Surfing Osa & the far south

Beach Break · Best May-Nov · 3-8 ft · Crowd 1/5

S-SW swell, incoming tide

The Rio Sierpe rivermouth is on the way to Drake Bay, in the north of the Osa Peninsula, and can only be reached by boat through the mangroves. On an incoming tide with a solid south-west swell, the sandbanks produce long, strong lefts and rights.

The banks move with the river, so the quality changes a lot. Accommodation in the area is scattered and expensive, and you need to arrange boat transport, but you'll almost never share it.

It's only reachable by boat and only works on a solid south-west swell with an incoming tide, so it's usually done on a boat trip with a local guide. Crocodiles live in the river, so don't surf it without someone who knows it.

Reef Break · Best May-Nov · 2-8 ft · Crowd 1/5

Swell S-SW

Drake Bay is on the edge of Corcovado National Park, reached by boat from Sierpe or by a rough jungle road. There are several breaks around the bay, including an offshore reef, all of which need a good south-west swell and some local knowledge.

The lodges are expensive and the logistics take planning. Most people come for the rainforest and the wildlife, and the surf is a bonus. When it works, the lineups are empty.

Lodges in the bay can arrange boat trips to the breaks.

Beach Break · Best May-Nov · 3-8 ft · Crowd 1/5

Swell S-SW

The Rio Claro rivermouth, deep in the Osa wilderness near Corcovado, has a long left off the river's sandbanks when a solid south-west swell lines up.

Getting there means hiking or taking a boat, and there's nothing there except jungle. You can camp, but bring everything with you. Because of that, it's almost always empty.

Go with a local guide, as crocodiles live in many river mouths in this area.