Costa Rica is one of the few countries where you can surf a different ocean by driving for a day, and where beginners and experienced surfers are genuinely both well served. The planning question is not where the good waves are. It is which coast is working when you arrive.
Two coasts, opposite seasons
The Pacific works best from roughly April to October, when southern-hemisphere swells arrive. That is the green season, which is why surf trips and beach holidays want different months.
The Caribbean works best from December to March, on north swells. It is a short, fickle season with a handful of excellent days rather than a reliable stretch.
Most of the country's surf is Pacific, and most visitors will be planning around it.
Where to go by level
Learning. Tamarindo at 97.1 nautical miles, Sámara, Jacó. Sand bottom, forgiving waves, schools everywhere.
Improving. Nosara at 85.6 nautical miles and Santa Teresa. Consistent, less crowded than the learning towns, and enough variety to progress.
Experienced. Pavones in the far south, near Golfito at 100.7 nautical miles, holds one of the longest left-hand waves anywhere when it is working. Witch's Rock and Ollie's Point in the north, both boat access. Puerto Viejo's Salsa Brava on the Caribbean, which is heavy and over reef.
Everyone. Dominical and the central Pacific near Quepos at 33.4 nautical miles, which is powerful enough to be interesting and accessible enough not to be intimidating.
The board question
This is where surf trips meet aviation, and it is worth settling early.
Boards are a volume problem, not a weight problem. Length is what decides whether a board fits a given aircraft, and the answer varies by aircraft rather than by airline policy. The allowance is calculated by weight when you quote in the app; tell us if you carry bulky gear.
Ask before you book, with the actual length of the actual board. A nine-foot longboard and a six-foot shortboard are different conversations, and the honest answer sometimes involves renting at the destination instead. The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
Travellers who assume and arrive are the ones who discover the constraint at the aircraft, which is the worst place to discover it.
Renting instead
Board rental is good and cheap at every major break. For trips under a week, or for anyone travelling with a family and a schedule, renting is often the better answer even when carrying a board is possible.
The exception is the surfer with a board they genuinely need. Everyone else usually regrets the logistics more than they enjoy the familiarity.
What surprises people
The rips. These are real beaches with real currents, and the drownings that happen here almost always involve visitors who underestimated them.
The sun. Equatorial, and stronger than it feels in the water.
And the crowds at the famous breaks, which are worse than the photos suggest in high season. We fly year-round. In the rainy season the pilot in command decides; if weather stops a flight, it is rescheduled at no cost. The green months are quieter and the swell is better — the rare case where the cheaper season is also the better one. We show a "from" price per route; the final fare depends on the date, the group and the baggage, and is confirmed in writing before booking.
Frequently asked
Which coast and when?
Pacific from roughly April to October on southern swells; Caribbean from December to March on north swells, and briefly.
Where should a beginner go?
Tamarindo, Sámara or Jacó — sand bottom, forgiving waves and schools everywhere.
Where do experienced surfers go?
Pavones in the far south, Witch's Rock and Ollie's Point by boat in the north, and Salsa Brava on the Caribbean.
Can I bring my board on a charter?
It depends on length rather than weight, and it varies by aircraft. Ask with the actual board length before booking.
Should I rent instead?
For trips under a week, usually yes. Rental is good and cheap at every major break.
What do visitors underestimate?
The rip currents and the sun. Both are stronger than they look.
Plan it with us
The allowance is calculated by weight when you quote in the app; tell us if you carry bulky gear.