Surfing Costa Rica Caribbean Coast

As you might already know Costa Rica has a reputation of being the perfect surfer destination. The number of beaches with great surfing conditions is countless as Costa Rica has been blessed with two coasts, the Pacific Coast and the Atlantic Coast. This article tries to compile as many popular and great surfing beaches as possible giving a brief and simple description of the surfing conditions that can be found on some of the awesome Costa Rica Caribbean Coast surfer destinations. Some of the surfing beach descriptions will include a tip on when is the best time to catch the best waves on them.

Thankfully surfing Costa Rica beaches is best on the more remote and isolated places where there is less surfers waiting in line to catch the same wave you have been dreaming of. So let us start with the more fabulous surfing Costa Rica destinations and describe the decent surfable beaches at the end.

The most recommended Costa Rica surfing spots in the Caribbean Coast are: Salsa Brava in Puerto Viejo Beach, Manzanillo Beach, Cahuita Beach, Westfalia Beach, Isla Uvita Beach, and Playa Bonita. One of the top ten places in Costa Rica for surfing, is in Puerto Limon located in the Costa Rica Caribbean, Salsa Brava Beach. An important detail about Salsa Brava Beach is that this beach is definitely not recommended for the beginner or even fairly good surfer. Surfing Salsa Brava Beach should be left only to the real pro surfers as the breaks are dangerous especially in the shallow reef waters. The pro surfers will be able to enjoy at Salsa Brava Beach right reef breaks with one of the biggest waves that can be found in Costa Rica and great east swells. The best time for surfing at Salsa Brava Beach is from the months of January to April. Overall Salsa Brava has thick voluminous waves that come deep into shallow water reef. Salsa Brava Beach waves can get big and tubular. Again watch out for the strong rip current at Salsa Brava Beach when surfing. Definitely swimming at Salsa Brava Beach is not recommended.

Manzanillo Beach is located in front of the lush Caribbean rainforests about 20 kilometers from Puerto Viejo, Limon. Manzanillo Beach surfing asset is its fast constant beach breaks. Some sections of Manzanillo Beach offer tubular waves.

Westfalia Beach is located south of Cahuita in Limon and it presents a stretch of beach breaks with good left and rights for surfing. The downside of Westfalia Beach is that if the swell is too high waves close out.

Isla Uvita is an island located in the Limon Coast. Isla Uvita surfing characteristic is its left break. In order to go surfing at Isla Uvita you will need to charter a boat.

Surfing Playa Bonita in Limon gives you a chance to get thick, strong, and dangerous lefts. Playa Bonita also offers point reef break.