If you are dreaming of a surfing vacation in Costa Rica, this 10 day, 9 night beach and surfing vacation is the trip for you. If you’re an intermediate and above surfer, whether you travel with your own board, or want to rent along the way, this surf tour will hit some of the legendary breaks that you’ll dream about for years to come. From Nosara’s Playa Guiones, with a mellow beach town vibe to get the party started, you’ll move on to Playa Avellanas, aptly nicknamed “Little Hawaii.” Then you’ll visit the beach and surf town of Tamarindo, made famous in the film Endless Summer II, and still considered a top surfing mecca in Costa Rica. Your final stop will be Playa Grande, one of the most consistent of all Costa Rica surf spots. If you want to visit even more hot spots, you can use one of your days in Avellanas to catch a ride south for a day of surfing at Playa Negra with its famous hollow barrels. And from Tamarindo you can take a full day boat trip to the famous Witch’s Rock at Playa Naranjo, with its powerful breaks and swells. We have designed this vacation with a focus on comfortable surf-friendly accommodations, and minimal travel times between destinations, to get you as much time on the waves as possible. We’ve also thrown in a catamaran sunset cruise and a sunset horseback ride to keep things interesting. Your surfing dreams await.

 

Price

• $1,900 Per Person

• Based on a minimum of two people in a double occupancy room

• For fewer or additional person(s), inquire for pricing

• Prices valid through 2023 (excluding Semana Santa / Easter week 4/2/2023 to 4/9/2023 and 12/20/2023 to 1/5/2024). All pricing subject to change until booked and confirmed. Lower rates may be available during "green season" (May to November). Inquire when booking.

 

Destinations

Nosara (Playa Guiones), Playa Avellanas, (optional Playa Negra), Playa Tamarindo, (optional Witch’s Rock), Playa Grande

 

Duration

9 nights, 10 days

 

Itinerary

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 Day 1 

LIR to Nosara (Playa Guiones)

When you arrive at Liberia Airport, you will be picked up by a private shuttle and driven approximately 3 hours to the beachside town of Nosara, where you will check into Olas Verdes Hotel (or comparable hotel), walking distance to Playa Guiones. Olas Verdes rents boards for $25/day, and they have surf lesson packages available. Nosara is known as the “wellness capital of Costa Rica,” so you can expect a laid-back yoga and surf vibe with great restaurants.

 

 Day 2 

Nosara (Playa Guiones)

Spend the day surfing, and relaxing, and then enjoy a sunset horseback tour, along jungle trails and across a river to the Gulf of Nosara, and at sunset you’ll ride through Playa Pelada - the perfect way to enjoy one of our famous sunsets!

 

 Day 3 

Nosara to Avellanas

After a morning surf, you’ll check out of your hotel and be driven by private shuttle approximately two hours to Playa Avellanas. On your way out of town, maybe have the driver stop at Súper Nosara grocery store to pick up some snacks and provisions, as Avellanas is more secluded. Playa Avellanas is one of the most fun and beautiful surf breaks in all of Costa Rica. Nicknamed “Little Hawaii,” Avellanas has plenty to offer from gentle, tiny longboarding waves, to steeper, faster shortboarding waves – something for everyone. You’ll check into Cabinas Las Olas (or comparable hotel), and you can rent a board for $25 a day from them if needed. 

 

 Day 4 

Playa Avellanas

Enjoy a morning of surfing at Avellanas. Later in the day enjoy drinks in the shade at Lola’s or one of the other local hangouts.

 

 Day 5 

Playa Avellanas / Optional Playa Negra

You can either surf again at Avellanas, or you can take a taxi about 20-30 minutes south to Playa Negra. This is a powerful reef/point break and is one of the best known surf spots in Costa Rica because of the hollow barrels that it can pump out, especially when the surf reaches a couple of feet overhead. Negra can hold waves up to triple overhead that are perfect.

 

 Day 6 

Avellanas to Tamarindo

After a morning surf at Avellanas, you will check out of your hotel and be driven by private shuttle approximately 45 minutes to Tamarindo, where you will check into The Coast Beachfront Hotel (or comparable hotel). You can rent a board at Iguana Surf or other local surf shops. Tamarindo is a vibrant beach town with lively nightlife and lots of restaurants and shops. Playa Tamarindo is a long beach with plenty of space for swimmers and surfers alike, and the surf is best known for its easy and consistent waves. Tamarindo and Witch’s Rock were featured in the classic surf film, Endless Summer II, featuring surfing legend Robert August. On your first afternoon in Tamarindo, you’ll join a sunset catamaran cruise to explore along the coast. Lunch and drinks will be provided, and you’ll spend some time snorkeling in a secluded cove before heading back to shore while taking in a classic sunset.

 

 Day 7 

Tamarindo / Optional Witch’s Rock Trip

If interested, today would be the day to take a boat trip to one of Costa Rica’s surfing holy grails, Witch’s Rock at Playa Naranjo. You can set this up through the Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, located in Tamarindo. (Trip must be scheduled in advance). The surf breaks and swells are very powerful, which can make the surf, even off season, pretty spectacular. Witch’s Rock (Roca Bruja) is a giant slab of a boulder standing out from the ocean bottom. This iconic destination could be a highlight of your trip. If you don’t want to spring for the additional cost of this trip, or if Witch’s Rock is too advanced, you can enjoy another day in and around Tamarindo.

 

 Day 8 

Tamarindo to Playa Grande

After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and be driven by private shuttle approximately 45 minutes to Playa Grande, where you will check into the Rip Jack Inn (or comparable hotel). They partner with Frijoles Locos Surf Shop for board rentals if needed. Grande is one of the most consistent of all Costa Rica surf spots. It is a quality beachbreak, especially on a good south swell. From mid-tide on, it is A-frame, tube rides, with fun, playful lefts and rights. Enjoy the quiet and laid-back small town of Playa Grande.

 

 Day 9 

Playa Grande

Enjoy your last full day of surf and sun, and one last Costa Rican sunset - some say that Playa Grande is the perfect sunset beach, and who are we to argue with that?

 

 Day 10 

Playa Grande to LIR

Depending on the time of your flight, you may have time for one last morning of surfing before being driven by private shuttle back to Liberia Airport for your departing flight.

 

Included

• 2 nights at Olas Verdes Hotel (or comparable hotel)

• 3 nights at Cabinas las Olas (or comparable hotel)

• 2 nights at The Coast Beachfront hotel (or comparable hotel)

• 2 nights at The Rip Jack Inn (or comparable hotel)

• All hotel and activity taxes are included in price

• Private transport from LIR airport to Nosara

• Private transport from Nosara to Playa Avellanas

• Private transport from Playa Avellanas to Tamarindo

• Private transport from Tamarindo to Playa Grande

• Private transport from Playa Grande to LIR Airport

• Sunset Horseback Tour in Nosara

• Catamaran Sunset Cruise with Lunch and Drinks in Tamarindo

• Breakfast on days 2 - 8

• Lunch on day 6

• In-country assistance via text, phone and email

 

Not included

• You are responsible for lunches except for day 6

• You are responsible for dinners

• Breakfast is available for purchase on days 9 & 10

• Surf board rental not included

• Optional side trip transportation to Playa Negra not included.

• Optional boat trip to Witch’s Rock not included

• Price does not include gratuities - it is customary to tip drivers, tour guides, housekeeping staff. There is a 10% gratuity added to restaurant bills, but additional tips for good service are greatly appreciated.

• International airfare not included.

 

What to bring

• Surf gear, bathing suits

• sun glasses, hat, ocean-friendly sunscreen

• Your footwear options should include flip flops, sports sandals, and sneakers

• You will be staying along the coast where it is almost always warm and tropical. But it is a good idea to have a few long sleeved shirts and/or sweatshirt. 

 

Note

We always have one or more comparable back-up hotels. The further out you book your vacation, the better our chances of booking our preferred hotels. If hotel availability is going to have a significant impact on your stay, we will discuss alternatives with you prior to making hotel reservations on your behalf.

 

If you are interested in a Witch’s Rock trip, we can help you book this. It should be arranged in advance of your trip to guarantee availability.