Surfing at Playa Tamarindo Costa Rica is best during rainy season and the best breaks on this beach are a medium-sized right that breaks in front of Diria Hotel and a good left by the river mouth. Please note that crocodiles are sometimes seen at the mouth of the river.

The waters at Playa Tamarindo are mostly filled with surfers who are learning. More experienced surfers will want to try nearby Playa Avellana and Negra, Playa Grande, Junquillal.

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.