Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Costa Rica is a haven for surfers of all levels, offering a diverse range of beaches and breaks. Longboard surfing, with its common emphasis on style, grace, and elegance, finds a natural home in the beautiful, rolling waves which grace the shores of this tropical paradise.

Playa Guiones

Exposed to the North Pacific Ocean, the Playa Guiones wave magnet of Costa Rica offers one of the most consistent beach breaks in the country. When the swell is under 5 feet, it is the perfect longboarding spot at high tide. The waves are generally user-friendly and super cruisy, with many lefts and rights to pick from.

The sandy bottom set up and plentiful whitewater also makes it the ideal spot for beginners. However, this also makes it a bit tricky for intermediate and experienced surfers to get out to the green waves when the swell is a bit bigger.

If you’re looking to ride smaller, chiller waves, the dry season from November to March is your best bet. If you’re looking for bigger slabs and more power, the other half of the year is your go to. But keep in mind, because of the spot’s exposure, it can often max out and get a little bit messy during the wet season.

Playa Avellanas

A two hour drive up from Playa Guiones, there is Playa Avellanas, nicknamed “Little Hawaii”. This spot is known for it’s ability to hold all kinds of swell. It is the place to go when it is maxing out everywhere else.

With an abundance of lefts and rights to choose from, the North end of the beach holds the best wave of the stretch - All year round, this is an epic spot for intermediate longboarders looking to catch their first shoulder high waves. But don’t worry, it’s is still a super fun and mellow ride when the swell is smaller.

Playa Negra

If you happen to be a more seasoned rider, Playa Negra is a top spot to check out for hanging tens with lesser crowds. Exclusively for surfing, this remote right-hand break is home to faster and hollower waves. It’s coral reef bottom composition calls on more advanced longboarders during the high tide, and on experienced shortboarders during the low, as the wave gets more punchy and starts barrelling. So unless you’re a barrelling longboarder, it might be wise to stick with the higher tides.

Receiving swell all year round, Playa Negra is known to get its bigger surges during the wet season of April to November.

Pavones

On the Southern tip of the Costa Rican jungle sits Pavones. Known as the second longest left-hander in the world, lasting up to a minute, and running for almost 1 kilometer, this wave is a must-try for enthusiastic longboarders.

Breaking all year round, this wave is best for longboard surfers during the dry season, where it pumps out smaller, euphoric and glassy waves. However, the consistency of this wave is fickle as it isn’t well exposed to the swells of the Pacific. But when it does get the right SW swell with longer periods (12+), the perfect goofy-footer wave has the potential to emerge. Beginning to peel from the south, the wave produces an open face, ready for several rippable turns and wide carves, which then lines up straight North West and runs all along the stunning black sand beach

Longboard surfing is more than just a sport; it is an art form that personifies the essence of surfing's early roots, it's about immersing yourself in the local culture, connecting with fellow surfers, and embracing the "Pura Vida" lifestyle that embodies the nation's relaxed and joyful spirit. In Costa Rica, this art is celebrated against a backdrop of lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and a laid-back atmosphere that encourages a deeper connection with the waves, with the ocean, and with the environment.

Written by Kayli Wouters

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