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.
23 - Playa Escondida Excellent point break that peaks up forming very good left & surfable right. Accessible by land, if you're a member of the beach club (fresh water shower on beach for member & guests), or by taxi boat to cove to South. Rent a boat from Playa Jaco or Playa Herradura.
24 - Playa Jaco Good beach break when surf is not too big. Tends to close out when over 5 ft. Playa Jaco approx 2 hrs from San Jose (140 km), and waves not always dependable. Located on Central Pacific and close to Playas Hermosa, Escondida and Boca Barranca, Puntarenas. Jaco is growing at an incredible pace and offers everything you'd want from a beach town. Excellent restaurant, sodas, lots of shops and tours and accommodations for every budget.
25 - Roca Loca  1.5 km south of Playa Jaco. A rocky point with rights that break over submerged rocks. You do need to climb a small hill to get to the point.
26 - Playa Hermosa Very strong beach break. This long stretch of break peaks on any given day, but preferred sand bar in front of large tree known as Almendro. Wave conditions generally best when tide is rising.
 27, 28, 29, 30 Esterillos Este, Esterillos Oeste, Bejuco, Boca Damas Beach breaks, good wave forms, points very close to Playa Hermosa. Easy access and many accommodations. Wave conditions very similar to playa Hermosa.

South Pacific Coast

31 - Quepos This small left point is found at river mouth in the city of Quepos. Easy access with many restaurants and accommodations.
32 - Playita - Manuel Antonio Beach break, lefts and rights with good shape. This area needs larger swell for the surf to show.
33 - Playa El Rey Rights and lefts beach break peaks. Best access is taking road to playa Dominical, 25 mins from Quepos, at Roncador turn right 11 kms.
34 - Playa Dominical Good, strong beach break with lefts & rights. Beautiful landscapes & very tropical. Fun little town with good restaurants and lots of accommodations.
35 - Drake's Bay & area Accessible by boat only. Remote break offers long, powerful waves when swell running. Boca del Rio Sierpe, close by, has similar waves. Corcovado National Park, lush, tropical wilderness, is approximately 1-1/2 hours by boat.
36 - Pavones Excellent left point, considered one of longest in world. Good shape and very fast. 400 kms from San Jose (8 hours by car). Bring camping gear to stay i the area. Out on the peninsula across Pavones, a 1/2 hour boat ride away, reputedly series of right points equivalent of Pavones's world class lefts.
37 - Matapalo Excellent right. Located in front of Pavones, by road from Pavones or by car from Golfito. Perfect waves.
38 - Punta Burica Very remote reef breaks. Accessible only by boat, No accommodations. Not much known. Very isolated.