Costa Rica Surfing for Beginners
- Improve your skills by attending surf camps or signing up for surf lessons in Costa Rica. Various surfing schools, camps and clinics offer lessons for surfers of all levels along the tropical beaches of Costa Rica. Schools such as the Una Ola Surf School in Pavones and Costa Rica Surf Camp X in Mal Pais teach the basics of surfing including safety, wave dynamics, surfing etiquette, paddling and techniques for catching a wave. The lessons progress to more difficult skills like standing up and riding a wave on a surfboard. When choosing surf schools, consider factors like instructor qualifications and certifications from the Costa Rican Surfing Federation and Red Cross.
- Visit beaches with manageable surf breaks. The best areas for novice surfers include the shores of Guiones, El Carmen, Tamarindo and Jaco. The shores of Nosara and Peleda are near Guiones. These beaches have mild surf breaks that are ideal for learning how to surf. The waves vary from three to 10 feet, so you still need to pay attention to surf reports and tidal levels. Playa El Carmen is in southern Nicoya and has good weather year-round. Its beach is a favorite of long boarders, and the soft sandy bottom is ideal for rough landings.
- Summer and rainy are two major seasons in Costa Rica. Summer is a busy season and lasts from December to April. The weather is sunny and hot with little chance of rain. The best surfing during this season is along the shores of the northern Nicoya Peninsula or the Caribbean Coast, according to Explorecostarica.com. Avoid the crowds by booking a trip in the months of May, June, July and August. Though part of the rainy season, temperatures are still hot during these months, and the rains have yet to fall. Prices are also lower.
- Look for surf tour packages when traveling. This types of packages make it easy for inexperienced surfers to get around the area and to have convenient access to local surf shops, rentals and clinics. Surf packages typically come with beachfront accommodations, surf shop discounts and ground transfers to the airport.