REGION:
CENTRAL AMERICA
11 HRS FROM LONDON
NOVEMBER-APRIL
BEGINNERS TO EXPERTS
REGION:
CENTRAL AMERICA
11 HRS FROM LONDON
NOVEMBER-APRIL
BEGINNERS TO EXPERTS
COSTA RICA FAMILY SURF TRAVEL GUIDE
PURA VIDA, PURE NATURE AND SURF STYLE
Welcome to a family-friendly surfing paradise. Costa Rica offers a mix of beach breaks and reefs, tropical rainforests, diverse wildlife and designer surf hotels. Whether you want to surf your socks off or stretch into beach life, here you can yo-yo between the shoreline and the jungle from the lap of eco-luxury.
Costa Rica Holiday Highlights
- Sandy beaches and consistent, warm waves
- Stylish, sustainable surf resorts
- Lots of breaks for beginners and intermediates
- Safe, family-friendly culture
- Rainforest and jungle adventures
- Close encounters with wildlife
Costa Rica Overview
A dream family surf destination boasting surf and sunshine almost year-round, Costa Rica flaunts an enviable mix of jungle-backed beaches, luxury eco tourism, healthy living, wildlife encounters and waves for all abilities. It’s an easy and safe location to travel with the family, whether you’ve got frothing teens in tow, or young children who want to enjoy beach life while you get your surf fix.
With rainforests and beaches, this is a nature lovers’ paradise, where monkeys swing through the canopies, iguanas laze on the rooftops and humpback whales can be spotted just offshore. Stretch out with yoga on the beach, dive into emerald waters with just pelicans and turtles for company, and experience one of the most bio-diverse places on the planet. Plus, there are plenty of stylish surfing resorts and family accommodation right beside the waves. The downside? It’s not cheap.
Featured Costa Rica Surf Trips
QUICK FACTS ABOUT Costa Rica AS A FAMILY SURF DESTINATION
Getting there: You can fly direct from London Gatwick (LGW) to Liberia (LIR) with Tui, which takes around 11 hours. Currently there are no direct flights from London to the capital of San Jose.
Getting around: From Liberia it’s around 1.5 hours to Tamarindo, 2.5 hours to Nosara, 4 hours to Santa Teresa and 7 hours to the Osa Peninsula by road. Most hotels offer advice on transfers, and we use Zuma Tours for minibus and boat transfers countrywide. However, the domestic flight network with Air Sansa is also very convenient for long distances, and can also take you into Nicaragua. Just check their board carriage restrictions if you are taking your own surfboards. Once you’re in the main surfing resorts, such as Nosara or Santa Teresa, you can opt to get around by bicycle, electric golf buggy or quad bike between breaks.
Surf season: Dec-Feb for smaller swells and sunshine. Mar–May for more consistent swells and dry, sunny weather. May–August is considered rainy season, but it’s a great time to visit for surf, with most rain falling at night and consistent swells.
Surfing level: Beginner to advanced.
Climate: 28-30C year round. The ‘rainy’ season is from May to October, with most rain in September and October.
Wetsuit: An average water temperature of 28C means you’ll only ever need boardies or a bikini.
Time zone: GMT -6
Currency: USD$ / Costa Rican Colón CRC
Family Surf Co’s take:
Hayley Lawrence
We spent four weeks travelling along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica in December and January when the kids were all under 10, and it was the most memorable trip of our lives. We were lucky to get consistent, gentle swells, which were the perfect for the kids, with a few days bigger days in Santa Teresa.
Aside from the waves, the wildlife and nature experiences were incredible. We jumped into waterfalls, swung from tree tops, woke up to howler monkeys, shared line-ups with pelicans and turtles, and saw humpback whales from the beach. There’s no other place like it on the planet.
Read on to discover the best locations to surf, play, eat and stay on your family surfing holiday in Costa Rica.
SURF: WHERE TO GO FOR YOUR FAMILY SURF HOLIDAY IN Costa Rica
A dream surf destination, Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast flaunts long, sandy beaches and a mix of mellow waves, hollow beach breaks and reeling reefs. An average water temperature of 28C means you’ll only ever need boardies or a bikini, and there are plenty of surfing set-ups and stylish surfing resorts right beside the waves.
From the popular surfing resort in Tamarindo to Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula, the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica is famous for its wild, white-sand beaches, wildlife and waves.The main surfing areas along the North Pacific Coast include Tamarindo, Nosara, Santa Teresa and Mal Pais.
Our top family surfing beaches in Costa Rica’s North Pacific region:
Playa Grande, Tamarindo
While Tamarindo is known as the surfing hub of the north, just across the rivermouth from this busy surf town awaits the five-kilometre stretch of Playa Grande. With A-frame peaks breaking from end-to-end, it’s a playground for all levels of surfers, and easy to find space away from the crowds. We were here in December, and enjoyed perfect conditions for a mum with three keen little groms in tow.
Playa Avellanas, Nr Tamarindo
About 30 minutes’ south of Tamarindo you’ll find the wild beauty of Playa Avellanas – dubbed one of the most stunning beaches in Costa Rica. Far from the busy surf resorts, here the water is crystal clear and there are consistent waves for all levels, from a gentle beach break to a punchy reef break.
Playa Guiones, Nosara
Stretching 7km along the front of this rustic little beach town that’s mushroomed into boutique, family-friendly surf resort, Playa Guiones is a surfing paradise. Mellow waves beckon intermediate surfers, and there are plenty of surf camps, surf hire outlets, including Nosara CR Surf School, who let you keep the equipment for an extra hour following your lesson, so you can get some practise in.
Playa Hermosa, Santa Teresa
There are a few beaches that go by the name of Hermosa in Costa Rica. But it basically translates to ‘beautiful beach’ – of which there are many in this surf-lashed country. This one is just north of Santa Teresa’s main stretch, with rolling, manageable waves from mid-to-high tide, and more hollow waves as the tide drops out, making it ideal for intermediate and advanced surfers. Nearby you’ll also find tidal rock pools for some dreamy wild swimming.
Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa
If you’re looking to combine surfing, yoga and cool beach vibes, there are few better destinations than Santa Teresa. This long white-sand beach between Mal Pais and Santa Teresa is perfect for surfing with the family. A little less punchy, and less crowded, than Santa Teresa’s main breaks, it’s a great for novice surfers. There are few rocks to be avoid, but as the tide drops these turn into wonderful rockpools to explore and splash around with the kids.
The main surfing areas of Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast:
Jaco
Just an hour and a half from the capital San Jose, this is the most developed surf town in Costa Rica, and is surrounded by some of the best surf in the country. Lively and well appointed with restaurants and nightlife, it caters better for travelling surfers and a younger crowd, than families.
Playa Dominical
This laidback surf town is worth a pitstop if you’re travelling down the Pacific Coast, offering a consistent barrelling wave for experts, alongside a protected bay for beginners.
Our top surfing beaches on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast:
Pan Dulce, Osa Peninsula
If you want to combine jungle life, wildlife and surfing, there is nowhere better to head than the Osa Peninsula – the most bio diverse place on the planet. Here, Matapalo is the best-known surf break, but it’s a gnarly spot for beginners and kids. We prefer the reeling right-hand point break Pan Dulce, but it’s worth wearing reef shoes and being careful when you wipeout.
Pavones
The southwest tip of Costa Rica is home to the country’s most famous wave, Pavones. Said to be the longest left in the world, it can be ridden for over 1km, and is well worth the trip for the surf and the rainforest if you want to get off the beaten track with your family.
Featured Costa Rica Surf Trips
PLAY: THINGS TO DO ON A FAMILY SURFING HOLIDAY IN Costa Rica
Whether you’re into yoga, wildlife or white-knuckle adventures, Costa Rica offers rich and diverse experiences for the whole family. Between surf sessions you might find yourself abseiling from jungle canopies, horse riding along the beach, stretching out with yoga and pilates, plunging into waterfalls, or spotting sloths and monkeys.
Things to do on the Osa Peninsula
If you want to embark on organised, adrenalin-fuelled adventures, head into the wild with Andy from Everyday Adventures, who will take you waterfall rappelling, introduce you to the region’s edibles – including termites and hibiscus – and have you climbing up a 70ft fig-strangler tree and leaping like Tarzan from the canopies.
Walk to the Catarata waterfall, one of Costa Rica’s most impressive waterfalls, where you’re bound to encounter all sorts of wildlife on route.
Family things to do in Nosara
Healthy living is at the heart of Nosara life, so when you’re not in the surf you’ll find a smorgasbord activities including a climbing wall, mountain biking trails, yoga sessions and a skate park.
Saddle up for a horse riding adventure along the beach or into the jungle, zoom along the zip line on a canopy tour and explore the mangroves on a SUP adventure and wildlife tour.
If you visit in turtle nesting season (August-November), make sure you visit Playa Ostional, part of the National Wildlife Refuge, where hundreds of thousands of sea turtles lay their eggs every year. Nearby Playa San Juanillo is also stunning bay perfect for snorkelling and swimming.
Family things to do in Tamarindo
Near Tamarindo, Playa Grande’s three miles of golden sands is also one of Costa Rica’s key nesting sites for leatherback turtles (November to mid February).
Adventures on the water
Go snorkelling on the famous Playa Conchal – about 30 minutes’ drive north from Tamarindo.
Hop on a panga for a croc-spotting tour through the mangroves, or hop aboard a yacht for a sunset cruise.
Overland Adventures
Take a 4WD ATV tour along the Gold Coast, swing through the tree tops on a canopy tour, and encounter wildlife on a horse riding adventure.
Family things to do in Santa Teresa
Take a day trip to the paradise of Tortuga Island.
Seek out Playa Los Suecos (Secret Beach) for snorkelling and swimming.
Plunge under the waves for a diving excursion.
Sign up for a volun-tourism project, including turtle watching and reforestation.
Other places to visit in Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National Park
This tropical rainforest just three hours from San Jose is an accessible spot to be introduced to Costa Rica’s waves and wildlife. It’s much easier to reach than the Osa Peninsula, which does entice the crowds. However, it’s easy to combine surfing on Espadilla Beach with seeing sloths and monkeys in Manuel Antonio National Park.
EAT: FOOD & DRINK FOR ALL THE FAMILY IN Costa Rica
Buen Provecho: Costa Rica’s fresh and delicious cuisine will keep you fuelled up for surfing and adventures. Start the day with tortillas de queso (cheese tortillas), or the full Costa Rican breakfast (–huevos rancheros, guacamole, galle pinto, salsa picante and toast) sets you up for a day on the beach or exploring the jungle.
Snack on tropical fruit and dine out on fresh seafood and traditional favourites such as gallo pinto (black beans and rice). Mealtimes also highlight your surroundings, with dishes made using the best local ingredients. And most places you go you’ll find a fusion of Costa Rican and Western cuisine, which will satisfy all ages, tastes and dietary requirements.
Some of our favourite staples include: fresh coconuts, smoothies, breakfast burritos and Central American-inspired feasts from fish tacos to chocolate churros.
STAY: FAMILY-FRIENDLY SURF HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION IN Costa Rica
Wherever you base yourself in Costa Rica, you can stay footsteps from the surf. It’s up to you if you fancy the bells and whistles of a boutique surf resort, a rustic lodge off the beaten track, or a family-friendly hotel where you can dip in and out of the surfside facilities.
THE WRAP: Costa Rica Surely is a Perfect Family Surf Destination
Costa Rica effortlessly flaunts the barefoot luxury lifestyle and a must for the family surfing bucket list. If you’re heading off on a surfing holiday with a young family and want a safe but exciting destination with tropical beaches, an abundance of wildlife, warm waves and buckets of adventure, look no further than Costa Rica.
Our top tip is to make the most of Costa Rica’s ‘mini summer’ in July, when the surf’s up and the rates are low. Although it’s the ‘green season’, rainfall is usually at night, the climate is balmy, the beaches uncrowded and the waves are epic.
For further inspiration, see this video that we made on our last family trip to Costa Rica a few years ago.
About The Author
Surf Trips in Costa Rica for Your Next Family Surfing Holiday
