Costa Rica surf spots cover two oceans and almost every skill level. The Pacific is the reliable choice for most of the year. The Caribbean season is shorter and heavier, with its best swells from about November to March.
Pacific coast surf
The North Pacific is the easiest coast to reach from Liberia. Tamarindo has beach breaks for mixed groups, with Playa Grande and Playa Langosta close by. Playa Guiones in Nosara is a long sandy wave that works on more than 300 days a year and is a common place for a first lesson. Santa Teresa and Mal País, farther down the Nicoya Peninsula, offer longer walls and a quieter town.
The Central Pacific is a short drive from San José. Jacó is the busy base. Playa Hermosa, just south of it, is for experienced surfers when the swell is overhead. Dominical stays consistent and suits confident intermediates.
South Pacific and the Caribbean
Pavones, near the Panama border, is known for one of the longest lefts in the world. It is remote, and the better waves often arrive in the green season. On the Caribbean, Puerto Viejo is the hub. Salsa Brava is a shallow reef break for experts only. Nearby beaches are gentler when the Caribbean is small.
When to go
December to April is the drier Pacific season and the busiest. May to November brings more rain and, on many Pacific beaches, stronger swell and fewer people. See Costa Rica weather before you book. Water stays warm, usually in the high 70s to low 80s °F, so most visitors surf in a rash guard.
Pack reef booties for rocky breaks and check the tide. Several of the best waves close out or expose rock at low tide. A rental car helps on the Nicoya and southern Pacific coasts. The getting around guide covers buses, shuttles, and the ferry.