Surfing in the Central Pacific

Best Places to Surf in the Central Pacific

• Barranca

  General description	Mouth river with a very long left wave
  Waves	Good for beginners
  Where to surf	At the mouth of the river
  Best season	March to November
  Best tide	Mid-tide
  Nearby surf breaks	Doņa Ana, Caldera, Cuarto Punto, Tivives, Escondido, Jaco, and Hermosa
  Food	There is only one restaurant close to the point.
  Tips	When there is a big swell, check out the other points close to the area (Doņa Ana, Cuarto Punto and Caldera).
  Warnings	Don’t leave your car alone, as there are many thieves in the area. You must rent a parking space (Ask for Condino, who has a small parking lot just beside the river). The river is contaminated.

   

• Puerto Caldera

  General description	Jetty at the mouth estuary with a hollow left wave. Need big south swell for break.
  Waves	Good for everybody
  Where to surf	At the mouth of the estuary
  Best season	April to November
  Best tide	Mid-tide
  Nearby surf breaks	Cuarto Punto and Tivives
  Food	There is only one restaurant close to the point
  Warnings	Don’t leave your car alone

   

• Playa Tivives

  General description	The river mouth and rocky point
  Waves	Not good for beginners
  Where to surf	The best point is at the south of the river, known as Valor. Behind the hill just south of the river.
  Best season	April to October
  Best tide	Mid-tide
  Nearby surf breaks	Doņa Ana, Caldera, Cuarto Punto, Escondido, Jaco, and Hermosa.
  Food	No restaurants. Bring your own.

   

• Playa Herradura

  General description	Left point
  Waves	Good for beginners
  Where to surf	At the south of the beach, beside the island
  Best season	April to October
  Best tide	Mid-tide
  Nearby surf breaks	Puerto Escondido, Jaco, and Hermosa
  Food	There are some restaurants in the area
  Tips	You can rent a boat to go to Escondida. It is just the next beach north of Herradura. Access only by boat.

   

• Playa Jaco

  General description	Beach breaks
  Waves	Good for everybody. The wave tends to close out when is bigger than overhead.
  Where to surf	Walk along the beach to encounter the best beach break for you.
  Best season	Almost all year
  Best tide	Mid-tide
  Nearby surf breaks	Escondido, Roca Loca, and Hermosa
  Food	There are many places to eat
  Tips	Jaco is a surfing mecca in Costa Rica. You can drive from here to many other places when the surfs up.
  Warnings	Heavy currents have caused many drownings at this beach

  Book a Surf lesson in Jaco Beach Here

• Playa Hermosa

  General description	Beach breaks
  Waves	Good for everybody. The wave tends to close out when it is bigger than overhead.
  Where to surf	Choose your spot. There is another beach break at the end of the road, known as Tulin.
  Best season	Almost all year
  Best tide	Mid-tide
  Nearby surf breaks	Boca del Rio Tulin and Roca Loca
  Food	There are some places to eat

   

• Playa Esterillos

  General description	Beach breaks
  Waves	Good for everybody. The wave tends to close out when it is bigger than overhead.
  Where to surf	Choose your spot
  Best season	Almost all year
  Best tide	Mid-tide
  Nearby surf breaks	Playa Hermosa
  Food	There are some places to eat
  Tips	This area is not as crowded as Jaco or Hermosa, and the waves are similar.

   

• Playa Palo Seco

  General description	Beach breaks
  Waves	Good for everybody. The wave tends to close out when it is bigger than overhead.
  Where to surf	Choose your spot
  Best season	Almost all year
  Best tide	Mid-tide
  Nearby surf breaks	Isla Damas
  Food	There are some places to eat
  Tips	This area is not crowded

   

• Playa Isla Damas

  General description	Beach breaks
  Waves	Good for everybody. The wave tends to close out when it is bigger than overhead.
  Where to surf	Choose your spot
  Best season	Almost all year
  Best tide	Mid-tide
  Nearby surf breaks	El Rey
  Food	There are some places to eat
  Tips	This area is not crowded

   

• Playa El Rey

  General description	Beach breaks
  Waves	Good for everybody. The wave tends to close out when it is bigger than overhead.
  Where to surf	Choose your spot
  Best season	Almost all year
  Best tide	Mid-tide
  Nearby surf breaks	Isla Damas and Dominical
  Food	There are some places to eat
  Tips	This area is not crowded