Perfect waves, sweet spots, great water temperatures, endless beaches… Costa Rica is a paradise for surfers from all over the globe. It is no coincidence that Costa Rica is called the “South American Hawaii!” It fame is probably because of “The Endless Summer 2”, a movie directed in 1994 by Bruce Brown, praising the quality of the waves in Costa Rica.

Let’s go back to the origins of this sport. Born in Hawaii at least 300 years ago, surfing consists in “finding a good spot and riding the waves standing on a board.”

We offer surf trips for all levels, especially on the Pacific Coast. To select our favorite spots, we relied on 3 criteria: the type and quality of the waves, the beach and the closest city.

If you don’t know which spot to choose, visit the website Wannasurf !

Famous Costa Rican surfers

NOÉ MAR MC GONAGLE

The surf star Noé Mar Mc Gonagle was born in and raised in the small Costa Rican village of Pavones. Growing up in a surfing family with Pavones as his backyard playground, Noe Mar fell in love with surfing at a young age. In June 2015, he won the gold medal at the ISA World Surfing Games that took place in Popoyo Beach in Nicaragua.

CARLOS MUNOZ

Carlos Munoz is a professional Costa Rican surfer, born in 1993. He started surfing when he was ten years old, although he couldn’t even swim. After a few junior-level competitions, he became the first Costa Rican to take part in the Championship Tour, in the United States.

The Best Surf Spots and the Sweetest Waves

THE CARIBBEAN

PLAYA SALSA BRAVA, CAHUITA, PUERTO VIEJO DE TALAMANCA, PLAYA COCLES

Recommended for experimented surfers, as the Caribbean Coast can sometimes be quite dangerous! Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small fishing village, nestled between the tropical forest and the crystal-clear waters of the Atlantic. From Puerto Viejo, you can reach several beaches like Playa Negra or Playa Cocles, or head a little further to Cahuita and Playa Salsa Brava.

THE NICOYA PENINSULA

PLAYA TAMARINDO, PLAYA NEGRA, PLAYA JUNQUILLAL

Ideal for beginners, Playa Tamarindo is a nice spot to ride big waves for the first time. However, advanced surfers will be able to test their skills too! When the tide is low, perfect right-hand waves break on Playa Negra.

SANTA TERESA

Known world-wide, Santa Teresa is reserved for advanced surfers. You can rent a board from little shops or hotels in Salinas, a small town near the beach.

This beach is also known for being an important nesting site for leather back turtles.

CENTRAL PACIFIC

PLAYA JACO, PLAYA HERMOSA

Jaco is a touristic town and the hub of surfers in Costa Rica. From here, you can reach several beaches. You surf in Jaco in the morning, then head to Playa Hermosa (7 km away) in the afternoon. At night, why not sip a cocktail in Jaco’s city center, in one of the numerous restaurants of the town!

Playa Hermosa is a 7-km long playground for surfers given the quality of the waves crashing along the coastline.

SOUTH PACIFIC

PAVONES

This small village is known for having the “second longest left handed wave in the world”. It is on this beach that Red Bull filmed Robby Naish riding a wave for 2.15 minutes for more than 1 kilometer. This place is best for experimented surfers!

To discover new spots and see the meteorological conditions, visit the Magic Sea Weed website.