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Costa Rica was one of the earliest surfing travel destinations and remains the most popular in Central America. This is partly due to the consistently good and fun year round surf, the wide variety of scenery and types of waves, its reputation as being a “safe” place to visit and the complete and utter knock your socks off beauty of the place. With a strong economy and a focus on tourism, Costa Rica is very accessible for surfers looking to follow their own path. The closest beaches are a 3 hour drive to either coast from the international airport in the capital city of San Jose, rental cars are easy to come by and there is plenty of low key lodging. This being said, the Costa Rican lineups can get crowded, but where there is a will there is a way and there are still plenty of isolated breaks to explore.
The rainy season in Costa Rica is from May to July, which is also when the best swells pound the Pacific coast. The Caribbean lights up during the winter month, but is not as consistent. If you are going to Central America, Costa Rica is a must for surfers with the time or a strong contender for new visitors to this region of the world who are only going to be exploring one country.
SOUTHWEST COSTA RICA
The crown jewel of Costa Rica, Pavones, is located close to the Panamanian border in the south. Southwest Costa Rica is more remote and less surfed than the spots to the north. Do some exploring and you may find your own perfect point break.
Health: Some hotels will boast that you can drink their water and not get sick and this may be true, but if you are here only for a short time why risk it? Costa Rica has a tropical environment so precautions should be taken accordingly. For specifics concerning dengue fever, malaria and other hazards check with your local physician.
Safety: Even though you are in a tropical paradise there is still some crime to watch out for. Mostly this consists of petty theft, which is especially bad around Tamarindo. This is no joke, you will loose your old and worn out flip flops if you leave them on the sand while you go out for a session. San Jose, like any big city, has some sketchy neighborhoods, but you most likely will not be spending much time there. Like always, play it cool and play it safe no matter where in this world you travel. |
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