Caribbean Costa Rica

What makes Costa Rica a special destination for surfers?

Costa Rica is blessed on both sides, the Caribbean and the Pacific, and there’s waves all year long. Warm water, good food, very clean ocean – it’s a good place to go surf. The people are nice, they don’t want to fight with you over waves. You will connect to nature. It has a lot of good things. 

What kind of waves can visiting surfers expect?

Costa Rica is really lucky because it has surf on both coasts. When things quiet down on the Pacific side during the winter months, that's when the Caribbean starts to turn on. You can get these intense, short-period swells in the Caribbean. It can get kind of heavy when it's pumping. When most people think of Costa Rica they think of the Pacific side, but there are some hidden gems on the Caribbean. And to be able to have waves year-round, we are really lucky.

What’s the vibe? 

Costa Rica is a place where there is a lot of different cultures. We have Americans, we have people from Israel, Argentina, Brazil…it’s a big mix. If you find yourself amongst the locals, they pretty much like to share. They like the good vibes. One thing that I’ve found is that when I’m around people who are learning, I get excited for them. I get excited for the moment they’re living in—when you’re standing up for the first time or turning for the first time or get your first barrel—I get excited and like to cheer for them. And I feel like most Costa Ricans are like this. We like to share and get excited and cheer when people have fun here.   

What should surfers bring?

Bring three boards if you can. One epoxy, just in case you have to do some groveling. And you should bring a step-up. I think sometimes people underestimate how strong the waves get here. And then your regular board. If you can only bring two leave the epoxy at home. You should bring an umbrella in case it’s too sunny or too rainy. A lot of sunscreen. And bring the good vibes. You will find good waves, for sure. 

When is the best time to score?

The Caribbean is similar to Hawaii. From December to March, you can find the storms that make the waves over there. It’s pretty heavy. It’s slabby and the energy is a lot different in the Caribbean compared to the Pacific. Also, the Caribbean has reefs, so during those months you can get some really good waves if you are in the right spot. The Caribbean and Pacific are kind of opposite—if it’s raining on the Pacific side, it will be sunny on the Caribbean side. 

Then, right when it gets to March, the south swells start to hit on the Pacific side and you start getting lots of lefts. The sandbars and points get really good. When the southwests start to hit in April, May and June you probably have the best conditions on the Pacific side. The winter is a great time for learning. It’s smaller and more gentle. In the rainy season, the only thing is sometimes the water can get a little dirty and the rain doesn’t stop, but the waves are still heavy. 

What else is there to do when you’re not surfing?

I just went to visit this place called Arenal for the first time in my life. Man, it’s beautiful. I couldn’t believe it. The mountains, the nature, the hot springs, the volcano…it’s a really incredible experience. There are a lot of trails to walk. You can go to national parks and look for birds and animals. Costa Rica is one of those places that has a lot of reserves, and if you like wild nature, it’s very beautiful. There are a lot of retreats where people like to have a quiet place to go and reconnect with the earth. It’s a very open place for many things. 

What’s your favorite local cuisine?

You have all types of good. Gastronomy is very popular in Costa Rica. There are beautiful restaurants. I love gallo pinto. It’s rice and beans, but they have a way of cooking it that’s very good. We mainly eat that for breakfast with eggs, avocado, platano, sour cream. That’s my favorite. We also eat rice and beans with different kinds of meat and fish and vegetables. Handmade tortillas, they have a very particular way of making them. That’s pretty much the local kind of food. And we have steak and sushi and all the fancy kinds of things, too. 

Where can people learn to surf? 

For people that are just learning there are a lot of beachbreaks. They can be not so strong, so they are not that hard to surf and the water is warm. And with so many people coming here from all over the world, it is not hard to find somebody to teach you or a surf school to take lessons at. It’s a very gentle place to learn—just watch out for the sun. The sun is not so gentle. 

What are some things people should be aware of when it comes to local culture and customs?

If you go to a new place, just try to be careful and be aware of your surroundings. You never know what the intentions are of the people around you. If you are in a place with good people, you will have a great time, but you should always be aware. Costa Rica is very safe and the people are very nice, but you never know. Other than that, enjoy it, bring good vibes, have a good time with the local people and the culture. Share some waves, and respect like always.