Jacó & Playa Hermosa · Costa Rica
Surfing Playa Hermosa
A beach break in Jacó & Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, for advanced surfers.
Playa Hermosa is 7 km of black sand just south of Jacó, and one of the most consistent beach breaks in Costa Rica. It picks up almost any south-west swell, and higher tides are usually best.
The waves are fast and powerful, with barrels on good days and closeouts when it gets double overhead. The rips are strong, people have drowned here, and you need to be a confident swimmer when it's big. The further south you walk, towards Tulín, the fewer people are out.
When to surf
Playa Hermosa
Playa Hermosa is at its best from May to November. Conditions it likes: S-SW swell, high tide.
December to April: Good
Dry season, cleaner conditions and WNW pulses, though smaller than the summer swell
May to July: Prime
Green season SW groundswell fires the points and beachbreaks; offshore mornings
August to October: Prime
Peak S-SW swell, most consistent and biggest, but the wettest months
Nov: Quiet
Transition, rain and swell easing into the dry season
The year across Golfo de Nicoya
Waves near Playa Hermosa
Roca Loca
3 kmJacó & Playa Hermosa · Right Reef · Advanced
Boca Tusubres
5 kmJacó & Playa Hermosa · Beach Break · Intermediate / Advanced
Playa Jacó
6 kmJacó & Playa Hermosa · Beach Break · Beginner / Intermediate
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: Jacó town has the hotels, board hire, ATMs and nightlife, with everything walkable; Playa Hermosa (10min south) puts you on the heavier beachbreak. Rent or buy boards here, it's cheaper than the airport towns. Stay south towards Esterillos for a quieter base.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Jacó & Playa Hermosa guide.
Jacó & Playa Hermosa surf guideSurf it often and something here is wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.