Costa Rica surf is some seriously epic stuff. From the party-mad surf town of Tamarindo to the remote Pacific breaks of Santa Teresa, there’s something special going on in this corner of Central America. We rate it as one of the very best countries for budding beginners because the surf-camp offering is so awesome. But it also covers the bases for improving intermediates and still has epic spots and gnarly barrels for advanced surf travelers.

An introduction to Costa Rica surfing

Ask 100 surfers to name their top three surf destinations on the planet and it’s likely that Costa Rica will come up time and time again. Now firmly up there with Bali and Portugal among the world’s most revered wave hotspots, this big chunk of Latin America rarely fails to impress.

The reason for its prowess? Geography, of course. In fact, CR enjoys exposure on two coastlines: The Pacific and the Caribbean Sea. The first is the most famous for surf, but the latter can also shine when the stars align.

The Pacific side is a real playground for surfers. Different regions work with different seasons, though virtually all work to some degree, no matter if it’s July or December. That’s down to the prevailing easterly trade winds (consistently offshore) and the almost ceaseless SW swells that work their way up from New Zealand. Throw in a trace of NW Pacific swells down from Cali and a dotting of seasonal hurricanes, and you begin to get an idea of just how many waves are up for grabs in these parts.

Finally, Costa Rica is a joy to explore even if you’re not surfing. On the forefront of eco tourism, it hosts reserves like Monteverde and the adventure mecca of Arenal. You’ll spend non-surf days hiking rainforests to find sloths, watching whales on the Osa Peninsula, and hiking up active volcanoes. So fricking cool.