Top 10 Costa Rica Surfing Beaches

With the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Costa Rica is a country well-known for its seductive coastlines, beautiful beaches, and legendary surf. With consistent tropical temperatures, warm water, and stellar surf spots on both coasts, Costa Rica is an excellent destination for beginner and expert surfers alike, looking to catch some waves.

The major swell season lasts from April to October, coinciding with the country's green (low) season, but the clean surf season on the Pacific stretches from December to April, so year-round, Costa Rica is an ideal surf destination. So where should you go? Here's what we recommend.

Best Costa Rica Surf Beach for Consistent Waves: Playa Guiones

With over 300 days per year of surfable waves, Playa Guiones, the main beach in Nosara, offers one of the most consistent breaks on the planet, so it's no surprise that Guiones is the area's most popular beach and a hotspot for surfers of all levels. Despite its popularity as a surf and yoga haven, the area is gorgeous and generally uncrowded, with an off-the-beaten-path feel, no paved roads, and wild, undeveloped beaches where the jungle meets the sand.

Playa Guiones offers several peaks and different sections with a variety of waves for surfers of all skill levels, from beginner to expert. With a sandy bottom beach break, and no shortage of board rentals and surf lessons in town, Guiones is a great place to learn, though beginners should stick close to the south end of the beach near the cemetery, and leave points further north to more experienced surfers.

Best Costa Rica Surf Beach for Solo Surfers: Tamarindo

Perhaps the most popular surf spot on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast, Tamarindo's protected bay features several breaks, consistent waves, and two other surf spots within a five-minute drive, so there's a wide variety of swells to accommodate both beginners and experienced surfers. In addition to the great surf, Tamarindo is especially well-suited to solo travelers, with an array of friendly, high-quality hostels and a vibrant nightlife scene where you'll be sure to meet people to share meals, drinks, and adventures with.

Best Local Secret Surf Beach: Playa Avellanas

Little Hawaii off of Playa Avellanas is a seriously epic wave, a favorite with locals, and one of Costa Rica’s best kept secrets. With offshore waves that can reach up to eighteen feet, near-perfect surf conditions throughout the year, and swells that come in from both the northern and southern hemisphere, Little Hawaii is not for the faint of heart, nor for the inexperienced surfer.

South of Little Hawaii, right in front of Lola’s bar on Playa Avellanas, El Parqueo (also unimaginatively called Beach Break) is a beach break with long, smooth waves suitable for less experienced surfers. Best time to surf El Parqueo is from mid to high tide. Bonus? If you're lucky and keep your ear to the ground, you might be able to persuade local surfers to show you the location of a secret wave, about a 20-minute paddle south of Playa Avellanas. Very few foreigners ever get the chance to ride this wave, but it's a world-class experience. Keep your ear to the ground!

Best Surf Beach for a Weekend Getaway: Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas

Home to heavy, powerful waves which attract hundreds of expert surfers every August to the International Quicksilver Championship, Playa Hermosa (near Jacó, not to be confused with Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste) is a must-visit for experienced surfers. It's conveniently located within a two hour drive of San José, and perfect for a quick weekend getaway if you only have a few days. Best surfed at high tide, the break features fast, powerful and hollow waves that break left and right over a sandy bottom. Renowned as an area that often sets surfers up with a perfect, wave, this is a spot where you can score an epic barrel.

Best Costa Rica Surf Beach on the Caribbean: Puerto Viejo

The premier surf spot on the Caribbean coast, Salsa Brava, has fast, barreling waves that break over a sharp reef. From shore, it can almost look tame at times – the shallow reef sucks the wave below sea level, so you can’t really see its true size until you’re out in the water – but make no mistake, Salsa Brava’s steep wave will drop you straight into the barrel, and requires you to be quick on your feet so you don’t get stuck in the middle. Only the brave (and experienced) dare to try their luck at this notoriously wild and challenging wave, but if you succeed and find yourself riding inside the tube, you’ll find yourself part of a special club – the surfer elite that have defeated this wave.

Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Surf Beach: Pavones

Pavones, in Costa Rica’s very furthest southwest corner is home to the second-longest left point break on the globe, a ride that will take you the entire length of the village that runs parallel to the shore. Located far off the typical tourist trail, Pavones is different than most other surfing destinations in Costa Rica, many of which have been overrun by tourism. It’s one of the most desolate and remote surf spots in the country, edged by the beautiful Golfo Dulce on its west side and thick, lush jungle to the east. Hard to reach, Pavones caters mainly to diehard barrel hunters willing to travel to the ends of the earth for a spectacularly epic wave – and we can assure you that the wave here is just that and nothing less.

Best Surf Beach for Epic Barrels: Witch's Rock

Not for the faint of heart, Witch’s Rock, or Roca Bruja is a world-famous surf break located off of Playa Naranjo within the confines of Santa Rosa National Park. It’s not a beginner-friendly place, accessible only via boat or a particularly treacherous drive, and despite the saltwater crocodiles and sharks that frequent the river mouth here, Witch’s Rock remains immensely popular with expert surfers from around the globe, offering experienced riders a fast, powerful and hollow wave with barrels that every surfer dreams of.

Best Surf Beach for Couples: Malpaís

Much more than just a surfing destination, Malpaís is a great spot looking for couples looking to hang ten while they get a little romance in. Surf here is excellent year-round, though the biggest swells come knocking between May and November, during green season. Beginners will do well at Playa Carmen, a sandy break with waves under three feet; more experienced surfers should head to Santa Teresa where rocky outcroppings, beach breaks, point breaks and high swells create heavy barrels.

Malpaís is a favorite for couples and honeymooners looking for an escape, and its white sand beaches, complete absence of crowds, and remote end-of-the-world vibe leave lots of room for romance. After a day of sun and surf, you’ll notice lovers hand in hand on the beach, taking in the magnificent sunsets that paint the skies in fiery shades of orange, yellow and pink.

Visit Mal País and conquer the waves on ROAM's Costa Rica Romantic Jungle and Beach Escape, or Nicoya Beach Break.

Best Costa Rica Surf Beach for Legendary Swells: Playa Negra

Possibly the most famous break in Costa Rica, made recognizable when it was featured in popular surf movie Endless Summer II, Playa Negra is a renowned surf hotspot with consistent, clean waves. Regarded among veteran Costa Rica surfers as one of the best surf points in the entire country, Playa Negra tends to get busy during high tide, but the ride is well worth the wait – it’s a fun break that throws consistent right-hand barrels to patient surfers willing to wait their turn.

Best Surf Beach on a Shoestring: Dominical

On Costa Rica’s southern pacific coast, Dominical is a sleepy laid-back town with an exposed beach that catches most swells, resulting in some of the most consistent waves in the region. Powerful, hollow waves run the entire length of the beach, and are best surfed during mid to high tide. Lining the beach, a handful of bars, restaurants and cafes offer great food and even better company, and there’s a variety of inexpensive but decent accommodations in the area, making Dominical a cool spot to post up for a while, scoring waves by day and sharing drinks with newfound friends by night.

Not a surfer, but still in search of some beach inspo? Check out our picks for the prettiest beaches in Costa Rica here.