Quepos & Manuel Antonio · Costa Rica
Surfing Playa El Rey
A beach break in Quepos & Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, for intermediate surfers.
Playa El Rey is a long, isolated beach about 11 km from Roncador, south of Quepos. The best peaks are near the mouth of the Rio Naranjo, where the sandbanks hold their shape.
It's usually bigger than the other beaches nearby, which makes it the place to check when they're too small, but it closes out on big swells. There are no facilities at all. You can camp, but bring everything you need.
There's usually nobody around, so go with someone. Quepos is the nearest town.
When to surf
Playa El Rey
Playa El Rey is at its best from May to November. Conditions it likes: Swell S-SW.
December to April: Good
Short dry season, cleaner, sunnier, but smaller than the summer swell
May to July: Prime
Green season S-SW groundswell fires Dominical and the points; offshore mornings
August to October: Prime
Peak, most consistent S-SW swell, and the wettest, greenest months
Nov: Quiet
Transition, heavy rains and swell easing into the dry season
The year across Central Puntarenas
Waves near Playa El Rey
Getting there
Where to stay: Quepos and Manuel Antonio have dozens of hotels for every budget; Playitas (the park's NW corner) holds the best beachbreak. Base here for the northern spots, or push south to Dominical for the heavier waves. Crocs and currents make boats the smart call at Boca Damas.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Quepos & Manuel Antonio guide.
Quepos & Manuel Antonio surf guideSurf it often and something here is wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.