Witch's Rock & Ollie's Point · Costa Rica
Surfing Playa Naranjo (Witch's Rock)
A beach break in Witch's Rock & Ollie's Point, Costa Rica, for advanced surfers.
Playa Naranjo is the beach behind Witch's Rock (Roca Bruja), the big volcanic rock off the coast of Santa Rosa National Park in Guanacaste. It's one of the best-known surf spots in Costa Rica, with hollow A-frame peaks that hold their shape in the strong offshore wind.
It's best around mid to high tide on a medium south or south-west swell. When the swell gets too big it closes out. The shorebreak is heavy and the current strong, so it's for experienced surfers.
There's no road access in the wet season and nowhere to stay. Most people come on a day trip by boat from Playa del Coco or Tamarindo, often combined with Ollie's Point.
When to surf
Playa Naranjo (Witch's Rock)
Playa Naranjo (Witch's Rock) is at its best from May to October. Conditions it likes: S-SW swell, howling offshore.
December to April: Prime
Dry season, offshore mornings, sunshine, clean NW-fed 3-4ft waves almost daily
May to July: Good
Green season begins; bigger SW groundswell, afternoon showers, fewer crowds
August to October: Good
Peak SW swell and empty line-ups, but the wettest, muddiest roads
Nov: Quiet
Transition, rains easing, swell easing, a quiet shoulder month
The year across Guanacaste
Waves near Playa Naranjo (Witch's Rock)
Getting there
Where to stay: There's no accommodation inside the national park, base yourself in Playas del Coco (closest to the boat ramp) or Tamarindo and run day trips by panga. Witch's Rock is best in the dry season (Dec-Apr) with the offshore Papagayo wind; Ollie's Point needs a south swell, so it works from about April to October. Both need a decent swell to justify the boat cost.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Witch's Rock & Ollie's Point guide.
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