Costa Rica Surf Trip Advice

bring condoms a straw and a picture to keep you warm at night of me in a trip overhead belmar barrel. you'll be able to find what ever shape you want down there. they might charge you between 5-20 a day depending on the place. down there is no doubt a good place to try new boards and new shapes. gods speed harrison, shred like you have never shreded before. you will come back and make all your friends jelly with those 360s in the airs you'll be pulling off on a 10,0 lb. god bless

#impactingthecoastfordouchebags.

 

unless you live in Cali or the Guff coast, 2 planes is the norm. My first time, I took Delta to Miami Lacsa to SJO(buddy got the tickets). I had to transfer the luggage myself.

 

bring wax, go south and renting a board is usually pretty easy and cheap wherever you end up, conditions of the boards vary greatly between shops... i struck out in CR, but good luck

 

Can someone tell Swell Info admin brah that the search tab is out of service? Because if it weren't, there's no way mad posters would be starting new threads on the most common topics.

 

Are you taking connecting flights or staying somewhere for a period of time in the middle.
Once you check your bags you should be set and not have to pay again.

 

Travel a lot to Costa, and here are a few tips.

Taking several flights, especially with the same airline, does not double your board bag fees. So don't let that deter you from bringing your own board.

If you are traveling every day, it will be hard to rent a board, as you can't take it with you. And once you head south from Tamarindo, the quality of board rentals drops massively.

You need two boards. Your normal HPSB, and a step up. Even the small days down there don't require a groveler type of board. the swells are powerful, no matter the size. I typically bring 2 of each in case one breaks, but you can get away with one of each.

Have respect down there. Make sure you get it in the morning, the offshores usually end around 10 or 11 am. Get it real early to avoid crowds.

 

What is the cheapest, safest way to get from SJO to playa Hermosa. I know the bus is the cheapest but has anyone carried a board bag on a bus down there?

 

I have a place and Jaco and have done the trip a hundred times...even though I have a variety of boards in CR, my friends who travel down there don't. You could rent a NSP board but don't waste your time. If your going to Hermosa, stop at one of the 50 surf shops in Jaco and buy a good used board. You can find a decent board for under $250. Use it the length of your trip and before you leave, sell back to a different surf shop. My amigos have done this several times and it's actually cheper than taking a board on the plane.

As far as a transfer from the airport to Hermosa, bus is the cheapest by far. Cab is gonna cost you between $60 and $90 depending on your haggling skills. Fancy ac mini bus transfer...$100 to $125.

Buses love board bags....the fit nicely underneath with luggage piled on top!

Pura Vida amigo!

 

I'm in Costa Rica right now I'm in the Punta Blanco area and it's sick. Loving everything I've seen so far

 

Imperial's advice on picking up a board and what types of boards are right on the mark. If you decide to bring your own boards I wouldn't take them on the bus. Check out these guys, www.kevinstransfers.com. I use them all the time super reliable and great guys. PM me if you want their phone numbers.

 

You should be able to rent a decent board in Hermosa..right on the beach. If you cannot find anything you like, check out Centro America surfboards, its up the road a few miles. They have tons on the rack for sale and rent. If you decide to take you own board, make sure to never let it leave your sight..common sense. And as mentioned, get on it early before the wind switches and respect the locals.

 

When they say "bring hiking boots", are we talking serious boots, or trail runners, or even those keen hiking sandal things? Going to surfcosta! Have a trip to the national park, and waterfall. Just want to pack the right footwear.

 

if you are just hiking manuel antonio national park in the dry season - you won't need serious boots. rainy season is a different story, however. pura vida!

 

renting stick prob way2go for intermediate

taca lost my boards 3x, got 'em back each time, only damaged 'em once (EL SAL) and for
that they paid minimal damages. but one time a lady was carrying a chicken in her carry on;
the locals told me i should be glad it wasn't a rooster...

 

Bus' may take your board from SJO to the beach, but not always from the beach to SJO. I found that out the hard way. "NO MESA! NO MESA!" is what the bus driver yelled at me thru a cracked door. Had to hitchhike back.

 

shortboards 50/50 chance but longboards pretty much no go. a cab to the airport from Playa Hermosa is around $125 - best bet is to split the cab with some people from your hotel going to back to SJO.

PS - if you do take the bus to SJO make sure to ask someone local about the correct times.

 

This x2. He's a friend of a friend and I used him last april to get from the airport to Jaco (he'll go to Hermosa too.) Good service and he'll hook you up with surf and non-surf related side trips. It was well worth the $90ish dollars I spent.

 

Plenty of places to rent boards down there! Its not like it used to be. Hell, Jaco is like Daytona now! Personally I would recommend avoiding. Better waves, better vibes up north (Guanacaste area) or further south. Manuel Antonio is great for sight seeing but not surfing.

 

We hired a cab when we went to stay at Playa Hermosa. Beats a bus any day. And yes you can carry boards in the cabs. Mine was actually a van. Several places to rent boards in Jaco. Though they all looks like potato chips and Hermosa is known for broken boards. They may have boards at Esterios and they have boards in Manuel Antonio. Remember Antonio really only breaks at high tide. I only had my 7'7 fish sometimes felt over gunned and undergunned. Had the chance to surf Boca Barranca when it was 14 ft at Hermosa. Awesome left.