Costa Rica, whose name literally means rich coast, has become one of the premier surf destinations on the planet. With big surf, warm tropical waters, long point breaks, high swells year round, and more than seven hundred miles of coastline on both the Pacific and Caribbean Oceans, few places are better equipped for the kind of world-class surfing you can find in Costa Rica.
The country has also become home to many international surf competitions, notably the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games, which put Costa Rica on the surfing map. Hosted in Playa Hermosa, just down the road from Jaco Beach and the Del Pacifico Club, this event featured surfing teams from 35 countries and brought together the largest concentration of surfing talent Costa Rica had ever seen.
Costa Rica really only has 2 seasons, and both provide perfect conditions for surfing. December to March is the tropical season, with surfers flocking to hot spots like Puerto Viejo, Manzanilla, and Westfalia. From April to November, the surfing conditions along the Central-Pacific coast, which runs from the bottom of the Nicoya Peninsula to Hermosa, becomes a prime destination for surfers from around the globe. April to November is also a good time for surfers in the South-Pacific coast areas of Cabo Matapalo, Dominical, and Pavones, all of which have earned reputations for great surfing.
Don’t let the country’s growing pro surfing population scare you away, though. Surfing schools all over the country offer lessons and training opportunities for surfers of all levels, from vacation and family packages for beginners to surfing retreats for budding professional. Del Mar Surf Camp, for example, has three locations to choose from: Playa Hermosa on the Central Pacific Coast, Nosara on the Guanacaste Pacific Coast, and Santa Teresa Beach on the Pacific’s Nicoya Peninsula. There are other schools and classes, as well, but we recommend you look into each before signing up, to ensure you and your family are learning in a safe and protected environment from surfing professionals.
With all this publicity, coastal development in Costa Rica is increasing with great speed, and now newly constructed homes and hotels are filing up with short-boarders, long-boarders, and body-boarders from all over the world. So don’t let the sun set on your surfing dreams without coming to see what all the fuss is about! Watch the hard bodies catch waves while you relax on a gorgeous beach or sign up with a pro to learn how to catch a tubular wave. Or, if you’re truly dedicated, why not think about relocating permanently to Costa Rica, where surfing really is life?
For more information on surfing and a surfer’s life in Costa Rica, visit www.visitcostarica.com or www.crsurf.com. And if you’re interested in chasing the ultimate surfing life, call Palms International Real Estate. We’ll help you catch the ultimate wave.