Tamarindo
Your first wave starts here.
Why make this your base?
Tamarindo is Costa Rica's most convenient surf hub: easy arrivals, consistent water time, and a huge range of restaurants and services.
It's ideal for first-timers and mixed-skill groups because you can keep everyone in the same base while choosing different peaks and coaching intensity.
Use Tamarindo as the 'control center' and pivot to nearby beaches when winds or swell shift.
Getting here
Best airport: Liberia (LIR). Tamarindo is typically a straightforward transfer by shuttle or rental car.
If arriving via San Jose (SJO), plan for a longer travel day; an overnight split can improve comfort.
If you want to surf the most, prioritize an early arrival and schedule your first water session on Day 1 or Day 2.
Make the most of the surf
Best for: beginners through intermediate progression.
Typical plan: surf early, rest midday, optional sunset session when conditions allow.
Crowd management: avoid the densest lesson zones and surf earlier when possible.
A beginner-friendly town can still have dangerous surf. Choose the day’s beach with a qualified local instructor. Avoid river mouths and never assume a sandy bottom makes a wave safe.
Between sessions
Use Tamarindo's services (boards, instructors, food) and keep a flexible 'best beach today' mindset.
Schedule your tours on a day with weaker surf so you don't feel like you're missing the best water time.
A plan with room to breathe
Use these suggested itineraries as a starting point. Travel days, weather and surf conditions may change your schedule.
Short Trip itinerary +
3-5 nights · Tamarindo (central for walkability; edges for quiet)
Afternoon: Arrive via Liberia (LIR) and transfer to Tamarindo · Light surf check and beach walk
Evening: Dinner in town · Early night if you want dawn patrol
Morning: Surf Tamarindo Beach (choose a peak away from lesson clusters)
Afternoon: Recovery lunch + shade · Estuary/mangrove wildlife outing
Evening: Optional sunset session · Dinner
Morning: Surf Tamarindo OR go to the best nearby beach for the conditions
Afternoon: Rest + beach time · Optional coaching tune-up
Evening: Sunset drinks + dinner
7-Day itinerary +
6-7 nights · Tamarindo (use a car/shuttle to sample nearby beaches)
Afternoon: Arrival + transfer
Evening: Sunset walk + dinner
Morning: Lesson or coached session
Afternoon: Rest + town exploration
Evening: Sunset
Morning: Surf session
Afternoon: Rest + mobility
Evening: Dinner
Morning: Light surf or rest
Afternoon: Catamaran/snorkel outing
Evening: Early night
Morning: Target the best conditions nearby
Afternoon: Recovery + relax
Evening: Dinner
Morning: Surf
Afternoon: Optional second session
Evening: Pack prep
Morning: Short session if time allows
Afternoon: Transfer out
10-Day itinerary +
9-10 nights · Tamarindo (primary base), Optional 2-3 night split: Nosara or Santa Teresa for variety
Afternoon: Arrival + transfer
Evening: Dinner + plan the week
Morning: Lesson/coaching
Afternoon: Rest
Evening: Sunset
Morning: Surf
Afternoon: Mobility + shade
Evening: Dinner
Morning: Light surf or rest
Afternoon: Activity block (boat / wildlife / adventure)
Evening: Early night
Morning: Go where conditions are best locally
Afternoon: Recovery
Evening: Dinner
Morning: Surf
Afternoon: Technique focus / video review (optional)
Evening: Sunset
Morning: Sleep-in
Afternoon: Beach + town
Evening: Dinner
Morning: Surf
Afternoon: Optional second session
Evening: Recovery
Morning: Pick best window / best break
Afternoon: Pack
Evening: Final dinner
Morning: Short surf if time
Afternoon: Transfer out