Don't go to Witch's Rock Surf Camp
Just got back from Witch's Rock Surf Camp in Tamarindo and I would NOT recommend it. Tamarindo is a crowded, noisy tourist trap and the locals seem very resentful of the development. Be careful - crime is high and scams are rampant. I live way up in the Colorado mountains and I saw more Americans during a week in Tamarindo than I usually see in a year where I live. Witch's Rock Surf Camp is billed as a laid back, bare bones place, which I usually go for when I'm traveling. Honestly, this was a dump. The door to our room didn't close, the air conditioner was broken, we were overrun with ants, and there were holes in the walls - not what I was expecting for the high price. Another guest got sick from the sushi. The surf instructors spent about 1/2 hour of each 2 hour lesson with us, then chatted up the girls on the beach or went surfing on their own. I know this seems like one long complaint, but I was so suprised at how bad it was. I've worked as an outfitter, sailing instructor, and snowboard instructor for the past 25 years and have never seen such a poorly executed adventure/sports camp. Re: best time to go, the ocean in Tamarindo is very polluted and I understand people don't even go in it during the rainy season because of all the raw sewage that pours off the streets. On the bright side - We spent one day surfing at Avellanos and this seems like the place to go. It's beautiful there, clean and uncrowded. The photos posted in this thread do not lie! There are much better places to go than Witch's Rock Surf Camp in Tamarindo.