Surfing Costa Rica

Costa Rica has been a surfing hot spot since the movie Endless Summer II profiled some of the country's most appealing breaks. This is one of the big reasons to travel to Costa Rica. There's something in Costa Rica for all skill sets.

The top Costa Rican surfing destinations are listed below:

• Pavones: The legendary longest left in the country is located in the southern Golfo Dulce.
• Playa Hermosa: The country's most consistent waves.
• Playa Grande: Great waves and a gorgeous beach, in the midst of the national park north of Tamarindo.
• Salsa Brava: The roughest beach (Caribbean side) has earned this break its nasty reputation and is for experts only.
• Witchs Rock/Ollies Point: Way-out-of the-way but worth the trip.
• Jaco: Offers consistent surf year-round.
• Cabo Matapalo: Steady surf and still undiscovered.
• Caribbean coast: One long surf paradise from Puerto Limon to the Panama border.
• Playa Avellana & Playa Negra: Near Tamarindo and famous/busy.
• Playa Tamarindo: Filled with surfers who are learning but most consistent waves are in nearby Playa Grande.
• Playa Manzanillo: Best surfed when the tide is rising and there's an offshore wind.
• Playa Santa Teresa: Has powerful waves and is fast with scattered rocks.
• Playa Dominical: Monster waves in a laid-back beach town.

Learn what to do if caught in a riptide.