Where to stay and where to go in Costa Rica?

[avillax]

So here's the deal, plane tickets from Mexico to Costa Rica are about $100 USD, that's pretty cheap, now, we want to go surfing, probably staying in a good spot where we could just walk to the surf beach, or take a cheap ride/rentals.

We have been researching and we have found many "Surf Camps" that seem crazy expensive if you compare to the plane tickets. I mean, they charge about $1000 USD per person for a week and include all kinds of stuff we don't even need or care about such as Yoga.

We just want to hit nice surf beaches and relax for cheap. What do you recommend?

[BaNZ]

Don't do surfcamps, just do airbnb / hostel and make sure you find a shop that you can rent boards from.

[Soulmancer]

From Canada I rented a car, used airBNB and expedia.ca

[Big H]

Do you speak spanish? If yes there is an entirely separate set of accommodations and transportation options that you have access to at a fraction of the NY tourist rates.

[BaNZ]

Do you speak spanish? If yes there is an entirely separate set of accommodations and transportation options that you have access to at a fraction of the NY tourist rates.

Is there discount for someone that look like they speak Spanish? Due to my tan, they always ask if I hablo espanol.

[jaffa1949]

I have a spanner!

[Marky]

Surf camps are to expensive. There are countless good surf spots along the coast. I would search for a place to stay once you are there.

[RinkyDink]

There's a Scottish accent discount, but if they catch you faking it you'll go straight to the pokey.

[Onelove]

As a new traveler I would recommend “The Spot” in Esterillos Oeste. Affordable, great great tiny traditional town. 5 minutes to Hermosa. 15 to Jaco, 40 to Manuel Antonio (non surf related), and only 90 minutes from the heaven that is Boca Barranca’s left. Less than 2 hours from airport.

In Jaco I have stayed at Buddha house hostel. Liked it very much. This more if you want a nightlife scene.

Do you know which area you are after?

[surf patrol]

I help surfers plan and book trips to Costa Rica. I live here and surf daily, and have done a national surf report for nearly 20 years. When you are deciding where to go, think about the time of year, your level of surf experience, and the tides for when you are there. From late November to April is the dry season, and sometimes winds blow hard offshore up north. Swells from the South and Southwest mostly come between late March and September. And most beach breaks work best from 1-2 hours before high tide, most points break better at lower tides. In addition, the Caribbean side has solid surf from January to March. <edit>