Costa Rica Surf Travel: Planning the Perfect Surf Travel Getaway

Costa Rica surf travel has lots to offer: sandy stretches, plenty of swells, breaks and surf shops, plus it’s not as jam-packed as the beaches of Sydney, Hawaii and Southern California. The surf on the Central Pacific Coast is unbelievable, and it offers a little more nightlife than the other coasts, making it the place for a more active vacation.

Here’s how you can plan the ultimate Costa Rica surf travel vacation:

       1.     Decide where you want to stay

The Pacific coast is a surfer’s paradise, and areas such as the Nicoya Peninsula and Dominical further to the south are real hotspots. Nicoya has countless perfect beaches where the breakers roll in consistently, offering great surfing for all levels of ability. Dominical is Costa Rica’s most famous surfing grounds, with the “surf camp” Costa Rica style, where food, surfing, accommodation and activities are all bundled into one package.

2.      Decide whether you want to include other activities in your Costa Rica surf travel plans

There’s a lot to do besides surf in the eco-paradise of Costa Rica. You can hike to the spectacular Arenal Volcano, or the blissful Monteverde Cloud Forest, and end with a visit to the immaculate rain forest beach of Manuel Antonio. If all you want to do is surf, Costa Rica’s sand bottom beaches are some of the most consistent in the world. If you’re new to surfing, the experienced surf camp operators have instruction down to a science, and they’ll have you riding the waves in no time.

The destination is becoming more popular because of its consistently good surf breaks. Both Quiksilver and Billabong now organize weekend-long events with live concerts, bikini and surfing girl contests and over 100 competitors. A lot of friendships have been formed between locals and Costa Rica surf travel enthusiasts who believe in the idea of “pura vida.”