Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interview
    • Expat News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Plan B
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomad
    • Healthcare
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
      • Middle East
      • Rest of the World
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interview
    • Expat News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Plan B
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomad
    • Healthcare
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
      • Middle East
      • Rest of the World
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
👤

THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR BUILDING A LIFE ABROAD

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Costa Rica

Surfing in Costa Rica

  • BY EA Editors
  • April 22, 2012
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

With it’s warm, inviting waters and year-round waves and breaks, Costa Rica has become a world famous surfing destination. Almost every beach in the country has something to offer an adventurous surfer or an eager-to-learn beginner in the surfing world.

There are many beaches in Costa Rica known to have consistent surfing conditions all year long, but visiting Costa Rica at certain times can make your surf trip easier. For instance, the tourism high season in Costa Rica spans from December to April. While this is a wonderful time to visit the country, the sheer number of visitors at most well-known beach destinations will make surfing difficult. Trying to navigate waters full of beginning surfers, swimmers, and snorkelers can be a nightmare. From May to November is the tourist low season in Costa Rica. This is an ideal time to visit if you want to make sure the beaches are clear. This is also the rainy season in Costa Rica, so the weather will be clear and sunny in the mornings with rains coming in the afternoon.

In the province of Guanacaste, along Costa Rica’s Northern Pacific coast, the surf is best during December to April, when the winds and swells create incredible breaks. Some of the best beaches in Guanacaste, Costa Rica include Playa Tamarindo, Playa Langosta, Playa Negra, Playa Avellanas, and Playa Grande. This area also features the famous Witches Rock, a world famous surfing beach for the advanced surfer. Due to its location, Witches Rock isn’t always reachable by car. Grab a water taxi and your board and enjoy the incredible waves at this beach near Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

The best surfing in Costa Rica on the Central Pacific and South Pacific coasts is from May to November. Playa Hermosa, near the beach town of Jaco, is one of the most famous surfing beaches in Costa Rica. Playa Hermosa has truly monstrous waves and only very advanced surfers should attempt to ride the waves here, as the rip tides and currents are extremely strong. The milder Playa Jaco nearby has great waves year round for beginner to intermediate surfers. Further South from Jaco, Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Dominical are both great beaches for beginners.

Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast has its best surfing season from November to March. If you’re in that area, make sure to hit up Playa Cahuita, Playa Cocles, and Punta Uva.

The Caribbean Coast is best surfed from November to March on Playa Cahuita, Playa Cocles and Punta Uva. And don’t forget to stop at Puerto Viejo to surf the famous Salsa Brava wave, which is often called the best wave in Costa Rica. Salsa Brava is definitely not for beginners, and the shallow waters and nearby coral reef can do some very serious damage to both you and your board if you should happen to fall.

For more information on the best breaks and waves in Costa Rica, contact us here.

Contact Author

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.

Stay Ahead on Every Adventure! 

Stay updated with the World News on Escape Artist. Get all the travel news, international destinations, expat living, moving abroad, Lifestyle Tips, and digital nomad opportunities. Your next journey starts here—don’t miss a moment! Subscribe Now!

With it’s warm, inviting waters and year-round waves and breaks, Costa Rica has become a world famous surfing destination. Almost every beach in the country has something to offer an adventurous surfer or an eager-to-learn beginner in the surfing world.

There are many beaches in Costa Rica known to have consistent surfing conditions all year long, but visiting Costa Rica at certain times can make your surf trip easier. For instance, the tourism high season in Costa Rica spans from December to April. While this is a wonderful time to visit the country, the sheer number of visitors at most well-known beach destinations will make surfing difficult. Trying to navigate waters full of beginning surfers, swimmers, and snorkelers can be a nightmare. From May to November is the tourist low season in Costa Rica. This is an ideal time to visit if you want to make sure the beaches are clear. This is also the rainy season in Costa Rica, so the weather will be clear and sunny in the mornings with rains coming in the afternoon.

In the province of Guanacaste, along Costa Rica’s Northern Pacific coast, the surf is best during December to April, when the winds and swells create incredible breaks. Some of the best beaches in Guanacaste, Costa Rica include Playa Tamarindo, Playa Langosta, Playa Negra, Playa Avellanas, and Playa Grande. This area also features the famous Witches Rock, a world famous surfing beach for the advanced surfer. Due to its location, Witches Rock isn’t always reachable by car. Grab a water taxi and your board and enjoy the incredible waves at this beach near Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

The best surfing in Costa Rica on the Central Pacific and South Pacific coasts is from May to November. Playa Hermosa, near the beach town of Jaco, is one of the most famous surfing beaches in Costa Rica. Playa Hermosa has truly monstrous waves and only very advanced surfers should attempt to ride the waves here, as the rip tides and currents are extremely strong. The milder Playa Jaco nearby has great waves year round for beginner to intermediate surfers. Further South from Jaco, Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Dominical are both great beaches for beginners.

Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast has its best surfing season from November to March. If you’re in that area, make sure to hit up Playa Cahuita, Playa Cocles, and Punta Uva.

The Caribbean Coast is best surfed from November to March on Playa Cahuita, Playa Cocles and Punta Uva. And don’t forget to stop at Puerto Viejo to surf the famous Salsa Brava wave, which is often called the best wave in Costa Rica. Salsa Brava is definitely not for beginners, and the shallow waters and nearby coral reef can do some very serious damage to both you and your board if you should happen to fall.

For more information on the best breaks and waves in Costa Rica, contact us here.

Contact Author

"*" indicates required fields

If you'd like to read the full story, simply enter your email to subscribe to our newsletter.

For even more expert insights, unmissable resources, and exclusive invites, explore our premium subscription offers here.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


OR

Subscribe Now

Already a Subscriber? Click here to login

Subscription required

You've reached your limit of free articles. For full access to Escape Artist, and all of our insights on travel, moving abroad, and the digital nomad life, click here to Subscribe.

Already a Subscriber? Log in here

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Previous Article
  • Your Plan B

Costa Rica Nightlife Entertainment

  • BY EA Editors
  • April 22, 2012
View Post
Next Article
  • Costa Rica

Costa Rica Residency

  • BY EA Editors
  • April 22, 2012
View Post
You May Also Like
Two people sitting on a beach at sunset with waves rolling in and rocky coastline silhouetted against the golden sky
View Post
  • Costa Rica
Why Some Expats Leave Costa Rica (and Others Stay Forever)
  • BY Tam Matthews
  • April 17, 2026
Female traveler standing in Bali rice paddies during golden hour
View Post
  • Costa Rica
Costa Rica or Bali? A Tale Between Two Paradises
  • BY Tam Matthews
  • March 27, 2026
Daily life in Costa Rica moves at its own pace, shaped as much by culture as by policy.
View Post
  • Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s Digital DIMEX, Explained
  • BY Tam Matthews
  • February 25, 2026
A small squirrel monkey with a white face and orange fur clings to a vibrant green palm frond, illustrating the daily presence of wildlife in Costa Rica.
View Post
  • Costa Rica
Top 10 Culture Shocks You’ll Notice When You Move to Costa Rica
  • BY Tam Matthews
  • January 30, 2026
Families and children playing soccer and enjoying beach activities together in Costa Rica, demonstrating community bonding and social connection
View Post
  • Costa Rica
Building Community in Costa Rica
  • BY Tam Matthews
  • December 19, 2025
Costa Rica Homes for Rent: Best Areas, Prices, and Tips for Expats
View Post
  • Costa Rica
Costa Rica Homes for Rent: Best Areas, Prices, and Tips for Expats
  • BY Carla Rodrigues
  • December 9, 2025
A Landscape of Comfort and Hillside Living at Escazú, San José
View Post
  • Costa Rica
Comfort and Hillside Living at Escazú, San José
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • November 3, 2025
Costa Rica Cost of Living Guide: Prices, Budgets, and Tips
View Post
  • Costa Rica
Costa Rica Cost of Living Guide: Prices, Budgets, and Tips
  • BY Carla Rodrigues
  • October 28, 2025
Trending Posts
  • Sunlit view of Valencia, Spain, featuring ornate historic buildings along a palm-lined street, with pedestrians and light traffic under a clear blue sky. 1
    • Spain
    Why Valencia Is on Everyone’s Radar
    • April 7, 2026
  • Evening street scene in Dubai with illuminated digital billboards, pedestrians, and modern skyscrapers rising in the background 2
    • Plan B
    Geopolitical Risk and the Shift Beyond the Gulf
    • April 8, 2026
  • Woman walking down a narrow street in Havana lined with weathered pastel buildings beneath a bright blue sky 3
    • Cuba
    The Reality Behind Cuba’s Romance
    • April 13, 2026
  • Woman walking barefoot along a beach in the Philippines with boats, waterfront buildings, and lush limestone hills in the background 4
    • Digital Nomad
    A Digital Nomad’s Complete Guide to the Philippines
    • April 10, 2026
  • Aerial view of a coastal Portuguese city with hotels, residential buildings, mountains, and the Atlantic shoreline stretching into the distance 5
    • Golden Visa
    Exploring Currency Considerations for Portugal’s Golden Visa
    • April 15, 2026
Subscribe
Know Before You Go
  • Two people sitting on a beach at sunset with waves rolling in and rocky coastline silhouetted against the golden sky 1
    • Costa Rica
    Why Some Expats Leave Costa Rica (and Others Stay Forever)
    • April 17, 2026
  • Woman walking barefoot along a beach in the Philippines with boats, waterfront buildings, and lush limestone hills in the background 2
    • Digital Nomad
    A Digital Nomad’s Complete Guide to the Philippines
    • April 10, 2026
  • Sunlit view of Valencia, Spain, featuring ornate historic buildings along a palm-lined street, with pedestrians and light traffic under a clear blue sky. 3
    • Spain
    Why Valencia Is on Everyone’s Radar
    • April 7, 2026
  • Satellite view of Egypt’s New Administrative Capital urban layout in desert 4
    • Real Estate
    Egypt Is Building an Ultra-Modern Capital Outside Cairo: Will It Work?
    • March 30, 2026
  • Female traveler standing in Bali rice paddies during golden hour 5
    • Costa Rica
    Costa Rica or Bali? A Tale Between Two Paradises
    • March 27, 2026
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
Why Subscribe

The newly imagined Escape Artist brings you fresh content with a global focus, and sharp, up-to-the-minute coverage of the joys, challenges, and opportunities of life abroad.

For a limited time, we’re offering a special discount on all subscription deals, so be sure to lock-in these incredible savings and start receiving top-notch travel and expat content today!

Sign up for the EA Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Escape Artist
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Escape Artist

The Newsletter for a
Life Beyond Borders

Practical insights and real stories for those building a life abroad, trusted by 75,000 readers worldwide.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Before you go, want $50 off your Summit registration?

Subscribe, and get $50 discount code for Plan B Summit registration.

Download Your Free Guide

Fill out the form below to get instant access to your guide + receive a $50 discount code for Plan B Summit 2026!

Download Your Free Guide

Fill out the form below to get instant access to your guide + receive a $50 discount code for Plan B Summit 2026!

Download Your Free Guide

Fill out the form below to get instant access to your guide + receive a $50 discount code for Plan B Summit 2026!

Newsletter Subscription