Costa Rica is one of the world’s top surfing destinations thanks to consistent, high-quality waves with a variety of breaks and year round warm waters.
Costa Rica is the perfect destination for both beginner and experienced surfers with plenty of surf spots up and down the Pacific and Caribbean coast providing point and beach breaks, lefts and rights, reefs and river mouths.
To show you why Costa Rica has become such a popular spot for surfers, here are the 8 best surf spots in Costa Rica:
Playa Grande
Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Type of Break: Beach Break
Ocean Floor: Sand
Playa Grande offers one of the most consistent surf in all of Costa Rica and anyone who surfs here immediately falls in love with the place. Located just north of Tamarindo, Playa Grande is a hidden gem in Costa Rica, a favorite with the locals and international surfers who flock here to ride the huge waves, which crash onto white sands backed by thick jungle.
Playa Grande offers quality beachbreak, especially on a good south swell. There are outer reefs which make low-tide not ideal (close-outs mostly), but from mid-tide on, it is A-frame, tube rides, fun, playful lefts and rights.
Most people’s favorite part about Playa Grande is the laid back vibe with fewer tourists than near-by Tamarindo. In Playa Grande you will be surrounded by natural beauty and wildlife rather than hotels and nightclubs.
Since the place is so chill and beautiful, people who come to surf Playa Grande tend to stay here much longer than planned. For some, it is their favorite place on their surf trip to Costa Rica. You’ll also have the chance to see leatherback turtles nesting in the Las Baulas National Marine Park at certain times of the year.
Tamarindo
Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Type of Break: Beach Break
Ocean Floor: Sand
Playa Tamarindo, just south of Playa Grande, is a great surfing destination for beginners in Costa Rica. With the bay being protected it picks up most swells, so you can almost always find a surfable wave. With a sand bottom and lots of surf schools, it’s a great place to learn how to surf in Costa Rica.
Tamarindo also hosts several national competitions every year and with an abundance of nightlife, beach bars and shops, it’s become a very popular tourism spot.
Witches Rock
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Type of Break: Beach Break
Ocean Floor: Sand
The world-famous surf break of Witch’s Rock is located in the Santa Rosa National Park in Guanacaste – which makes it difficult to access. This is not a beginner-friendly place, and it is only accessible via boat or a very treacherous drive.
With the right swell direction, size and wind conditions, Witch’s Rock throws perfect barrels. There are multiple different breaks up and down the immense beach.
But with the rolling hills in the background and the unique ancient rock formation, a trip to Witch’s Rock will be one surfers will never forget.
Playa Dominical
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Type of Break: Beach Break
Ocean Floor: Sand
Playa Dominical is a laid back surf town offering some of the most consistent waves of the southern pacific coast of Costa Rica. With it being a little more remote, there are not as many tourists as some of the more popular beaches in the north.
Dominical is known for its powerful and hollow waves which are formed by a beach break of surf that runs the entire length of the beach, so this area is best left to experienced surfers.
Jaco
Level: Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
Type of Break: Beach Break
Ocean Floor: Sand
Jacó is a bustling, energetic beach town that’s known for its carefree party atmosphere, drawing people in with easy riding waves and making them want to stay thanks to the parties.
Jaco beach is a great surfing destination in Costa Rica for both beginner surfers (low tide) and experienced surfers (high tide), offering shoulder to head high waves close to San Jose (1.5 hours away). There are several peaks on the three kilometer beach but it does become very crowded on weekends and in peak season.
Jaco is also a great launching point to nearby Playa Hermosa and Playa Esterillos.
Playa Hermosa
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Type of Break: Beach Break
Ocean Floor: Sand
Playa Hermosa, located near Jaco, is a well-known surf spot and home of the International Quicksilver Championship where hundreds of experts flock to every August
With strong currents and swells that reach up to thirteen feet, this beach is not recommended for beginners. This is a spot where you can score an epic barrel and is less crowded than Jaco, making it a popular spot for the more experienced surfers.
Pavones
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Type of Break: Beach Break
Ocean Floor: Sand
Pavones is located on the southern Pacific coastline of Costa Rica and is a beautiful and secluded beach that lies on the interior of the Golfo Dulce.
With miles of different beaches, Pavones is recognized as the second-longest left point break in the world. It works best on a southern swell. This spot is for intermediate to advanced surfers only and it’s important to practice proper point-break etiquette.
While this location ensures that Pavones will provide visitors with beautiful scenery and clear waters, it also means that the beach is blocked from many swells that can make the waves frustratingly random.
Salsa Brava / Playa Cocles
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Type of Break: Reef Break
Ocean Floor: Reef/Coral
Over on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, near the popular beach town of Puerto Viejo, you have Salsa Brava. With the largest wave in all of Costa Rica, this famous dangerous surf break is for the most experienced of surfers. Close by, Playa Cocles offers a beach break only slightly less intense.
Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast is the least developed area in the country and the most bohemian. You won’t be able to find big resorts or hotels here, it’s all jungle, beach, small villages, beach bars, taco stands and yoga studios.