Surf guide
Two coasts, with waves for every level
The darling of the Central American surf scene: two very different coastlines, warm water year-round and a wave for every level within a few hours of the airport. The Pacific side gets pounded by consistent south-west groundswell from April to October and clean north-west pulses in the dry season, while the short, wild Caribbean coast fires on seasonal storms off Colombia. Political stability, easy infrastructure and staggering wildlife make it the most popular surf-travel destination in the region.
Guanacaste · best December to April
2 waves · Best December to April · Potrero Grande (Ollie's Point), Playa Naranjo (Witch's Rock)
Boat-access national-park waves, the Endless Summer classics
Surf guide to Witch's Rock & Ollie's Point3 waves · Best December to April · Playa Grande, Tamarindo, Langosta
The surf-town hub, beginner beaches, estuary peaks and easy living
Surf guide to Tamarindo5 waves · Best December to April · Playa Avellana, Playa Negra, Ostional, Nosara (Playa Guiones N)…
Consistent beachbreak and the reefs of Negra and Avellana
Surf guide to Nosara & the southGolfo de Nicoya · best December to April
6 waves · Best December to April · Playa Coyote, Playa Caletas, Playa Manzanillo, Playa Santa Teresa…
White-sand beachbreak and the wild peninsula tip
Surf guide to Mal País & Santa Teresa3 waves · Best December to April · Boca Barranca, Puerto Caldera, Tivives
Boca Barranca's marathon left and the jetty wedges
Surf guide to Puntarenas & the river lefts6 waves · Best December to April · Playa Escondida (Hidden Beach), Playa Jacó, Roca Loca, Playa Hermosa…
The lively surf-town hub and its heavy black-sand beachbreak
Surf guide to Jacó & Playa HermosaCentral Puntarenas · best May to November
5 waves · Best May to November · Boca Damas, Quepos Bombie, Playitas, Playa El Rey…
Rivermouths, Playitas and the national-park coast
Surf guide to Quepos & Manuel Antonio6 waves · Best May to November · Playa Dominical, Dominicalito, Punta Dominical, Playa Hermosa (Uvita)…
The barrelling beachbreak and the mellow Marino Ballena coast
Surf guide to Dominical & Uvita3 waves · Best May to November · Rio Sierpe Rivermouth, Drake's Bay, Rio Claro Rivermouth
Remote rivermouth waves on the edge of Corcovado
Surf guide to Osa & the far southGolfo Dulce · best April to October
4 waves · Best April to October · Playa Carate, Hog Hole, Backwash, Pan Dulce
Three quality right points at the tip of the Osa
Surf guide to Cabo Matapalo5 waves · Best April to October · Playa Zancudo, Pavones, Punta Banco, Eclipse…
The marathon left and the remote far-south reefs
Surf guide to Pavones & the southLimón · best December to March
7 waves · Best December to March · Tortuguero Beach, Cocaine Point, Playa Bonita, Roca Alta…
Reef ledges around the city and the wild Tortuguero beachbreaks
Surf guide to Limón & the north6 waves · Best December to March · Playa Negra (Cahuita), Salsa Brava, Playa Cocles, Little Shoal…
Salsa Brava, Cocles and the mellow Afro-Caribbean coast
Surf guide to Puerto Viejo & the southThe main season in Costa Rica is December to April, and at least one region is at its best in December to October.
Guanacaste: best in December to April, dry season, offshore mornings, sunshine, clean NW-fed 3-4ft waves almost daily.
Golfo de Nicoya: best in May to July, green season SW groundswell fires the points and beachbreaks; offshore mornings.
Central Puntarenas: best in May to July, green season S-SW groundswell fires Dominical and the points; offshore mornings.
Golfo Dulce: best in July to September, peak S-SW power, Pavones at its best, but the wettest, road-washing months.
Limón: best in December to March, main season, NE-E storms off Colombia fire Salsa Brava and the reefs.
