week (1st week of April in 2026) as it can get especially crowded with tourists.
- If you’re planning your surf trip during the dry season, try to book your trip at least 3-4 months in advance in order to reserve lodging in the best locations – close to the waves.
Where to Go
Costa Rica has a wide variety of beaches suitable to any skill level. Matching your skill level to surf locations will have more of an impact on your Costa Rica experience than any other factor. Here are the top destinations for each skill level:
For Beginner Surfers
Tamarindo is an ideal place for beginner surfers as the waves are relatively small and consistent, particularly at the southern end. Additionally, the sandy bottom makes injury less likely, making it a great place to learn. For that reason, it’s easy to find a surf school or camp in the area. Iguana Surf and Witches Rock Surf Camp are a couple of really good ones.
Tamarindo has abundant nightlife as well. It’s a bit of a party town as well, with plenty of lodging and restaurants around. In your hours away from the surf, there’s yoga, lush landscapes and wildlife tours.
Jaco, has small to medium sized waves as well as a sandy bottom, making it perfect for the beginning and intermediate surfer. Wide beaches give beginners plenty of area to practice. Here too, you’ll find plenty of reputable surf schools and skilled instructors.
Playa Guiones (Nosara) features a wide, uncrowded beach, small to medium sized waves and a sandy bottom. There are outstanding surf schools here as well. Safari Surf, Coconut Harrys, and Nosara Tico Surf School immediately come to mind. Restaurants and accommodations are close by and there are plenty of places to rent a board.
Playa Espadilla (Manuel Antonio) has many of the benefits of the locations mentioned earlier except with one added benefit. It tends to be less crowded than Tamarindo or Jaco. Here, your timing matters. Waves are gentler during high tide while low tide can expose rocks. Beginners should stick to the south end as the north section (called Playitas) has stronger currents and bigger waves.
For Intermediate Surfers
In Santa Teresa, waves typically range from 2 to 6 feet with mornings presenting the best conditions for surfers. For those looking to fine tune their technique, the consistent surf swells and rolling beach breaks are ideal, particularly during the dry season. Between March and May, you’ll find the waves a bit punchier, making them ideal for practicing bottom turns and cut backs, and maybe a few cover ups.
Similarly, Playa Hermosa offers consistent, manageable waves just challenging enough to practice turns and cut backs. The beach’s shape creates a deeper offshore water pool so the waves are not as rocky as elsewhere. It tends to be less crowded than the more touristy beaches of Jaco or Tamarindo. It can get big here from March to August so don’t paddle out if you are not confident in your skills.
For Advanced Surfers
Located in Santa Rosa National Park on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast, Witches Rock is renowned for its powerful, barreling waves. The steep takeoffs and hollow barrel sections are great for testing maneuvers such as tube riding and high speed carves. Since Witches Rock is located within a protected national park, it’s more secluded and less affected by tourist visitors. That can make it ideal for focusing on the reason you came to Costa Rica in the first place.
Short of Chicama, Peru, Pavones has the longest left-hand point break in the world. Rides can last over a minute with fast, powerful waves that can be ideal for trying more challenging maneuvers. Less predictable conditions, low tide rocks, and strong currents make for even more of a challenge. Located in southern Costa Rica, Pavones is far from touristy areas and a lot less crowded than other beaches. Big swells will attract some professional surfers and all the locals are out so be ready to wait for the right set.
What to Know
For those who have never been to Costa Rica, here’s a heads-up. You’ll hear the phrase “pura vida” more than perhaps any other. While the exact translation is “pure life”, the phrase can mean hello, thank you, or goodbye. It can be helpful to learn additional, oft used Spanish phrases. Locals appreciate the effort, no matter how basic. Here are a few other things to think about:
- Costa Rica remains one of the safest places in Central America. Even so, petty theft is on the rise. The U.S. State Department has issued a level 2 advisory (updated August 2025), advising travelers to exercise caution, especially at night or in isolated spots.
- Don’t forget insect repellent and reef safe sunscreen (it’s the law!). The mosquitos in Nosara and Santa Teresa can be troublesome and sunscreen can be very expensive locally.
- You’ll have no problem finding a laundromat in most surf towns so you can pack light.
The above is a brief overview of what you’ll need to know before getting on that plane to Costa Rica. But it’s a good head start. Feel free to reach out to me should you need help planning a Costa Rica surf trip or have additional questions.
Greg Gordon is the owner of CR Surf Travel Company, helping surfers from all over the world plan their surf trips to Costa Rica. As an Eco-friendly business, they donate to C.R.E.M.A. which helps protect sea turtles and sharks, Community Carbon Trees to offset emissions from traveling, and the Surfrider Foundation. He has been surfing since 1987 and has spent 29 years traveling to and living in Costa Rica.
