Main - Costa Rica

A wide variety of waves line the 735 mile coastline of Costa Rica, and moving from one break to another is considered by many to be THE way to surf Costa Rica. Some choose to lock into a comfy hotel with hot water, A/C, TV, all the amenities, and a short stroll to the beach, while others seek a more basic level of creature comforts and associated budget control in order to maximize their days riding the waves. Costa Rica continues to be the best surf trip in terms of dollars spent and waves ridden as it rarely gets smaller than shoulder high.

 

Car Reservations: After 20+ years of sending clients to Costa Rica and after all of our horror stories we have got the Car Reservation thing down. We arrange the car rental as pre-paid. No longer do you have to worry about getting hammered on extra charges and up charging upon pick up. You will already know how much and what will happen. You will be able to budget out your trip without worrying about the extra fees all adding up on your arrival. We always try to make sure you are in the right size car for where you are going and how many in your group, you don’t want to big of a SUV and you also don’t want to be under-sized when the rivers pick up and that last crossing is running a bit to fast. Give us a call for our best rates and if you need a rate just email us your flight info and let us hit you back with an estimate. We also don’t run off the 24 hour clock allowing you to maximize your time in Costa Rica with out you getting your car back before the 24 hour clock hits and the charges start. Transfers can be arranged for those not wishing to deal with the drive.

 

Hotels:The hotel listings below, runs down the Costa Rican coastline from north to south for the most part, matching hotels to geographical wave zones. Surf Express does not offer every hotel in the country but the ones featured here offer a variety of comfort levels and all are well managed. Please be advised that if you e-mail a reservation directly to the hotel we cannot step in and take charge of that reservation to secure Surf Express discounted rates. Also, all of our rates already include the 13.45% hotel tax.


Northern Costa Rica
Playa Grande, Las Tortugas:
Las Tortugas has long been recognized as the go to location for surfing in Playa Grande and the Northern Costa Rica Region. Louis at Las Tortugas has one of the few hotels on the beach in Playa Grande with direct access to the beach just behind the pool area. Las Tortugas has many rooms to choose from all ranging in prices from 45 a night to 120 a night. He has apartments to offer just a short walk away from the main property and a shorter walk to the beach. All the rooms have their own AC and bathrooms. Some rooms have their own patios with a hammock to relax and enjoy the sounds of the A-Frame peaks breaking through the night just beyond the mangroves.

 

Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Panchos, Peladas: Panchos Cabinas and Store, located on the Peladas side of Nosara. Each cabina has its own porch, bath, small kitchen, and either 2 twin beds or 1 queen bed. Panchos has a small store attached to the grounds along with a small cafe. A short 10 minutes walk to Guiones and 5 minutes to Peladas. Price range: 45-95 a night per cabina.

Nosara Paradise Rentals,Guiones :

Nosara Paradise Rentals is a totally new concept in vacation rentals; they offer all the full service (concierge, internet, laundry and cleaning, gardener, babysitting, pool, tours and guides, and much more) of a first class hotel without the lack of privacy. Their collections of unique "Costa Rican pura vida" single and duplex buildings sit on their own lots surrounded by landscape barriers to insure your complete privacy and tranquility. Not to mention just across the street from the main peak at Guiones and a short walk to main strip of stores and restaurants in Guiones. Contact us today for a detailed list of properties.

Price Range: 55-335 a night per unit.

 

 

 

Mal Pais Surf Camp: Mal Pais Suf Camp has long been the go to for a trip out of the standard trips. With 20 years of running the camp and long tradition or surfers running the camp you cant go wrong. With units ranging from a two-story cabina to campsites all budgets can be accommodated. Not to mention the staff always knows where the best wave is for every swell size and swell angle. When you are trying to find that escape from the standard surf lodge and looking for the off the beaten path surf camp look no further then mal Pais Surf Camp.

 

 

 

Central Coast, Costa Rica
Double Tree Puntarenas,(The Fiesta), Puntarenas: After years of serving as the base of operations for the Rabbit Toe’s on the Nose contest and one of the longest left hand point breaks, Boca Barrancca, we offer the Double Tree Puntarenas (Formerly the Fiesta). The property has had some major improvements with the purchase by Double Tree but still has the Costa Rican flare and taste that the Fiesta always offered. The property is still an all-inclusive and one of the only with a wave right out behind it, and ohhh what a wave. A longboarders dream, a long wall with an easy take off and 100’s of yards of face to work with running away from the river mouth. The resort still offers the vacation the family will enjoy and the surfers will love. With our rates still 20%+ less then the best advertised rates Double Tree has to offer as thanks for our continued support over the years that we offer to you.

 

Jaco Beach Hotel, Jaco: Now owned and run by Best Western, this still offers the same great hospitality it offered to all of us in the 80’s on our first trip to Costa Rica, With the ease of the location, within walking distance to all Jaco. The beach right out back to offer the beginners a solid starting point wave or even offer up some great waves for those of us not looking for the biggest and ugliest wave Costa Rica has to offer. Jaco Beach Best Western still offers the same great rooms (updated of course), great pools, bar, and grounds. Not to mention one of the best breakfast buffets Jaco has to offer to start out you day of surf and adventure. Rates start at 95 a night and all include breakfast.

 

 

 

 

Club Del Mar and Club Del Sol, Jaco : For those looking for something a bit more upscale from the standard hotel room with the standard hotel service. Both are located on the south side of Jaco Beach, no great surf behind the properties but both are within a 5 minute drive to either Hermosa or Jaco surf beaches. Both resorts offer multi room units with more upscale grounds and lodging. Many a honeymooner found themselves at Club Del Mar and this property has yet to disappoint the pickiest traveler. Call us or Email us today for rates and for all the room specs.

 

 

Parisio Del Sol, Jaco: No it’s not the Ritz but for the price and location it is tough to beat. The owner has long been hands on with the resort that lends itself to those traveling on a budget but still want to be in the middle of it and offers the ability to jump between Jaco and Hermosa so you get the best of both worlds the surf of Hermosa with the night life of Jaco. Prices start at 45 a night and rooms all include AC, Hot Water, and a kitchenette. Located just a couple blocks from the beach and less then a 5 minute ride to Hermosa.

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Terraza Del Pacifico, Hermosa: Home of one of the best waves in Hermosa and a Surf Express favorite. Tough to find a better location to go to bed every night and wake up every morning, within a short walk from a barrel. Home of 2009’s International Surf Games, the wave offers the standard Hermosa beach break with a wedge coming off the rock shelf against the cliff on the north end of the beach. The property it self is a nice surf hotel. Once again it is not the Ritz but the service and the location more then make up for the age of the property. The rooms all have AC, hot water, TV, and either 2 full beds or 1 queen bed. The rates all include breakfast to boot. Not to mention a great bar to pick up a cold beer all within site of the barrel you have been pulling into all day.

 

 

 

The Backyard Hotel, Hermosa: Backyard Hotel one of the annual returns favorites and the standard hangout for everyone after a full day of surfing. The Backyard offers you excellent accommodations in an ocean-front setting. Your ocean-front room or suite overlooks the Refugio de Vida Silvestre National Park and has views of the Pacific Ocean. Only 4 kms south of Jaco and in the center of Hermosa with wave both north and south of the hotel

 

 

 

 

Outback, Hermosa: The dream is real at Outback Hermosa. The rooms feature all the modern amenities you've come to expect like cable TV, hot showers, air conditioning, and more. Each room has its own balcony with a spectacular ocean view. Whether you're checking out the surf or watching a sunset on the Pacific Ocean, you can have it all for a great price. Tough to beat the value of this property, The owner with 15 years of surfing in Hermosa can help point you in the right direction and make sure you are finding the swell when and where it hits. Prices start at 39 a night per room.

 

 

Southern Coast, Costa Rica

Villas Rio Mar, Domincal: Set on the banks of the Barú river, located 800 mtrs from the beach and surrounded by impressive tropical forests, the jungle resort Villas Rio Mar awaits you with traditional friendly hospitality. The hotel has a large swimming pool with wet bar and Jacuzzi, a tennis court, and a romantic style restaurant featuring many local and international dishes. Furthermore, they offer green areas, Internet access, International telephone, Conference Center, Spa and Transportation Services. This has long served as stopping point for surfers in route to Pavones and points further south, however they have just found the hidden gem known as Dominical with its empty peaks and river mouths. Rates start at 65 a night per room.

 

 

 

 

La Mansion, Manuel Antonio: La Mansion Inn Boutique Hotel. This luxury ocean view resort is located in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica, only 2 kilometers from the Manuel Antonio National Park one of the world's most natural zoos. Combining this exotic setting with the finest foods, services and amenities available, we offer you the best of both worlds for your enjoyment. One of the most high end resorts we at Surf Express offer, we have yet to find anyone come back with one bad thing to say about the property, La Mansion is the go to property for the couple packages that will need something more then a beach and a safe place to sleep. La Mansion offers more then just a standard luxury hotel with the personal service of a high end retreat. Call us or email us today for more info and most up-to-date rates.

 

 

Cabina La Ponderosa: La Ponderosa is located in Pavones on the Golfo Dulce across from the Osa Peninsula. In addition to having one of the longest point breaks in the world for surfing, Pavones is a tropical paradise. La Ponderosa offers 14 acres of lush jungle, botanical gardens, fruit orchards and trails leading to a beautiful waterfall. La Ponderosa is also a great place to catch a glimpse of wild life. Squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys, toucans, parrots, macaws, iguanas, and sloths are just a few of the creatures you may encounter. La Ponderosa is the only beachfront resort in the area. You can hear the ocean's waves from your bed. You are also just footsteps from a great beach for swimming or just relaxing in one of the beach huts. In contrast to getting a room in town, at La Ponderosa you will enjoy pure relaxation. This resort is the only resort in the area that offers optional all-inclusive meal plans and massage. Also, there is a big recreation room so you are not confined only to your cabina. What else can we tell you about the wave, you have all heard the stories and seen the pictures, IT IS ALL TRUE!!!! The wave is the wave you surf in your dreams and when it goes off and you get one of the set waves you will see it every day as you daydream at work. Give us a call or Email as we are always getting special rates.

 

 

You can design your own Costa Rica surf trip package by using the Your Trip Your Way Worksheet. Just print out a copy of the form and figure out how many days you want where, pencil them in and add 'em up. These are confirmed reservations and must be prepaid. No refund if they are unused so be careful. The Freedom To Roam plan may work best if you don't know where you want to go. Hotel rates are subject to change at any time, and although we strive to keep them updated, we cannot guarantee that they will be able to confirm your space at requested hotel.