10 Best Places to Learn to Surf in Costa Rica
By Jennifer LaCharite
With over 300 beaches and 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) of coastline in Costa Rica, there are plenty of great places to break out your surfboard. Not all beaches are created equal, however, and certain Costa Rican beaches are considered better than others for those who want to learn how to surf. But what makes a great surf spot for beginners is not just about the waves.
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Is Costa Rica Good for Beginner Surfers?
With both a Pacific and Caribbean coast, warm weather and water, and plenty of options, Costa Rica is a great spot for beginner surfers. Costa Rica boasts year-round swell on both coasts, not to mention being voted one the happiest places on earth. Coincidence? We think not! Costa Rica is also known to be the safest country in Latin America, so it makes traveling to the Central American country even more appealing.
Where Do Beginners Surf in Costa Rica?
Calm and consistent waves with a soft sandy bottom – these are the ideal conditions for the beginner surfer. Tamarindo Beach and Jaco Beach are the most popular spots in Costa Rica for beginner surfers. Not only do these beaches have ideal conditions for beginners, but they also have plenty of accommodations, restaurants, surf schools, and nightlife to keep a traveler busy.
What Is the Best Time of The Year to Learn to Surf in Costa Rica?
While more advanced surfers will tell you the rainy season is the best time to surf in Costa Rica, this is not the case for the beginner surfer. The dry season, from December to April, is the best time to surf in Costa Rica for beginners. Waves during the dry season are cleaner and calmer. The rainy season tends to bring out a lot of debris that can hit a surfer and stormy waters can generate bigger waves.
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The Best Surfing in Costa Rica for Beginners
Playa Tamarindo
Located on the North Pacific Coast, the main break at Tamarindo Beach has given many beginner surfers the opportunity to pop up on their surfboard for the first time. Featuring consistent waves that come in close to the shore, you won’t have to paddle out very far to reach these beginner waves. The long coastline and sandy bottom make this a safe spot for beginners who are likely to fall off their boards or run into other surfers.
The waves are not the only thing that makes Tamarindo Beach one of the most popular places to learn how to surf in Costa Rica. There are several accommodations for travelers here, from fancy hotels to budget-friendly hostels, including the popular Selina Hostel franchise. There are also surf camps you can stay at and several surf schools and surf shops to buy and rent equipment. This surf town also happens to have a happening nightlife to keep you busy when you’re not surfing.
Playa Avellana
Located just south of Tamarindo, Avellanas beach break offers beginner surfers long, smooth waves. Avellanas tends to have a split personality, though, and it is best for inexperienced surfers to wait for mid-tide. Even then, the waves here are best for beginners on calm days.
Beginner surfers at Avellanas should stick to the south side of the beach near the public parking lot at what is known as the El Parqueo surf break, which is great for longboarding. This beach is fairly remote so beginner surfers here should not come alone. There are a few restaurants and hotels, but not much else.
Playa Guiones
Continuing south along the Pacific Coast, Playa Guiones near the town of Nosara is one of the best surf spots in Costa Rica. While the swell here can be big enough for advanced surfers, the smaller swell can be found closer to the shore and beginner surfers can find more manageable waves there.
While the road to get to Nosara and Playa Guiones is unpaved, there is plenty of natural beauty to enjoy. Nosara’s seclusion and lack of overdevelopment give it a laid-back vibe and creates the perfect environment for the yoga and surfing culture to thrive.
Playa Samara
At high tide, Samara Beach is a great spot for beginner surfers. This gentle beach break will only have swell at high tide, otherwise, it is calm enough for paddleboarding, but not so good for surfing.
Playa Samara is considered one of the prettiest and safest beaches in Costa Rica. A beach town with a chill vibe, it is a popular spot for surfing, yoga, and a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. The town is small but has everything you need including hotels, restaurants, bars, grocery stores, banks, and surf schools.
Playa Hermosa
Playa Hermosa means beautiful beach and this spot near the infamous Santa Teresa surf spot definitely lives up to its name! While Santa Teresa is one of the most sought-after surfing destinations in all of Costa Rica, the 10-minute drive to Playa Hermosa is recommended to beginner surfers as the waves here are smaller with a cleaner shape than the powerful waves of Playa Santa Teresa.
With very few buildings nearby, you will feel like you’re in a secluded paradise when you are at Playa Hermosa. There is a hotel in Hermosa that boasts a three-minute walk to the beach but more accommodations and surf lessons can be found in the town and along the beach of Santa Teresa.
Playa Carmen
Sitting near the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, Playa Carmen is another beach located in the remote Santa Teresa area. Waves here are more beginner friendly than the large, barrelling waves of Santa Teresa Beach. There is a soft sandy bottom at this beach break and waves here break softer than nearby Santa Teresa.
Santa Teresa is the closest town to Playa Carmen, which consists of one long dirt road flanked by houses, hotels, and restaurants. There are surf camps and surf hotels here. Keep in mind that while popular with surfers and backpackers, this area is remote and difficult to travel to.
Playa Jaco
Another popular surf town known for its exciting nightlife is Jaco Beach, located in the Central Pacific part of the country. The waves at Jaco are smaller and great for beginner surfers in Costa Rica. Beginners here are advised to stick to the south part of the beach where the swell is more suitable for those learning the sport.
Just like Tamarindo, there are several places to eat, stay, and learn to surf in Jaco. As the closest beach town to the capital city of San Jose, Jaco is the most developed beach town in the country, making it a popular place for tourists. This beach town is known for its nightlife, so if you’re looking to party after a day of surfing this is definitely the place to be!
Playa Espadilla
As the main beach in Manuel Antonio National Park, Playa Espadilla is popular with surfers and beachgoers alike. The south end of the beach produces smaller waves that are best for beginner surfers with the waves being best around high tide. The swell can get bigger on the north end of the beach but plenty of beginner surfers have taken a surf lesson here.
Located on the Central Pacific Coast, there is plenty to keep you occupied in Manuel Antonio, with hikes and canopy tours to discover its abundance of nature and five beautiful beaches to explore. The town of Quepos has all the accommodations, restaurants, tour companies, and surf schools you will need to enjoy your stay.
Playa Uvita
A picture-perfect beach located within the Marino Ballena National Park, Playa Uvita is easily accessible, thanks to the well-paved Costanera Sur highway. This is the beach with Costa Rica’s famous “whale’s tail” peninsula, which gives the beach shelter and makes the waves here more suitable for beginner surfers. With mild waters, this beach break also features a soft sandy bottom.
There are facilities for surfers at Uvita Beach, like bathrooms with showers. The nearby town of Uvita has everything you need to enjoy a tranquil stay at this natural wonder where wildlife and sea life are abundant. In fact, Uvita is the best spot to see humpback whales in Costa Rica. This is also where the annual music festival Envision is held every year.
Playa Cocles
Over on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica, you will find Playa Cocles, which is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. This surf spot has a beach break, giving beginner surfers a nice soft landing. It is best to go at high tide to get the longest ride, especially if you are using a longboard, as the ride here is generally short. This is the only beach in the area with lifeguards on duty so it is a great choice for beginner surfers who want to surf the Caribbean Sea.
Playa Cocles is just down the road from the popular Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, which is a funky beach town with an eclectic Caribbean vibe. The reggae music, delicious food, and abundant wildlife attracts visitors here from all over the world.
