Good Surf Camp in Costa Rica

**surftb15** · 02-07-2008, 12:00 AM

hey guys.

Do you have any reccomendations for a good surf camp in Costa Rica? I did witches rock two years ago, so I dont want to go back - plus, the rates are much higher now.

I am trying to step up my surf game this year and want to head up for 10 days over Spring break.

Thanks.

Also, any other reccomendations to a place that can be easily accessed?

Thanks

**Ak_pride** · 02-12-2008, 10:42 PM

I too am curious about surf camps in costa rica. I am going there in about a week. Was thinking of going to tamarindo. You didnt like the witches rock camp? I was also thinking of maybe just staying in a hostel and only taking a day or 2 of instruction and then just renting a board. Any other info/tips about costa rica would be appreciated!

**robnow** · 02-12-2008, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by Ak_pride

Any other info/tips about costa rica would be appreciated!

Watch your s*^& EVERYWHERE. Seriously, do not leave anything unattended. Never leave anything in your vehicles. Be especially cautious in Tamarindo and Jaco.
That is all! Have fun!!

Oh, I would think a camp at Witches would rock. Must be pretty expensive though. Although the only time I've been at Witches, 2 days of epic conditions with only the two of us camping and a boat with 3 Americans

. I hear it can get pretty busy with boats. I couldn't believe for how isolated it was, how much garbage was washed up on the beach, so sad.

**ActionJackson** · 02-13-2008, 12:21 PM

Check out Blew Dogs in Nosara. Went there 5 or 6 years ago though so not sure how it is now.
http://www.blewdogs.com/

**Dudley** · 02-13-2008, 03:04 PM

Rancho Diablo in Tamarindo is sick, go fishing on your own and they will grill it up for you if they can partake... My bet would be to head to Mal Pais and stay in Santa Theresa. I am sure my spelling is off but I'll check when I get home... PM for more details if you want. Both times I have been to Mal Pais I met solid people, had great surf, and felt like I was in paradise... it left nothing to be desired.

**Misty_Fly** · 02-13-2008, 06:25 PM

Playa Avellanas must be checked out. its really underrated and therefore way less crowded than nearby Playa Negra. Plus its insanely beautiful. Stay at cabinas el leon www.cabinaselleon.com and be looked after by an italian lady that provides nice rooms for $10/night and rediculously good italian cooking.

As for camps, there's a bunch of good ones down in santa teresa/malpais, i forget the names but there are loads. way more laid back villages than tamarindo and the god-awful jaco. jaco is good for buying boards though...

hope that's a bit helpful and have a good time

**surftb15** · 02-13-2008, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by robnow

Watch your s*^& EVERYWHERE. Seriously, do not leave anything unattended. Never leave anything in your vehicles. Be especially cautious in Tamarindo and Jaco.
That is all! Have fun!!

Oh, I would think a camp at Witches would rock. Must be pretty expensive though. Although the only time I've been at Witches, 2 days of epic conditions with only the two of us camping and a boat with 3 Americans

. I hear it can get pretty busy with boats. I couldn't believe for how isolated it was, how much garbage was washed up on the beach, so sad.

second that. theysteal your boards right off the beach.

This is why you get a quad fin setup that will allow you to run tri fin without bringing two boards to the beach.

**JMO** · 02-29-2008, 09:21 PM

Stay here and surf Negra or Avellanas. Contact Chris - ECGRILL at AOL dot COM. Tell him you you saw it here since I built the site for him (might help get me back down there again soon).

**Long duc dong** · 03-04-2008, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by robnow

Watch your s*^& EVERYWHERE. Seriously, do not leave anything unattended. Never leave anything in your vehicles. Be especially cautious in Tamarindo and Jaco.
That is all! Have fun!!

Definitely heed this advice. With that being said we had a great time in Jaco. Huge swell window, almost always something at Playa Hermosa

**happytimefunbox** · 03-08-2008, 08:01 PM

Loma Del Mar up the hill from Hermosa is a good bet. Good setup and they will put you on the sickest waves in that region, from Playa Esterellos south to Boca Barranca N. I tell you, when Hermosa is maxing you'll think you stepped into Playa Escondido in Mex. That whole area gets killer waves, Boca Tulin is a killer Rivermouth, generally 2-5 ft bigger than main beach Hermosa. Stay away from Jaco unless you desperate for a cheeseburger or a hooker. Plus the beach break there closes out at 6 ft.

I remember paddling out at the Tree in Hermosa at 6 AM by myself with no one out. Thought it was much smaller than it was. Was 10-12 on the cleanup sets. Broke my leash on my second wave and did 2 cycles in the RIP before I made the beach. Good Times

Check out www.rovercam.com for info on Loma Del Mar....

**Susannah** · 03-15-2008, 03:28 PM

Also posted this message in the other thread about surf camps in Costa Rica. 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.

**travelgurl4life** · 12-08-2008, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by surftb15

hey guys.

Do you have any reccomendations for a good surf camp in Costa Rica? I did witches rock two years ago, so I dont want to go back - plus, the rates are much higher now.

I am trying to step up my surf game this year and want to head up for 10 days over Spring break.

Thanks.

Also, any other reccomendations to a place that can be easily accessed?

Thanks

Hi I've been there to Costa Rica too. I love surfing and I love the place. Every time I plan my travel there I have this site to help me. Check this out: www.ispringbreakcostarica.com

Hope this helps!

**Ottime** · 12-08-2008, 08:29 AM

Go to Mal Pais. Camp on the beach. Bring a board, or rent one from the Surf Camp to the south. Super laid back. All this talk of thieves is scary. It was ten years ago, but I remember leaving my bill fold on a stump seat in my camp when I went surfing one day. Even though there were 50 or so other campers and locals around, no one touched it... and the surf was consistent and fun.

**julesrules** · 12-09-2008, 02:45 PM

I was in Costa Rica May of this year. Started at Mal Pais, stayed at a cheapy camp there (open air thatched room with beds - bring a bug net or get big welts on your face like i did!) - cool vibe but the surf was not great for me - long paddle out and too big to do anything with once i got to the line-up. So i drove up the coast (don't try it in the rainy season, some of the rutted out dirt roads and river crossings were sketchy enough without rain) and landed in Nosara for a week.

There is not much going on Nosara but surf was fantastic. Surfed 3x a day and siesta'ed when i wasn't surfing. Since I wasn't a total beginner, I just paid $35 for an hour of private lesson daily with an instructor from one of the surf camps. Worked out great, got good instruction and had plenty of freedom. Nosara is great because they prohibit construction within about 100 yards of the beach so it's not so over-developed.

**fache** · 12-29-2008, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by JMO

Stay here and surf Negra or Avellanas. Contact Chris - ECGRILL at AOL dot COM. Tell him you you saw it here since I built the site for him (might help get me back down there again soon).

yes do go there. i went and stayed on that property last march and was blown away.

the break is unreal and i can not say enough about the place. i can not wait to make it back there at some point.

oh yeah avoid semana santa. its CROWDED