Does anybody have experience surfing there? Is it any good? I'm planning a trip there at the end of May and want to know if I should consider a different beach.
surfed there about 15 yrs ago, manuel antonio area, small but surfable. we scored good surf at an island right offshore of quepos, damas island i think, quick boat ride and no one else out, but that was 15 yrs ago so things might of changed. good luck
Quepos isn't that bad. i normally shoot to go to CR in early spring. May isn't the best month to catch swell. I would head to Dominical. The waves are better than Quepos and it is the best surf town in the CR. I am obviously biased but it is a rad place for sure. lots of rad people. not as touristy as manuell or quepos. but you'll get more waves than myrtle that's for sure.
never surfed there myself but when i was in hermosa 2 weeks ago and it got really big a bunch of local guys drove down to surf quepos, said it coud handle the swell better.
It takes a big south swell to break @ quepos jetty, maybe 4-6' or so, and with the right direction. Only 45 minutes away lies playa hermosa, quite possibly the most consistent beachbreak in the world...definitely make the drive if the swell isn't happening in town. Catch evertything early. If you don't feel like driving, there are a couple of beachies just on the other side of quepos within manuel antonio national park.
Awesome thanks for all the info! Also, I would like to take my firewire quad down there but I don't think it will be feasible. I'm traveling light with a group and we're not just surfing the whole time so I'm gonna have to rent. Will I be able to rent a decent board? Any recommendations?
Avoid Quepos and head north to Tamarindo area. Quepos is a crowded place with many tourist and waves are not that great. Tamarindo has many empty breaks besides Tamarido itself. Once you step out of Tamarindo you can find empty beaches and few surfers plus there are always waves. Surf spots near Tamarindo are Playa Grande (Like surfing east coast of US, but better), Playa Langosta (Awesome river mouth break), Playa Avellanas, and most famous Witches Rock. Tamarindo has a couple surf shops were you can rent boards. If you do stay in the southern part of Costa near Quepos check out Playa Hermosa and Playa Esterillos, and JACO SUCKS. I have been to Costa twice and its well worth the trip, it is hot, beautiful, has great consistant surf, exotic wildlife, and most locals speak English. One major down fall - Be careful with your stuff, leave nothing visible in car or leave anything unattended on beach, banditos are always lurking, hoping to steal your stuff no matter were you are in Costa.
Quepos is a dump! The only thing there is Mauel Antonio national park. The waves aren't that great there but if you head south another hour or so you'll find yourself in Dominical which is consisten as Hermosa which is 45 minutes north. In between Hermosa and Quepos are many good beach breaks like Bejuco and Esterillos. Don't stay in Quepos...either go to Dominical or Jaco. JACO DOESN't SUCK...surf maybe, but it has everything you need as a base camp and it's 45 minutes sout of Bocca Barranca...an easy left with rides up to 500 yards long...just a little dirty that's all but super fun. Dominical has beach, rivermouths, and a few reefs near by. Please don't go to Quepos...it's a DUMP! My wife and I have a place in Jaco and have been traveling to Costa Rica twice a year for the past 8 years. Let me know if you need anything at all as far as advice, car rental, etc... Pura Vida!!!
a couple more things... not sure how long you're going for but bring a SMALL! backpack. the bigger pack you bring the bigger target you are for the banditos. don't bring a laptop. the only place you'll get wifi is in expensive hostels or internet cafes which are everywhere and have computer for use anyways. plus it supports local businesses. as far as camera go i would only bring a gopro and ALWAYS keep it on you. had some friends take their DSLR to a waterfall and these banditos literally sit in the jungle waiting for dumb*sses to go take a dip. before you even see them they disappear back into the jungle..some real LOST type sh*t. same with the beach breaks. on a lighter note. keep an eye out for pavones (south) typically doesn't go off that time of year but if you catch it on the right swell we are talking head high 800 yard+ lefts. no joke.
