Surfing Waves

Hey guys!

Well, Ive been surfing for a few years in New Jersey and have been getting a lot better. Now that my family is getting into it more too, we have been surfing everytime hurricanes brought good waves and now even surfing in the winter. My brother and I are going to Costa Rica this winter break for our first legit surf trip!

We are still researching for our trip, but Im pretty sure we are going to go to Playa Grande and Tamarindo. I know we have witches rock in mind too. Do you guys have any recommendations for other places that we shouldnt miss while there??

Also, we are still up in the air on if we should take some of our boards there, or if we should buy a beater board there and sell it before we leave? Im pretty sure both of those options would be better than renting a board, but it seems expensive to bring our own. I just dont want to get stuck with finally having consistent perfect waves but not having the type of board Id like ya know? Thanks for any help in advance!

Mike

I am also looking to go to Costa Rica in either the spring or fall for ~10 days with my boyfriend. We are lower level intermediate surfers. Most of our surfing has been in Oahu and we are looking for somewhere to go with consistent surf around the 3-5 ft range as we are trying to improve our skills and gain confidence for surfing more complex breaks. We are looking for a trip without too many hastles (want to rent a condo/house with kitchen, rent boards, not drive too far to isolated places) and convenient surfing. We love the flexibility of north/south Oahu surf as we always seem to be able to find surfable waves. Any advice on where we should stay and surf ?

I am also looking at Costa Rica for Late January/early February. We will likely be going with a bunch of people, most of whom are not surfers. I found a nice resort near Matapalo. I am completely green when it comes to ocean surfing, I am limited to wakesurfing (don't laugh lol) But it gave us enough of a taste that we want to get on the real thing (badly). The people we usually go on vacations with like the all-inclusive stuff, and that is fine, but trying to find one with great surfing nearby is the trick. The RIU resort at matapalo looks like a winner.

My questions are, what are the surf conditions like there during that time frame, I am a goofy footer, I see that is a right hand wave, across the bay though looks like a killer left. Am I reading the wave directions correctly? Right=regular, Left=goofy? Is renting boards a decent option, or should I just plan on buying one? Sorry for all the questions, and thank you all for your responses. I likely only have one shot at this this winter, and I want it right. I wish I had a full board up here right now,and a good dry suit we have had storm force winds on the great lakes for 3 days.

I am also considering Cabarete in the DR, I have been to the DR several times, and like the familiarity of it, but I would love to see somewhere new.

I´m 27 year old Costa Rican "Tico" as we call ourselfs, so here are some tips for you guys...

Rusty 44:

Tamarindo and Playa grande you say? Tamarindo is one of the biggest beach towns in the northen region, they have everything form, banks, clinics, bars, restaurants, stores, Pizza Hut, Subway and much more. Tamarindo has a great beach break that does not get big, just perfect offshore winds during our summer (december - march). Playa Grande is a little bit heavier but much better than Tamarindo, for me anyways. Near beach breaks with amazing surf are Avellanas, Playa Negra, Junquillal (when it`s on, tube after tube) and down the coast all the way ro Nosara. Defently rent a car if you want to explore and discover perfect waves.

Boards are normaly 100 buck for the flight transport, with bluejet is around 50 bucks. In Tamarindo there are lots of surfstores where you can buy a good used board for 300 or 400 bucks, and normaly the same store will buy you back the board at the end of your trip for around 50% of what you paid for, depending on the dings, etc.... Rentig a board is around 400 buck, so buy one or bring your own. With and allaround board you should do just fine over here, as swells during this time are form 3 to 8 feet.

Flo_dhbomb:

If you are comming with your boyfriend and don´t want to move that much I would recommend Nosara (Guiones) or Santa Teresa, both have allyear round waves and are exclenet beach breaks and normally during this season it gets no bigger than 8 feet, though with a nice south swell it can get bigger, but surfable. Both locations are just filled with nature and a perfect romantik/surfing getaway...

daddio1973:

Matapalo you say??? well if you are learing I would not recommend it can get big and it`s reef allaround. On the other had if you want nature. The souther part of Costa Rica, specially the Corcovado National Park is considered by National Geograpich, and I quote "THE MOST INTENS BIOLOGYCAL PLACE ON EARTH".... Simply stunning nothing arourd, besides some accomodations the nearest town is 25 kilometers on a really bad road. This is a place for adveture, pure nature and adventure with some of the best surf in Costa Rica.....

Hou, Hou Matapalo at the RUI, hey bro, no way place do not come down there.......... Maybe the hotel is nice and great and waht ever... But the destroyed a hugh wetland and one costruction worker died because of the poor healt conditions during the construction..... We Costa Ricans do not like this place and we are making everything possible for them to leave (though it´s too late) The killed nature man, not worth spending money on this guys.... If you do not belive me RESERCH!!!!! Hate the RUI hotel, is not what Costa Rica stands for...

If you want an all-incusive. Check Barcelo Playa Langosta, Paradisus Conchal.... these guys worry for the sourrinds and local people....

SOrry if I got emotional but it hurts to see waht some millioners are doing to MY country.... Check Cabo Matapalo on the web an you´ll see paradise.... there are different Matapalos, we have like three over here....

Well it sounds like you have a great trip planned to Costa Rica, and you should really enjoy it... warm water, great people, nice vibe and amazing nature experiences, just remember to be supportive of the local shops, and local people etc...

Regarding surfboards you can generally rent them widely now, years gone past it was harder but now lots of surf shops, surf schools and surf rentals about so if you don't mind trying new boards then rent one. Its a personal thing really, but can save you money and nerves over air carriage and will make journeys internally in Costa Rica easier. Remember the international airport is on average between 2hrs from all surf locations.

You might also want to think about surfing the Caribbean side as well, or combining them both as an added bonus to your surf trip. I would head for Jaco Beach area on the Pacific Coast, its not too far from San Jose and provides great surf in the area.

Anyway good luck and enjoy.

Aloha,

Xoxxi Surf Travel
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Hello! looking for a new place? come and visit our country, Philippines, some of surfers from Asia visit here and some of them join the surfing competition in Boracay,Are you familiar with Boracay? come I assure you that your going to like Philippines.