The Caribbean - Central Pacific Coast - North Pacific Coast - South Pacific Coast



The Caribbean

1 -Manzanillo Very fast beach break located 20 km from Puerto Viejo, Limon. Rustic lodging and typical food. Located close to unpaved road, and easy to reach.
2 - Puerto Viejo Very thick and voluminous wave that comes from deep water onto shallow reef. Called "salsa" for its juice power. This place gets very big and tubular (legitimate big wave). Salsa approx.3-1/2 hour drive from San Jose. Restaurant and accommodation close to point.
3 - Black Beach, Cahuita. Excellent beach break, not well known and therefore not heavily visited. Waves all year round.
4 - Westfalia Stretch of beach breaks extending south from Limon to Cahuita, offering lefts and rights that tend to close out where the swell gets too big.
5 - Playa Bonita Point/reef break known for very thick, powerful and dangerous left. Located 5 km north of downtown Limon.
6 - Portete Small bay located north of playa Bonita. With a right working off southerly point. Easy access, close to Limon.
7 - Isla Uvita Island off the coast of Limon. A good left. Isla Uvita about  20 min boat ride from Limon with passage available certain times of year. 
8 - North Caribbean Coast Good beach break waves accessible via Tortuguero channels or by private plane. Rent a boat to take you through channels near Puerto Moin, 15 km north of playa Bonita.r

North Pacific Coastt
h Pacific Coast
9 - Potrero Grande Right point break, with very fast and hollow waves. Located 270 kms from San Jose with no road access. Rent a boat at Playas Del Coco or Playa Ocotal.
10 - Playa Naranjo (Witch's Rock) one of best breaks in the country, with very strong off-shore winds from Dec to March. Wilderness point in National Park of Santa Rosa. No facilities, so be prepared to camp. Good 4x4 a must, and be prepared for mosquitos.
11 - Playa Grande Beach break, located about 20 mins North of Tamarindo. Accessible by road, or the quickest boat ride accross from the North end of Playa Tamarindo.
12 - Playa Tamarindo 2 locations: Pico Pequeño rocky point in front of  hotel Tamarindo, and El Estero, excellent river mouth break. 
13 - Langosta A right and left point break that curls off mouth of a small river, located 1 km south of Tamarindo.
14 - Avellanas Good beach break, 'guanacasteco' featuring very hollow rights and lefts. 10 km south of Tamarindo.
15 - Playa Negra Right point break with very fast waves, 350 kms from San Jose. One of best breaks in the country. 5 km south of Playa Avellanas.
16 - Nosara Beach Break with lefts and rights. About 350 kms from San Jose. Fom San Jose: to to Nicoya and then Nosara. Approx. a 5 hour trip.
17 - 18 - 19 - Playa Coyote, Manzanillo, & Mal Pais Beach breaks, with very consistent lefts & rights and several points. 4x4 recommended. Plenty of hotels & accommodations.

Central Pacific Coast

20 - Boca Barranca  River mouth with very long left, 100 kms of San Jose with excellent access, paved road. Many accommodations. Dark water during rainy season scares off many. Boca Barranca offers some of the best waves.
21 - Puerto Caldera Very good left, located 3 km south of Boca Barranca, Puntarenas.
22 - Playa Tivives and Valor Variety of waves from beach breaks (Tivives) to rocky point (valor). Good quality rights and lefts.