First CR trip Late Jan/Early Feb

Stay away from Jaco, to busy. Do Grande and the lady will have fun. The wave out there is fun but the locals are aggressive.

 

Great thread!!! I will add my 2 cents.

Been two CR twice in last 4 years, 2 years ago and 2 years before that. Both times visited WRSF and had a great time. I realize it is kinda overpriced though. First trip headed to Jaco area, second trip crossed border to SJDS..which could be another option for the thread starter.

Tamarindo is kinda a cool town. It does have a seedy element on the beach and at night. not a big deal, just be prepared all the time to be asked for drugs and cocaine. lol. Everything is expensive for being in central america. Eating out is about thes same price as back in the states.

Best surf I ever had was when they took us to Avellanas. I am planning another December trip and am considering just staying at that beach even though there is not much else to do.

Jaco I will never go back. it does have nightlife, but you have to wait till midnight for it to happen, then all of the girls (i am a single guy) are working girls. The only plus to jaco is flights are much cheaper to San Jose than Liberia.

Was taken to Playa Marbella and thought i was going to die. Biggest and most powerful surf I had been in at that time, possibly still to today. Sleeper sets were big and everyone in our group was getting into bad spots. The paddle out for me was super hard and then a wave ended up taking my board, dragging me underwater, leash snapped, then I was exhausted and trying to swim in fighting the outward current. lol.

Not sure if I have been to playa negra or Grande. Maybe someone can help me figure it out. As we were pulling up one of the guys was talking about how two people had died from Shark attacks in the last month or two there. Felt kinda sketchy surfing that morning.

Has anyone by any chance stayed at Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande? It is on my list of options if I do choose CR again instead of Phillipines, Morocco, or Nicaragua

If the OP goes in Jan I think he will be fine. It is hot and the sand does get hot, but it is not unbearable or anything like that. But I am from AZ and it is 110+ in summer so I really dont mind it. If OP does end up in Tamarindo on the road through town (away from WRSC) at the end there is a little circular drive. There is a restaurant there on the beach that has amazing food and homemade desserts. Best fish I have ever had, whole Red snapper and the apple pie and ice cream you cant skip. Def check out if you make it to town.

 

gracias!! headrow i sent you a PM.

 

im positive you went to playa grande, negra is a reef break and if you get smashed you get smashed hard. i agree on the expense, honestly i really want to go to morocco. have you been?

 

Hey Ninja, sent you a "pm"!

 

Tamarindo is a great area for surfing, it depends on your level, but if your girlfriend does not surf Tamarindo has a lot of activities, if you are a really good surf I suggest you to go to Playa Marbella.

http://www.dreamseasurfcampcostarica.com

 

I am looking for going right before or after Christmas and would like to got to the Santa Teresa or Tamarindo area. I was wondering how crowded it is that time of year or if there are spots in particular that are less crowded than that for Christmas.

 

I am booked from early december to before xmas for playa grande (not too far from Tamarindo)

Have been to Tamarindo twice during this time of the year and never really felt that busy. Not like city life busy at least. Never been in the water where it felt crowded

 

Hola amigo! I have a place in Jaco and my friend has a place in Playa Grande acroos the street from the beach access. He owns a surf shop here at the beach in South Carolina. Since everyone is talking up Playa Grande, I'll give you the pass on my place in Jaco. Jaco isn't for everyone... I've stayed at Mark's place in Playa Grande and it's heaven. He has all the contacts you need in town for all your needs. Check his place out here:

http://www.myplayagrande.com/portfolio-view/casa-de-amigos/



http://casadeamigoscr.com/


If you need any other information, let me know!

Purav Vida

 

So will Tamarindo be less crowded than Santa Teresa at Christmas time? And for Tamarindo what are the best shops and places to stay?

 

In Grande I like the RipJack inn. Great food, nice pool, across the street from the beach.

 

Also, someone told me about a real nice break at a rivermouth called the estuary. Is that right there or down a ways from the town.

 

Headed to Mal Pais / Santa Teresa Tomorrow. Ill let you know how it is

 

ive been to both of them check out momtezuma, there is a good spot by mal pais called mar azul or something great lefts and its a point break i went last april with huges swells rolling in. check out playa hermosa a little north of santa Teresa idk what the swelling going to be like but if its like 13ft it will all close out besides the point breaks and inside the nicoya pen.

 

if your talking about tamarindo rivermouth? idk but theres a crap tone of diles in it.

 

It is supposed to get a few around 5-6 feet at 16 sec. So mar azul, bowling balls, humbolitos, and all the other points will be firing.....I hope.

 

If you go to montezuma, there's a body surfing spot to the right of the bus stop, and a sweet break to left at the end of the road. BUT, the premier spot is Cedros on the way to Cabuya. Left hander that peals off a rock slab and goes across a little cove. It's closer and faster if you go thru the Cabo Blanco reserve. plus there's critters and extreme 4x4 if it's damp.

 

Just north of the river mouth itself. South of Grande. Hard to get to if you don't know where, ask Ian at Frijoles Locos in Grande. Didn't see any crocs, but there were some two legged local sharks.

 

Just came back from Tamarindo... any that are at the river mouth at dawn, fishermen pull them back up river.
Nothing to worry about; fun little right.

 

Crocs aren't a big worry in that area.

Down south in Tavives now that's a different story. A few people have actually been eaten there! I know for sure a body boarder and a fisherman. Its a real good break almost like Pavones when it fires. Problem is the journey getting there. You have to cross that river, and its wide and full of crocs! Then you walk through the cave and paddle out to the point. That river is knarley! I can remember paddling with just my finger tips and surprisingly I think it I made it 100 yards in 3 seconds!

Also the far end of Hermosa (Tulin) there's a rivermouth and actually a really good wave but crocs are heavy there too!

I think the turtles rule Grande and their about the only thing you have to worry about. Well that and the crowd!