Costa Rica Surfing - Riding High!  by Todd Sarouhan

The surfing in Costa Rica is topnotch with a wide variety of breaks and swells to ride. And with year round consistent surf, this Central American country is considered by many as one of the top surfing destinations in the world. Here the waters are warm all year long and with over 700 miles of coastline and literally hundreds of breaks, surfing in Costa Rica is truly something special!

Home to quite a few international surfing tournaments and some of the friendliest people in the world, surfing in Costa Rica can be a memorable experience for many. Affordable prices and easy access to most breaks adds to the appeal of surfing in Costa Rica. If you don’t know how to surf, don’t worry there are plenty of great surf camps here that can show you the ropes and make you an expert in no time at all.

Best Surfing in Costa Rica The best place to go surfing in Costa Rica has to be Witches Rock or Ollie’s Point located near Playa Naranjo inside the Parque Nacional Santa Rosa. A legendary place to come surfing; the waves here are rated as the finest in the country. Another goof destination for surfers is Playa Hermosa in Puntarenas province. Situated near the beach town of Jaco, another popular surf spot, Playa Hermosa has consistent waves and a strong break, making it an expert surfer zone.

To catch one of the longest left breaks on the Pacific side of Central America head to Pavones in the Golfo Dulce area. The Salsa Brava in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is the biggest break in Costa Rica and is meant for expert surfers only. Sharp and fast, the waves here are very dangerous and should not be attempted unless you are a pro.

Popular Costa Rica Surf Spots Mal Pais and Santa Theresa are two very popular surf spots on the Nicoya Peninsula. Home to a number of surf camps as well, the waves here are excellent with plenty of affordable accommodations. The Malpais Surf Camp and Resort, Frank’s Place and the Hotel Flor Blanca are a few of the well-known places to stay in this area.

In Guanacaste province and on the Nicoya Peninsula as well, both Playa Grande and Playa Negra offer some superb surfing. Playa Grande is a more quiet surf zone, while Playa Negra has some exciting waves. Made famous when the movie Endless Summer II was filmed here, the breaks at Playa Negra are fast and hollow.

Both Dominical and Matapalo are quiet surf zones and are ideal for the more serious surfer who wants nothing more than to just surf. Dominical lies along the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, while Matapalo sits on the Osa Peninsula close to the Corcovado National Park.
 
 

To get further comprehensive information on Costa Rica Sufing, visit www.govisitcostarica.com/category/outdoorRecreation/surfing.asp and http://www.govisitcostarica.com/travelinfo/mapLg.asp?mapID=56 for Costa Rica surfing maps. Over the last few years, www.GoVisitCostaRica.com has been a leader in providing tourists with important travel data on this gorgeous Central American country.