surfing in costa rica

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Permalink Reply by Hikari Yokoyama on April 30, 2009 at 9:31pm

Hi there, I just got back from Costa Rica about a week ago. I spent time in Malpais/Santa Teresa, and let me tell you, it was paradise! It is definitely a simple, ex-pat surfer town, but there are consistent, amazing waves (a forgiving sand beach, with a few point breaks if you travel to where the rocks are). I ate like a king, and started my trip at the Malpais Surf Camp and then when friends joined me on the trip, we all stayed in this beautiful little compound right on the beach, called Red Palm Villa. I am telling you, if you are considering going to Costa Rica, GO! It is not sketchy at all, in fact, the exact opposite. I loved every second!

If you are looking for beach breaks - Malpais/Santa Teresa (they are technically two towns, but are really just one area of beach) and Playa Hermosa, right next door are the perfect place to go. There is surf for all levels.

My favorite restaurants were Brises Del Mar (great food, amazing deserts, soso ambience), Tres (amazing raw food, delicious), Vista de Olas (great place for sunset drinks in an infinity pool overlooking the entire beach with a simple $10 grilled meal afterwards). Not so great is Flora Blanca (the most high end hotel there, the food is way overworked and overpriced). Also good was Chili Viola (?) for homemade pastas and really delicious grilled snapper.

You can fly to San Jose, and then book FlySansa for a connecting flight to Tambor. Then it's about a 45 minute drive to Malpais. I left Newark at 8 am and was surfing by 3:00 pm.

Do it!! Let me know if you have any questions.

xx,
Hikari

Permalink Reply by Nicki Gilmour on May 1, 2009 at 11:04am

hey Hikari

thanks for sharing - sounds wonderful. we are booked to stay in Jaco already and are surfing with Maria del Mar's camp . she is apprently quite famour around that area? so we go to playa hermosa for sure. next time tambor? willl let you know how it goes. do you surf long beach NY?
nicki

Hikari Yokoyama said:

Hi there, I just got back from Costa Rica about a week ago. I spent time in Malpais/Santa Teresa, and let me tell you, it was paradise! It is definitely a simple, ex-pat surfer town, but there are consistent, amazing waves (a forgiving sand beach, with a few point breaks if you travel to where the rocks are). I ate like a king, and started my trip at the Malpais Surf Camp and then when friends joined me on the trip, we all stayed in this beautiful little compound right on the beach, called Red Palm Villa. I am telling you, if you are considering going to Costa Rica, GO! It is not sketchy at all, in fact, the exact opposite. I loved every second!

If you are looking for beach breaks - Malpais/Santa Teresa (they are technically two towns, but are really just one area of beach) and Playa Hermosa, right next door are the perfect place to go. There is surf for all levels.

My favorite restaurants were Brises Del Mar (great food, amazing deserts, soso ambience), Tres (amazing raw food, delicious), Vista de Olas (great place for sunset drinks in an infinity pool overlooking the entire beach with a simple $10 grilled meal afterwards). Not so great is Flora Blanca (the most high end hotel there, the food is way overworked and overpriced). Also good was Chili Viola (?) for homemade pastas and really delicious grilled snapper.

You can fly to San Jose, and then book FlySansa for a connecting flight to Tambor. Then it's about a 45 minute drive to Malpais. I left Newark at 8 am and was surfing by 3:00 pm.

Do it!! Let me know if you have any questions.

xx,
Hikari

Permalink Reply by Nicki Gilmour on May 20, 2009 at 12:26pm

Jaco
good waves, but unsafe for women on their own. the number of business transactions- old american (and euro) men buying women's time (ie. sex) was pretty gross. after 7pm Jaco felt unsafe (i live in brooklyn and grew up in belfast so its a lot for me to say this) saw 3 people opening smoking crack.
the surfing was amazing and if you go be sure to check out Maria del Mar's surf camp costaricachicas.com