From where you’d rather be. Photo: SurfingCostaRica.com
There is an unwritten agreement you make while on vacation with your surfing girlfriend or boyfriend. When the waves are firing, you might be stuck on the beach twiddling your thumbs, reading the same magazine from front to back a few times. And getting waved in while the waves are pumping is the absolute worst. If I had a nickel for every time my wife waved me in from the beach, I’d probably only have a dollar, but you get the idea.
Here in Costa Rica, there are spots where the waves are incredible, but aside from the surf, there’s not much else to do. There are, however, several spots around here to get your surf on while keeping your loved one happy. Horseback riding, yoga, restaurants, hikes, and a number of other things this lovely country has to offer will keep BAE occupied while you clock in some tube time. Here are five places to score in Costa Rica while keeping your loved one happy:
Santa Teresa/Mal Pais
Relax to a beautiful Santa Teresa sunset with an ice-cold Pilsen. Photo: MyCostaTrip.com
In terms of surfing, there are plenty of breaks around here. There is a main break at Santa Teresa that gets super fun. Also, Playa Hermosa (not to be confused with the Playa Hermosa in Central CR) and Playa El Carmen are pretty swell sensitive, so even with a tiny pulse, there’s a lot to surf. When the waves get big, you might want to explore some other spots in the area to find a wave to yourself. Check out the Bakery for some delicious food and enjoy horseback riding, yoga, and a few parties here and there. This area is not very big, but it’s still spread out, so it’s best to have a car to get around.
Nosara
Guiones in Nosara doing its thing. Photo: Nosara.com
Nosara has a small town feel with the Costa Rican essence of gravel roads. It’s a longboarder’s paradise mostly. On the right tide it’s a great place for your beginner BAE to learn to surf, and on other tides it can be super rippable. There are also many beach breaks in the area where you can find a few open barrels. Do some downward dog in a yoga studio or rent a 4×4 ATV and do some exploring while choosing between the dozens of incredible restaurants in town.
Tamarindo
Aerial view of Tamarindo. Photo: SurfCr.com
One of the biggest beach towns in CR. Incredible restaurants, wild parties, and many places to surf. Depending on the swell, Tamarindo can get really fun, but you should for sure rent a car because the best surf will be a short 10-40 minutes away (Langosta, Playa Grande, Avellanas, Playa Negra, and Junquillal).
Puerto Viejo
The Costa Rican Pipeline, Salsa Brava. Photo: Bareru.com
Puerto Viejo is on the Caribbean side of CR. It’s a really cool town that feels like a completely different country. The food, people, and language are very unique. There are several beach breaks in that area that you can explore. Beaches include Cocles, another Playa Grande, and, of course, Salsa Brava, which I like to call the Costa Rican Pipeline. This spot is for experienced surfers only, so be careful before paddling out in this area. There are a few spots that can really f*ck you up. Puerto Viejo has some of the most beautifully rich fauna in all of Costa Rica, which is probably why sloths are so pervasive.
Playa Hermosa
A hollow one right in front of Bowie’s Point restaurant. Photo: CrSurf.com
Playa Hermosa is one of the most consistent waves in Costa Rica and there are dozens of beach breaks in the area to surf. Next to Hermosa is Jaco, which is the largest beach town in CR and has plenty of places to eat and lots of entertainment. When the waves are flat (which is, like never), hiking, yoga, and horseback riding are all viable alternatives when visiting this area. It’s only one hour away from the airport in San Jose so it’s always a good place to visit on your way out of Costa Rica. Make sure to stop by Bowie’s Point restaurant for a great post-surf meal.
