Pavones Costa Rica is located about 15-km (9 mi) south of Zancudo and is famous for its long left-hand break. Pavones refers to both Playa Rio Claro de Pavones and Punta Banco which is 6-km (3.75 mi) south.

The beaches are sandy and the coastal hills are covered with rain forest. This village used to be off-the-beaten-track travel destination but is transforming into a hip hot spot.

The top Costa Rica 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.
• Witch's Rock/Ollie's 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.