Surfing Tamarindo

Beach Break · Best Dec-Apr · 2-8 ft · Crowd 3/5

SW-NW swell, incoming tide

Playa Grande is the long beach on the other side of the estuary from Tamarindo, inside Las Baulas National Park. It picks up more swell than Tamarindo and works on everything from south-west groundswell to the north-west swells of winter, usually best on a rising tide.

On small days it's fun for improvers, and with a good swell the peaks get hollow and powerful. The beach is long, so the crowd spreads out. Leatherback turtles nest here, so the beach is closed at night. From Tamarindo it's a short crossing over the estuary or about 40 minutes by road.

Beach Break · Best Dec-Apr · 2-6 ft · Crowd 4/5

Swell SW-NW

Tamarindo is Guanacaste's main surf town, with surf schools, board rental and places to stay right on the beach. The main beach has slow, soft waves and is one of the most popular places in Costa Rica to learn.

At the north end, the rivermouth at the estuary has faster, shifting peaks and is the best wave in town when a swell is running. Nearby reefs like Pico Pequeño, Diria and Henry's give intermediates more to do. It works on south-west to north-west swells at most tides. The downside is the crowd: when it's good, every peak fills up.

Beach Break · Best Dec-Apr · 2-6 ft · Crowd 3/5

SW swell, mid tide

Langosta is the next beach south of Tamarindo, with a rivermouth and a few beach peaks. With the right swell and tide, the bar at the rivermouth lines up into good sand-bottom walls, usually best around mid tide.

It's ten minutes from Tamarindo but much quieter, with mangroves around the estuary. It isn't a great wave, but it's a good option for intermediates when the main beach in Tamarindo is too crowded. The paddle out from the rocks is easy if you wait for a lull.