Costa Rica Surfing

With long pristine coastlines on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Costa Rica offers a variety of breaks and excellent waves in one of the most gorgeous settings in the world. This is a destination for beginning and expert surfers alike, with plenty of renowned veterans around to challenge or instruct you. Indeed, the country is home to world-ranked surfer Federico Pilurzu and the 2008 Central American Surf Team Champions including Luis Vindas, Gilbert Brown, Lisbeth Vindas and Nataly Bernold.

Some of our favorite surf destinations include:

* Tamarindo - a great place for beginners with a long wide beach and a consistent break at the mouth of a local estuary. There a plenty of surf schools in the area for anyone toying with the idea of catching their first wave, Iguana Surf School is one of the better known ones in the area.

* Playa Hermosa - just south of Jaco, this area is for extreme surf enthusiasts. Just by staying at one of the local cabinas or hostels, it is clear to tell that the visitors are there for one purpose and one purpose only. Sleep schedules cooincide with the tides and the occasional joint takes the place of the excessive drinking that goes on in the nearby Jacopulco.

* Santa Teresa - a surfer and beach lovers dream. This long stretch of untouched beach continues on to Mal Pais and Playa Catalina offering some of the best surf breaks in the country. If you have the time to make it out here it is a true treat. The water is about 80 degrees year round and the sunsets are spectacular.

* Playa del Coco - while the actual beach in Coco isn’t for surfing, this is the best jumping off point to get to the infamous Witch’s Rock - an area known by a tall island formation just off the coast that houses THE best waves in Costa Rica. Day tours or camping trips to this destination can be arranged.

* Samara and Nosara - these beaches on the Pacific side of The Nicoya Peninsula are less crowded than some of their northern neighbors, but serve as a great place for beginning surfers to try some calmer waves. They are also located near a plethora of secluded beaches that offer more challenging waves for the adventurous explorer among you. There is also a fabled nearby beach at the end of an unmarked turnoff where a waterfall runs directly into the ocean.