Going to Santa Teresa at the end of the month and was wondering the best deal or best local surf shop to rent boards from.
Also, what are the fun breaks Santa Teresa. Not looking for anything insane but doen't matter if its beach break or point or reef, just something fun for a week and consistant. I am staying at Otro Lado if that helps with location.
Playa Carmen is a sweet break. Good on high tide going out. At low tide theres a shelf that sticks up 4 to 6 ft that has a tidal pool full of fish and a yellow bellied seas snake (was there the last time in 05). Playa hermosa and Bongo to the north are great. There's Cedros in Cabuya across the mountain. It's a left that has 1 take off point and is very crowded at times. the bottom is really sketchy jagged protruding rocks.
Sounds cool but do I need to fear the sea snakes and that means its un-surfable at low tide, right? And if so then is there a beach break to surf low tide at. I'm not planning on surfing Feb much so I would like to get as much in as possible. Thanks
the sea snake was in a tidal pool. there's meaner critters to worry about. My favorite spot in Mal Pais area is Zanaida's Lefts. she had a bunch of cabins in front of a killer break. here's a big one there.
Did you bring or rent boards there and do I need reef booties or is it not too bad. Also, where did you rent boards and what are those pictures of, I think I'm probably just looking wrong.
I always brought my board. I'd bring reef booties to access the tidal pools due to small barnacles. I'd bring an umbrella for shade, my wrist rocket, and 200' of rope for when I mess up in rental cars. most everything else you can get there.
When I was camping on Playa Carmen, I had a 6'10" secret spot surfboard I'd rent. but no one liked it. said it was too small. I left it with a german guy that lives 50 meters from franks place. it's over 20 years old now but you could ask him if it's still there. He's a good guy to know. His name is Andreas Schneider.
I'm not renting a car, but Playa Carmen is walking distance from where I'm staying. Can you surf there at low tide? What are those pictures of? And also, if the 6 10 was too small how big are the waves there, or how small or mushy.
it can get big. I was camping there for a month and thought I had it wired. My camp was in the circle of palms when you turn right at the end of the road. I waited for out going tide and almost made it over the top of 12' face. it beat me with my board and twisted me in odd shapes. it must have look bad from the beach, cause when I stumbled out of the water, people looked shocked I walked out. It looks easy but, sneaker sets come in a lot. the only time I almost drowned was there. I was out, this thing broke out on the horizon and nothing but a giant wall of white water rushed in. I turned and paddled like hell but was overtaken. I was pushed in front of the white water and it started walling up again. as I pushed down the nose and took a deep breath, I saw a drop of water come off the front and it went right down my wind pipe. I was wheezing and gasping as I dropped down the face with a death grip on my board. if I'da fallen off I'd be dead. After that, I always thought that was how Eddie Aikow died.
I've been to Mal Pais a couple times and im going back in May, got friends that live about a mile south of the town. Playa Carmen is just fun punchy long period swells, and I believe Teresa is the same way. I rented a board at a local shop in downtown Mal Pais and they had a great selection from 5'6"-10'0" and it was $100 for the week. Theres a good left point break that turns on when its over 5ft at the beach breaks called mar azul about a mile south of PLaya Carmen, right out in front of La Hacienda Tropical and Hotel Pachamama
Well thanks but how often does that happen, I was looking at CR for more of a chest to head consistant.
There are plenty of places to rent boards. I would avoid the board bag fees. Try 360 surf shop, Julia is great!! No need for booties and the waves are pretty consistent in the chest high range unless you get lucky and a good swell comes.
"In 1978, Aikau was among a handful selected to join the cultural expedition of the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule'a, which set sail from Magic Island, Oahu, bound for Tahiti, on March 16, 1978. Hokule'a soon encountered treacherous seas outside the Hawaiian Islands and the canoe capsized. After a wild night adrift, Aikau set off on his paddleboard on March 17 in search of help for his stranded crew members. He was never seen again. The ensuing search for Aikau was the largest air-sea search in Hawaii history.''- Credit to Quik Eddie comp
Also, a petty question, but wax, sunscreen, rash stuff and other small necessities. Will they be easy to find in those surf shops, because I could bring tem but at risk of having them confiscated, so I would have to buy those mini versions, cause a week without sunscreen would be tough.
Small stuff Definitely bring wax, it's expensive down there, and bring sunscreen in small bottles, thats what we did. The waves when I was there in february were waist to head every day, pointbreak turned on a couple times. They're super fun. I rented a 6'3" when I was down there but I've surfed a lot since and would probably rent a 5'10" now, just sayin there was a wide selection when I was there.
Thanks for the help everyone. Sounds like theres enough surf shops to go around there, will bring wax and rent boards from 360 if I get there first but will go where ever but will use $100 as a baseline price. RIP Eddie and I hope I can find some waves. Thanks again.
Be wary of Mar Azul as there is only two take off spots, outside and inside, and the bottom is shelfed rock with Urchins all over it, definately wear reef booties if possible. I left mine at La Hacienda in December, they are prolly still there, just go and ask for them if you need them. Mar Azul typically does not break unless its 4ft + and around 19sec+. Good Luck.
