Costa Rica is a fabulous place to visit. Mainly because of its sandy beaches, warm weather, beautiful coast, and lush diversity. However, the best of all, arguably, is the waves.
Surfers from all over the world flock to Costa Rica to try out the amazing year-round waves that the small but mighty country boasts.
With the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other, Costa Rica is a Central American adventure just waiting to be had. The Pacific coast is home to some of the best surf resorts in Costa Rica.
They cater to a wide range of surf levels including first-timers to expert-level riders.
Another thing to keep in mind with surf resorts is that varying levels of luxury can also be found. There are luxury hotels, and family-friendly accommodations.
Best Surf Camp in Costa Rica
Are you heading to Costa Rica for a solo surf camp adventure? Want to meet fellow travelers while you learn to rip waves?
Head to Iguana Surf for the best Surf Camp Experience
Some surf resorts even offer additional benefits such as other water activities, excursions, and even amenities like massages, and all-inclusive meals.
Because there are so many to choose from and it can be overwhelming. That’s why we have narrowed if down for you.
Here are the top 7 best surf resorts in Costa Rica for various reasons.
1. Iguana Surf Camp: Best Surf Resort for Beginners
Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Located in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica in the Northwestern part of the country, Iguana Surf Camp is a great place for beginners to learn how to surf. Not only is Iguana surf great, but Tamarindo is one of the best surf towns in Costa Rica.
The 5 day, 4-night accommodation provides 3 days of lessons in Tamarindo and one excursion day to a nearby beach. The instructor can speak both English and Spanish to cater to your needs and you’ll have unlimited surfboard rentals throughout your stay.
You’ll be provided round trip transportation to and from the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) and you’ll stay in a private ocean-view suite with accommodations for up to 3 people.
The suite has a downstairs sitting area, a full bath, and an upstairs loft with various bed options. Booking this surf camp includes breakfast daily, video analysis and review of your surf skills, a surf photo package, and a t-shirt.
There is also a restaurant and bar on-site for additional meals and to enjoy the area. Other amenities include air-conditioned rooms, parking, wifi, laundry, and others.
This surf resort is perfect for beginners who want more of that one-on-one experience. The videotaping allows novice surfers to analyze their skills and make changes based on what they see.
It’s a super fun way to experience Costa Rica. You can book the camp using the link below.
2. Yoga and Surf Wellness Retreat: Best Surf Resort for Luxury
Playa Marbella, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
At the Yoga and Surf Wellness Retreat in Marbella, guests receive a personalized experience based on their surf level.
It accommodates beginners to advanced riders and includes the opportunity to practice awareness of body, mind, and soul through yoga.
The retreat is a great way to appreciate your surroundings, yourself, and the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate.
Included in the retreat are 2 hours of surfing with a coach for 5 days, surfing photos to view progress and have a unique memory of your trip, 1 yoga class per day, breath techniques, and meditation per day, a 60-minute massage as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
This 6 night, 7-day retreat is a great way to learn to surf or improve on skills you may already have while working on yourself in the process.
An airport transfer from Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport is also included and the group size is a maximum of 8 people. The instructors speak English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Some of the amenities provided at the retreat include an outdoor swimming pool, air-conditioned rooms, babysitting, car rental, wifi, laundry, and board rental.
Additional activities are also offered including horseback riding, a cooking class, scuba diving, snorkeling, and more. There are various villas to choose from and the retreat is open all year round for your convenience.
This retreat is for those who want to deepen their surfing and yoga skills while recharging and reconnecting. It is the perfect wellness surf retreat. Unlike tamarindo, Marbella is a remote place so there are not many distractions here.
The instructors are highly skilled and qualified to help guide you. The meals are fresh, healthy, and provide a balanced diet to improve energy levels and restore the health of your body. By the end of the retreat, you can ensure a healthy mind and body as well as new and improved surfing and yoga skills.
You’ll find more information at the link below.
3. La Posada Surf Camp: Best Surf Resort with Additional Excursions
Santa Teresa, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Posada in Spanish means hotel or inn and this Posada Surf Camp is right next to a beautiful beach with great waves.
It’s the perfect place to learn how to surf or perfect your skills. The camp caters to all surfing levels and provides all equipment that is needed.
There are 4 surfing classes included and the professional, local instructor can teach lessons in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
You will also receive airport transfers from either Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) or Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). You will also receive 2 yoga classes and have access to bike and snorkel equipment.
The 6 night, 7-day trip includes a few very exciting excursions as well.
For one trip, you will ride an ATV along the beach and check out the Montezuma waterfalls where you can do some hiking and swimming. The other excursion will take you to Tortuga Island by boat. Once there, you’ll snorkel and then enjoy a local meal and some drinks on the island.
Each day you’ll be provided breakfast and there is also an outdoor swimming pool, wifi, air conditioning, a bar, cafe, restaurant, and many other amenities.
There are additional extras you can add to your stay including Spanish classes, a massage, scuba diving, horseback riding, and so much more!
This surf resort is perfect for those who want to surf, but also experience other parts of Costa Rica.
4. Selina Jaco Surf Camp: Best Surf Resort for Digital Nomads and Budget Friendly
Jaco, Punteneras, Costa Rica
The Selina Hotel in Jaco is a great immersive place to grow your surfing skills and find a sense of community. You’ll have the chance to live more authentically and make connections during your stay in Costa Rica.
This 5 night, 6 day surf camp can provide you with a lot of opportunities. You can save money by staying in a shared room where you can make friends and meet new people or pay a bit more for a private suite.
Amenities include 4 surf lessons at 2 hours each, 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners, an outdoor swimming pool, wifi, laundry, a volleyball court, and much more. There is a restaurant, bar, and lounge, and on the weekend the hotel hosts dance parties so guests can get to know one another.
The surfing lessons are great for riders of all levels.
The qualified instructors can teach beginners or help advanced surfers perfect their skills in both English and Spanish and all surf equipment is provided.
Selina is an especially great place to incorporate work if you’re living a digital nomad lifestyle. Since it has a great work environment and schedules all its activities early in the morning so that the daytime can be used for work if needed.
If you’re actually on vacation, there are many additions you can purchase during your stay including spa treatments, horseback riding, crocodile tours, canoeing, and more. It’s the perfect place for people who are working and living a nomad lifestyle or those who want to visit a surf resort on a budget.
5. Believe Surf and Yoga House: Best Surf Resort for Socializing
Santa Teresa, Puntaneras, Costa Rica
The Believe Surf and Yoga House in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is a great place to spend a week. The 6 night, 7 day experience includes 3 surfing lessons, daily yoga classes, and additional activities of your choice.
It’s a great way to relax and unwind for a rejuvenating vacation. All surfing skill levels are encouraged and the experienced instructors can speak both English and Spanish.
A typical day at Believe includes yoga first thing in the morning and then two hours of surfing. From there, a complimentary, healthy breakfast is served to energize you for the day.
The middle of the day is left open to allow you to explore Santa Teresa and go on adventures. Santa Teresa is a great and beautiful spot in Costa Rica, one of the best beach towns.
At 4, you can attend a fitness class before catching the sunset. After that, you can join another yoga class and then socialize at night with the other guests.
In addition to all these great things, a meal is provided each day included in your stay whether you choose lunch or dinner.
Different events are held each night to promote meeting new people and making connections. Other amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, board rental, Wifi, and air conditioning among many others. Which makes it great for solo travelers.
The accommodations include luxurious to more budget-friendly private bedroom options as well as the option to stay in a shared room with 9 beds which saves a lot of money and is a great way to meet new people.
You’ll also be added to a WhatsApp group message where you can interact with other people and find out the events that are taking place each day.
You are also able to add other additional adventures like horseback riding, paddle boarding, visiting the Montezuma waterfalls, or a canopy tour.
It’s the perfect place for people who want excitement, something to do at all times, and to meet new people.
6. Danyasa Eco Retreat: Best Surf Resort for Eco-friendly
Domincal, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Danyaza Eco Retreat includes both surfing and yoga in Dominical, Costa Rica. The reason these two activities are paired is that they both teach you to have precision and control of your body and be flexible, open, and adaptable.
This 4 night, 5 day retreat includes 3 yoga sessions and 3 surf lessons at two hours each. All levels of surfers and yoga experience are encouraged. Qualified instructors will teach you to reach new levels.
The accommodations include private rooms or shared suites. All have access to an outdoor lounge and outdoor showers. Who doesn’t enjoy an outdoor shower, right?
The rooms are eco-friendly and are made out of upcycled cargo containers. Breakfast is included each day along with coffee, tea, and water. Other amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, garden, wifi, air conditioning, and more.
You can also purchase additional adventures including a canyoning tour, canopy tour, horseback riding, kayaking, snorkeling, and whitewater rafting.
It’s a great eco-friendly resort that will leave you feeling rejuvenated and more in tune with your mind and body. You’ll leave vacation feeling relaxed and energized.
7. Nosara Surf Bikini Retreat: Best Surf Resort for Solo Female Travelers
Playa Guiones, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Nosara Surf Bikini Retreat has designed a surf camp just for female travelers. It is located on a nature preserve and is very beautiful. The 6 night, 7-day accommodation includes 6 x 90-minute private surf lessons along with an additional 90 minutes of board rentals each day.
Surf lessons are conducted by Nosara Tico Surf School and they can accommodate all levels of surfers. The surfboard, rash guard, and sunblock are all provided.
It has full-service amenities including internet, laundry, cleaning, babysitting, a pool, tours, guides, and more.
Also included in the price is an organic breakfast each morning at the poolside cafe. The accommodations are private and surrounded by nature yet not out of touch with the rest of town.
You may even see monkeys and other animals around the pool and property.
The homes also have kitchen appliances, towels, and services such as cleaning and laundry to ensure you’ll have everything you need.
Other activities you can partake in include bike rentals, a spa visit, board rentals, and yoga. It’s a great place for those who are truly looking to work on their surfing skills and make it the focus of their trip. You’ll leave Nosara Paradise Rental as a new and improved person.
Visiting a surf resort in Costa Rica is a great opportunity for honing in on your skills and perfecting surfing. It also gives you the opportunity to meet locals and other travelers with the same interests as you have.
Traveling to Costa Rica also allows you to embrace a new culture and enjoy the beach and surrounding nature. It’s a great vacation opportunity and there is so much you can do in addition to surfing. You should consider a surf resort for your next trip to Costa Rica.
Important Items to Add to a Surf Trip
Before heading out on your surf trip to Costa Rica, you are going to want to ensure you have these important items in your bag before you leave.
- Sun Paste – This is going to save your face from getting burnt. Spending hours in the sun you will want a good cover on your face.
- Rash Guard – Again you want to protect your skin from getting too much sun. Be sure to bring a long sleeve rash guard.
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