North Pacific Costa Rica

Nicoya Peninsula, from the Nicaragua border in the north to Playa Coyote in the south. It is drier than other parts of the country due to strong “Papagayo” winds that blow half of the year. The major destination is Tamarindo, with fifty hotels catering to surfers, eco-tourists and beachside partiers. South facing beachbreaks pick up smaller swells, better at mid tide coming in, and when it’s big head to the point and reef breaks at lower tides. Of course the dream trip is an hour boat ride to surf Witches Rock, a long stretch of beach with a backdrop of empty wind-whipped mountains, and Ollie’s Point, a pirate’s cove holding a right point break treasure that can run over 300 yards. Read more