The story goes that over 50 years ago, Costa Rica was being visited regularly by two types of folks. These were the scientists looking to get a glimpse into the magical tropical forest and the surfers looking to find the perfect wave. The beauty of this image is that scientists and surfers alike are quite minimalistic, bringing the question to mind of just how Costa Rica became so developed as it is today. Well, we guess you can’t keep a good thing secret for too long no matter who you are. Now years later Costa Rica is not the minimalistic backpacking rural surf hub it use to be. So now with the secret out, Costa Rica is a place where scientists, surfers, and all other adventurers come looking for a shared vision of finding that perfect insect, perfect wave, or that dream vacation for the family.
The surfers of Costa Rica now can be found along the entire Pacific coast and the southern Caribbean area. The waves are some of the best on the planet not just for their size but the consistency of their breaks. Costa Rica has been host to the world surfing championships in Playa Hermosa on the Central Pacific coast and also has bragging rights of having some of the native Costa Rican surfers competing on a world-class level.
Playa Nosara
One of our favorite beaches in Costa Rica is Playa Nosara. Nosara Beach offers easy access in a small beach town atmosphere that has become known as the healthy, yoga, and surf spot of Costa Rica. Here in Nosara you will be surrounded by people who are looking to get to bed early, up with the sun, and live a healthy lifestyle eating the tastiest of healthy foods and living life the fullest.
The actual Tico Village of Nosara is located 6km inland and is home to nothing more than a few local shops and an airstrip for those not wanting to take the long drive from San Jose or Liberia Airports.
The beaches at Nosara are made up of Playa Guiones, Playa Pelada, and the most remote of the three, PlayaNosara. The entire area is known as Nosara but to get technical you can split it up into these three sections. The best surfing will be at Playa Guiones which offers easy access and a perfect spot for surfers of all levels to enjoy a day in the water. The breaks run from the left and right at the Playa Guiones on it’s 6km stretch of soft sandy beach. If you walk to the north of Playa Guiones you will reach Punta Pelada which is a popular spot to visit for it’s natural blow hole that at the transition of tides can offer you a natural saltwater shower.
Playa Nosara is a remote black sandy beach that has some of the largest waves in Costa Rica but only should be visited by expert surfers.
Again, the entire area in and around the three beaches Playa Guiones, Playa Pelada, and Playa Nosara are referred to as the Nosara area and there are many places to stay in and around the Guiones area with shops, places to eat, and a chance to indulge in the healthy lifestyle of surf, yoga, and mindfulness!
Reasons to Go:
- Looking for a beach vacation!
- Great surfing for experts and learning
- Most spots are short walking distance to the water
- Many Yoga options
- Healthy living
Reasons NOT to Go:
- Half day excursions are few although there is a zipline nearby, it’s not the highest nor fastest you will find in Costa Rica if you are looking for more adventurous rides
- A bit isolated
Playa Domincal
Playa Dominical is located on the central/southern Pacific of Costa Rica and is the perfect mix of not overly developed yet has places to eat, a bar to get a few drinks, and world class waves. In recent years Dominical has developed a bit but we still use the word “quaint” in describing the vibe of Dominical. Here you will find the unique geological formations of this area of the country, where the mountain meets the sea offering phenomenal views of the Pacific Coast from different areas of Dominical.
The beach itself is a long stretch of grayish volcanic sand that host some of the best waves in the country along with a life guard on duty at all times. Along with the waves of Dominical another one of the gems in the area is the famous Tortilla Flats Bar. This bar was named one of the top 10 surfer bars on the planet and can even be found in movies such as the Endless Summer.
It turns out that most true surfers end up enjoying Dominical more than the more happening areas of Jaco and Manuel Antonio. Domincal still holds on to the Costa Rica of 30 years ago. Walk into Tortilla Flats and you will find some of those original surfers that can give you a history lesson on the origins of surfing in Costa Rica as you listen to some of the legends.
Along with surfing, Dominical in our opinion, offers the best half day tours from any coastal destination in Costa Rica.
Reasons to Go:
- Excellent waves
- Small quaint surfer town
- Fabulous views from the mountains
- Many house rental options in the area
- A few places to go out and eat
- Great spot to learn to surf
- Half day activities are unmatched by any coastal spot in Costa Rica
Reasons NOT to Go:
- Not the best beach for swimming
- Just GO! (We love this beach)
Playa Esterillos
Playa Esterillos is located in the Central Pacific of Costa Rica. This is a surfing spot with miles of deserted beaches. There are four main beaches it is divided into seperated by different rivers and estuaries. The actual name of Playa Esterillos comes from the Spanish names for “Esturaries” and “Rivers” (Esteros y Rios).
This is a popular surfing beach known for its long breaking rights along with an inside barreling beach break. The waters here are calmest during the months of January and February. If you need a break from the waves of the Pacific you can always relax in the sand or at some of the quaint little surfer bars and enjoy the company of Costa Rica’s largest Scarlett Macaw population making their ever so graceful and beautiful flights up and down the beaches which makes up for their somewhat awful singing voices (still one of our favorite birds though).
Reasons to Go:
- Great surfing
- Excellent location, easy access to all beaches on Pacific
- Not too touristy
- Access is just off main coastal highway
Reasons NOT to Go:
- It offers a long beach feel and not a small bay type feel
- Currents can be strong at times, not always safe for swimming
Playa Malpais
Playa Malpais translates in English to “Bad Land”. This beautiful beach town with white sandy beaches and world class waves is anything but a bad land unless of course you are in the agriculture business. Years back when tourism was unknown to the area the town ran on agriculture. The nearby rivers would dry up in the dry seasons and make farming very difficult. It was then that the surfers came to the rescue as they do in so many rural parts of the world. After the surfers discovered the perfect swells at Mal Pais it became a destination for international travelers from all over looking to enjoy the beautiful beaches or ride the swells. The spot for surfing at Mal Pais is called Mar Azul and is best visited during the dry season from December to April.
Mal Pais still holds on to its laid-back quaint vibe while accommodating the budget or luxurious traveler. You will find a large selection of small luxury hotels giving visitors to this area a chance to be away from the larger commercialized resorts while still experiencing high-end luxury.
The area is also great for seeing wildlife. You can experience a wide variety of biodiversity at the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve which is one of the first of it’s kind in Costa Rica. There is a small island off the coast of this reserve that has the same name “Cabo Blanco” which translates to “White Cape”. The reason the island has this name and to the joy of those that love a little toilet humor is that sea-birds have covered the island in dung making it look like this rock formation has a permanent “white cap”.
The beach is great for surfing and sitting in the sand offering some of the best sunsets in all of Costa Rica.
Reasons to Go:
- Very Scenic Beach
- Luxurious options for lodging
- Excellent surfing
- Great place to learn to surf
- Interested in Yoga
Reasons NOT to Go:
Access is not the easiest being four hours from San Jose and four hours from Liberia International Airport
Playa Matapalo
Playa Matapalo is located in the Central/Southern Pacific of Costa Rica heading south from Manuel Antonio. TheMatapalo Beach is located just north of the more populated area of Dominical placing it in the center of two more happening beach towns of the very touristy Manuel Antonio and smaller quaint Dominical.
For the reasons mentioned above Playa Matapalo still offers a feeling of what all of coastal Costa Rica was 20 years ago. The locals in the village still live the true “pura vida” lifestyle where worries and stress in life are a thing of the “future” meaning that this style of life has not contaminated their chill-out way of living just yet (lets hope it never does!).
We included this beach under the section of surfing beaches not because it offers the best waves in Costa Rica but it is between the great surf spots of Manuel Antonio and Dominical and if you visit Matapalo Beach on a good day you can find some funky breaks to enjoy. If anything it offers surfers a look into the past at a deserted beach that we know all surfers can have a special connection with.
Reasons to Go:
- On the way to or from the Manuel Antonio or Dominical areas
- Small small village town
Reasons NOT to Go:
- Not mind-blowing waves compared to other areas
- You are short on time which ironically would mean you probably would not fit in at the laid-back “wait till tomorrow” Matapalo lifestyle
- Careful with the currents!
Playa Montezuma
Playa Montezuma is a beautiful beach located in the Puntarenas Province of Costa Rica on the north Pacific peninsula of Nicoya. You will get the feeling that you are at the end of the road when you arrive to the quaint surfing town of Montezuma. This is a unique town in that it is filled with foreigners from all over the world but has managed to stay hidden from the major commercial large development projects.
During your stay in Montezuma you can enjoy world class surfing on a number of different beaches. There are five beaches in the immediate area of Montezuma.
Piedra Colorado is a 15 minute walk from Montezuma Beach and home to majestic little natural pools formed by the river that pours out into the ocean.
Playa Grande is a long remote and peaceful spot for those looking for an area to relax and be isolated from it all. This is one of the best spots in Costa Rica for learning how to surf since the waves are calm but still good breaks adventurous enough to surf on. The Playa Grande is home to the annual Chunches de Mar Festival that if you ask the locals about, everyone will know about this amazing time in February celebrating the arts, food, and music of the area.
Playa Cocalito is the beach that everyone from Montezuma wants to visit to experience the famous “El Chorro” waterfall which is a 20ft waterfall that sits enchantingly at the edge of the beach and falls into the salt water.
If you are looking for beauty and a Caribbean style beach on the Pacific of Costa Rica there is no better option than Playa Las Manchas which is located 10 minutes walking south of Montezuma Beach. This is the best beach in the area for snorkeling. You can find up to 30 different species of fish just snorkeling off shore but it is important to be careful as during high tide this beautiful innocent looking beach has a strong rip tide. Because of its picturesque beauty Las Manchas is popular among many expats.
Playa Los Cedros is located just south of Playa Las Manchas and is home to an annual surf competition in July. This probably the best beach for surfing in the area and offers a great point break.
Reasons to Go:
- Some of the most beautiful beaches in the Nicoya Peninsula
- Not overly crowded
- Many different types of beaches in walking distance
- Great surfing
- Excellent vibe among locals
- No large commercial projects yet
Reasons NOT to Go:
- A bit isolated
- Looking for more developed area