Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Surf in Tamarindo and surrounding beaches:
Surf on Playa Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a surfing hot-spot which anchors the surf community of the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Consistent swells and offshore winds provide good surf conditions throughout the year.
Right off Tamarindo the left and right beach breaks are also suited for beginners to learn on. Surf in Tamarindo is best during high tide and towards the north of the beach, at the estuary, where the long rights are especially popular with long boarders.
Surf Map of the Tamarindo Area:
Hyperlinks to detail maps
are marked in orange color
Across the Tamarindo estuary is another great surf spot on the beach of Playa Grande. You can paddle with your surf board across the river to get first to "La Casita" with its fast beach break. Walking further north you find more left and right beach breaks. The surf on Playa Grande is very consistent, even during low tide.
1 km south of Tamarindo is Playa Langosta where a right and left point break comes up fast and curls off the estuary of the Rio San Francisco.
Crossing the river and walking on for around 40 minutes you arrive at the next great surf spot: Avellanas, also nicknamed "Little Hawaii". Surf is good low and high tide with beach breaks featuring very hollow rights and lefts. To reach Avellanas you can also drive for 16 km from Tamarindo via Villarreal and Pinilla.
Another 5 km south of Avellanas comes Playa Negra, reputedly one of the best surf spots in Costa Rica. It's a right point break with very fast waves best to be surfed during transition of the tides. Only for experts.
Surfing on Playa Negra
To reach the other famous, remote surf spots in the north, like Ollie's Point and Witch's Rock you should best check with a
local surf shop or arrange a tour through your hotel in Tamarindo.