Choosing a Surf Camp/Tour in Costa Rica

[ApneaBlue]

Hey, first post here. I'm having some difficulty choosing a surf tour operator in CR. I have January and February open and want to go down for 2 weeks. I live in Jamaica and surf here whenever there's a swell but want to try something new.

I was looking at http://www.crsurfadventures.com/....Hear quite a bit about WRSC but really not sure what to do.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
JD

[SurferSigurdson]

Hi JD,

I'd recommend you to look at <remove advertising. SP>. My brother went there last year in about the same time of the year, and he had an awesome experience. The camp is in Jaco, on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. Really good surf around there!

Hope you have a great trip,
Karl

[ApneaBlue]

Karl,
much appreciated. I have been communicating with crsurfadventures.com and seems like I may give them a shot. I'm hoping this will be the first of many surfing trips.

Thanks again,
JD.

[Ikester]

Greetings JD,

Just found the forum, so not sure if you made your decision. I have been living here for 8 years in CR, so I have seen most of the places grow to what they are today. Which means, there are a few good options wherever you decide to travel to in CR. In Jaco, there is only one I would suggest for girls. In Guanacaste, anyone who asks me, hands down WRSC. The suggestions are based on the fact that both are owned by die hard surfers and that is what you are going to get.

This is my first post so I am not allowed to offer links according to the rules. I follow the rules. Personally, I would not choose a place that show a nubile girl on their main page video, it kind of gives me a bad taste as to what they are suggesting. For the record, maybe it is the owners wife, I could be wrong and I do not want anyone mad at me?

There are more plush options like surf camps that really are not surf camps but hotels stays with an surfing itinerary. So I thought I would offer my 2 cents. Either way be careful when you come to CR, watch your bags, especially on the buses, and enjoy yourself

Ciao
Ike

[costaricasurf]

JD,

There are so many surf camps / tour providers in Costa Rica that it gets difficult to choose between them. Both cr-surf adventures and witch's run decent surf camps. i know both operations and my advice is that you'll probably get a more personal touch from cr-surf adventures. witch's has everything in one spot, but keep in mind that your comfort is not their main concern. if you want a party spot to meet people then its definitely the call.

if you want to surf good waves without the hassles of trying to figure out where to go, then i'd suggest you check out una ola surf resort in playa grande, costa rica. the hotel is designed for surfers and it is operated as an all-inclusive surf camp. it's located directly in front of the most consistent wave in the area, which is also the beach that both cr-surf adventures and witch's send the majority of their tours.

[Ikester]

Greetings JD,

I would agree with CostaRicaSurf, <edit remove advertising. SP>

I will have to rely on other surfers recommendations, which 9 out of 10 times is the best source for opinions in my book. You really can never fully trust what the companies marketing material says.

Speaking of Playa Grande: A friend showed me some pictures last week of Playa Grande and I was really shocked at how beautiful it was. My response was, I have to make it my business to get up to that area soon. Hopefully, he will send me the digital pix soon so I can post them on my site

Another friend invited me to Santa Teresa, he owns a cabina place but knows a lot about surfing. He moved here 25 years ago just to surf, so he know the areas well. Anyhoo, JD, I hope when you decide which camp you choose you will report back here about your experience so I can post it on my site.

Pura Vida
Ike

[unaola]

I personally reccommend Playa Grande, the waves are great.

[ApneaBlue]

Hey Guys,
Looks like I will have to do Playa Grande next trip...I settled on crsurfadventures.com will be back to report and let you know how it was. I'm so super stoked.

JD

[unaola]

Have a sweet trip!! As long as there are waves, hot weather, you will be set

[ApneaBlue]

Well, figured I'd give you guys an update. First off. The hosts at CRsurfadventures are awesome. No matter what your personality they seem to mold into what makes you comfortable and get you to have a good time waves or no waves. I am from Jamaica and after visiting CR I appreciate the waves I have here much more. I now understand that i didn't exactly go to CR during big wave season. Out of 11 days I got to surf 3 good days. 2 days at Langosta which was about 2ft over head and and same at Marbella about the same. I surfed Playa Grande, Playa Negra, Tamarindo, and Guiones. the best days were at Langosta and Marbella. The other spots we got about chest high and less than epic.

Overall I have to say CR is a really beautiful place and I will definitely go again. BUT I will arrange the trip around a forecasted swell instead of a month ahead of time. Really loved the food because it's very similar to Jamaican food. Also a great thing is that I felt at home because they played reggae everywhere.

I surfed Playa Grande with probably 150 people spread out across 4 peaks. The most crowded I have ever surfed. Most places were more crowded than i am used to. Max amount of folks I have in the line up here at the popular break is about 14. Drive up the coast a bit and you are by yourself. Usually I grab a few guys and head east or west depending on the waves and we are all alone enjoying epic sessions. I guess I took that for granted. either way i can see that a few of the spots there in CR can get very good.

The days it was overhead I was a little disappointed in the wave power. Everywhere I surfed (except Playa Negra) was a a beach break and seems the waves lacked that umph that a reef break kicks off. everywhere we surf here is reef or huge rock bottoms at river mouths. I think it has something to do with the gradually increasing depth that the pacific side has that makes them feel the way they do. Here they enter from deep water and hit shallow water really quickly. Differences in swell i noticed is that there are not as many waves in a set. seemed there were 3-4 waves to a set everywhere I went in CR and here in Jamaica we have 5-6 waves a set. Their waves are spread out and ours are closer together. While you will ride 1-2 waves in 15 minutes (if you are lucky and good at jocking for position without looking like a dick) here you will ride 3-4 waves in 15 minutes. while the waves are extremely clean in CR I think I prefer the waves here. I will go back but will wait till it's big. probably next year in April / March and maybe I will get my butt kicked and have a different opinion.

Here are some photos from the trip...Unfortunately i didn't have someone to make photos full time so didn't get much.

[ApneaBlue]

Not sure why the rest of these images aren't being displayed for me. hopefully you guys can see them.












Then these are from here in jamaica over the last 2 weeks

[W.I.P.]

I can only see the first picture.

[W.I.P.]

The links are being redirected to another site. Maybe try imageshack or photobucket.

[ApneaBlue]

Ok, the photos should be fine now...Had to edit the link.

[W.I.P.]

They work, great shots.

[aacastillo]

Sorry, but I lost
These pictures are from surfing Dominical?
These look great!

Thanks!