Surf’s Up! These Are the 9 Best Beaches for Surfing in Costa Rica

Surfers from all over the world come to shred Costa Rica’s coastline. It stretches along the Pacific and Caribbean with breaks to suit every level—from mellow, rolling peaks perfect for beginners to hollow, powerful barrels that’ll have even seasoned pros feeling challenged. I’ve chased waves all over this tropical nation, and I’m excited to share my top spots where surf, sun and pura vida collide. Whether you’re new to surfing in Costa Rica or chasing legendary point breaks, these beaches belong on your radar.

Right at the edge of Manuel Antonio National Park, Espadilla Beach is as scenic as it is surfable. The break is forgiving—a soft, rolling peel that’s ideal for learners finding their balance or intermediate surfers tuning up their turns.

After a few runs, head back to shore for a fresh fruit smoothie from a beachside palapa or grab a quick bite at one of the sodas (local, family-run eateries) lining the main road. Restrooms and outdoor showers are available at the park entrance and there are several board rental shacks right on the sand. Note that toilets and showers aren’t free (they’re coin-operated) and parking is usually a small fee. But, you can’t beat the backdrop: emerald hills rising steep and verdant from the sand, crisscrossed by hiking trails that reward you with bird’s-eye views of this postcard-perfect bay. Be aware of jellyfish in the area! When I was here, I got stung (but the pina coladas helped the sting).

Down on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast, Playa Uvita pulses with a laid-back, bohemian energy. The beach is famous for its unique “T” shape—nicknamed the Whale’s Tail—which you can see when the tide retreats (it’s only exposed roughly six hours around low tide) revealing a natural viewing platform smack in the middle of the gulf. The surf here is small to moderate, with gentle peaks that wrap nicely into Uvita Bay. That makes it a sweet spot for longboarders, beginners, or anyone wanting to cruise easy waves with a majestic rainforest backdrop.

Facilities are minimal—a handful of rustic casitas, a couple of beachfront cafes and eco-friendly campsites tucked into the palms. After your surf session, hop in a small boat tour to spot humpback whales (seasonally between July–October and December–March) or explore the nearby waterfalls and tide pools. Uvita’s charm lies in its simplicity: just you, your board and the sound of the surf meeting the mangroves.

Just a 20-minute drive south of Jacó town, Playa Hermosa is the definition of consistency. Every morning I woke to perfectly lined-up sets rolling in from offshore, peeling over sandbars into the bay. These waves pack more power than Espadilla or Uvita, making Hermosa a playground for intermediate surfers looking to push their carves or test out a new shortboard.

The beach is lined with surf camps, eateries and gear shops, so renting a board or booking a lesson is effortless. At the south end of the beach (near the Laguna Hotel area), you’ll find coin-operated washrooms and outdoor showers. If you’re visiting in November through March, be prepared for bigger swells—and if you time it right, you might even catch the Costa Rica Nationals surf competition (mid June). When I needed a break, I’d wander into Jacó for sunset cocktails on the pier or take a quick hike up the nearby Urracá Hill for panoramic views of the coastline.

Tamarindo wears many hats: surf mecca, nightlife hub and family friendly beach all in one. The main break sits just offshore, creating gentle waves that peel both left and right, perfect for newbies and intermediates. Early mornings here are magic—surfers of every stripe gliding across glassy shoulders while fishermen cast their nets for breakfast.

Behind the beach, the town hums with boutique shops, lively bars and countless restaurants serving everything from traditional casado plates to gourmet sushi rolls. Board rentals, surf schools and reef-safe sunscreen are abundant. I always loved grabbing a post-surf acai bowl at one of the open-air cafés. You can also rent a stand-up paddleboard to explore the nearby estuary, where crocodiles and iguanas sun themselves on the mangrove banks.

Nosara’s Playa Guiones is what I consider the mellow heart of Costa Rica surf culture. Here, development is low-key by design (no high-rise hotels or chain restaurants) with just a handful of eco-lodges and yoga studios dotted along the shore. The waves, however, are gloriously consistent: a long, rolling point break that curves gently around the bay, giving you plenty of face to work with on every set. It’s a dream for beginners, though intermediates will still find enough speed to pull off cutbacks and trim lines.The break works on almost any tide, so you can surf at 6 a.m. or sneak in a twilight session. Facilities include basic showers and toilets near the parking area, plus a handful of reliable gear rentals.

If you’re just starting out, Samara Beach is a must. The bay is protected by a small island at its mouth, which calms the swell into soft, rolling waves that crash gently in waist to chest high peaks. The waves are perfect here. No sudden drops, no rips to fight, just a smooth ride in toward the sand.

The town of Samara is charmingly walkable, with beachfront cabinas, family-run restaurants and even a turtle-nesting sanctuary nearby. You can rent a board from a shack under a palm frond roof, then pick up a cerveza before sunset and join a beach bonfire with other travelers and locals. Public showers and restrooms are spaced every few hundred meters, and if you need a lesson or a guide to the best tide times, the local surf school is just a short stroll from the sand.

Santa Teresa has the pulse of a remote surf village, even though it’s more accessible than you’d think. After a bumpy drive down dirt roads, you arrive at a golden arc of beach where every run—from mellow beginner peaks to punchy shore breaks—is just steps from the nearest boutique café or yoga loft. You can have some of your best sessions here, especially on days when an offshore breeze sculpts perfect, hollow barrels that’ll have you grinning ear to ear (or wiping out gloriously, depending on your skill level).

Tide plays a huge role in Santa Teresa’s surf: low tide reveals rocky points, while high tide provides more forgiving beach breaks. The town itself is a delightful jumble of surf shops, vegan bakeries, cocktail bars and laid-back hostels. Facilities are basic, with a few beach showers, composting toilets and plenty of surf camps offering board rentals and lessons. Whatever you do, be sure to stick around for sunset drum circles on the sand.

On Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, Puerto Viejo’s Salsa Brava is legendary. Think Hawaiian-style barrels breaking over a shallow reef, delivering one of the most challenging waves in all of Costa Rica. Leave your beginner’s board onshore and watch in awe as pros drop into cavernous tubes. This is not the place for novice surfing in Costa Rica—Salsa Brava demands sea-legs of steel and precise timing.

After a (safe) spectator session, head into town for a plate of Caribbean-style rice and beans (gandules) and a cold Imperial beer at one of the colorful roadside sodas. The infrastructure is rustic, so no formal showers or restrooms at the break itself (plan to change in town). But the vibe is unbeatable and if you’re an advanced surfer craving that adrenaline rush, Salsa Brava is your white whale.

Pavones sits on the southern Pacific coast, near the Panamanian border and is famed for one of the world’s longest left-hand point breaks. It’s a mecca for advanced surfers, but intermediate riders who can handle a bit of power will find it an unforgettable challenge.

Facilities here are modest: a handful of eco-bungalows, a surf camp or two and a couple of rustic restaurants serving fresh-catch ceviche and plantain chips. There’s a small surf shop where you can rent boards or book boat taxis to access the outer reef when conditions are big. Pavones is remote, but that’s part of its charm. If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path adventure with epic waves, this is where you’ll find it.