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Riding the waves in Costa Rica, surfing paradise
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surfer hitting the lip
Man holding a surfboard

Surf's up! Ride the waves of Costa Rica's coastline

ActiveCosta Rica

Wedged between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica is a strip of land with sublime beaches, blessed with prime conditions for surfing. Avid surfers are familiar with Costa Rica's mythical waves, like those at Playa Pavones (with waves nearly a mile long), or the highest breaking waves in the country at Salsa Brava on the Caribbean coast. On the Pacific coast, the best surfing spots lie within four main areas.

Many surfers flock to the province of Guanacaste, around Tamarindo, which is the perfect setting for beginners. It also offers pro surfers the beautiful waves they crave, like those at Playa Avellana. One hot new surfing spot is in the Nicoya peninsula, and conditions at Malpais and towards Santa Teresa are fantastic all year-round.

In Puntarenas province, beginners can choose between the village of Jaco or Playa Hermosa. There are many lodging options here, and both are ideal starting points for exploring other locations in the surrounding areas (Quepos, Parrita, Manuel Antonio). Meanwhile, the Osa peninsula draws more diehard surfers, as the beaches aren't as easy to access.

Remember that you may need to travel by 4x4 to access certain surfing areas. Kitesurfing is also starting to catch on in Costa Rica. You can try it out on lake Arenal, at Bahia Salinas, or on the Nicoya peninsula.

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