Best conditions: December through May

Base town for exploring local breaks: Tamarindo

Brief description: This area is much drier than the central & southern pacific and is geared specifically towards surfers. Best known for its offshore winds and consistent surf. Favorite spot of international longboarders such as Robert August, Wingnut, etc…This area offers an excellent variety of world class breaks from the point break of Playa Negra to the famous beach break of Roca Bruja (Witches' Rock).

Note: 4x4 is recommended to be able to check out all nearby breaks!!

Ollies Point (Portero Grande) - A right point at the rivermouth with fast, hollow waves that rolls the beach line endlessly breaking over a rocky bottom (" hence, Endless Summer II "). Best conditions at outgoing to mid low tide and south/southwest swell with offshores bringing in waves from 3- 8 ft. NO FACILITIES…Longboard or Shortboard wave

Witches' Rock ( Playa Naranjo) - 2 mile stretch of beach w/ hollow, sand bottom beach breaks. Lefts and rights …best conditions in a WSW swell, offshores and incoming mid to high tide…BOAT RIDES or hike in only…FOR BOAT RIDES, contact ALACRAN SURF TOURS @ info@alacransurf.com or SURF PATTI @ surfpati@sol.racsa.co.cr

Tamarindo Bay
(north to south)

Playa Grande - with hollow peaks it's best with offshore flow and swell directions from the south/southwest. Main peak can get crowded, but lots of fun lefts & rights on the outside reef, beach break.. Good for Longboarding.

Casitas - a local break with a great left beach break

Rivermouth - turning into a solid right beach break with lots of hollow waves on the right swell direction. Solid west is best but also picks up southwest swells..Likes offshores..WINGNUTS' favorite wave when he's in town! Low to medium tide.

Pico Pequeno - a lava finger reef, with a right that can be mushy to barrelling. Works best at mid tide..Can get shallow with a lava rock bottom

Old Man's - known as a classic longboard wave with a sweet shoulder high, nose riding lefts & rights

Playa Langosta - located 1 mile south of Tamarindo, Langosta offers a right & left point that curls off a river…one of the strongest waves in the Tamarindo Bay, however not the best form

Avellanes - 5 km south of Tamarindo offering lefts & rights with both reef and beach breaks. From north to south this beach includes the following breaks:

Little Hawaii - an outside reef break which works best on west swells…Longboard best

Purruja Point - a good left located in the middle of the beach Accesible by car…nothing here breaks at high tide & beach breaks are best at MID TIDE

Playa Negra - 12 kms south of Tamarindo offering a rock-reef right break that is fast & hollow at low tide creating a perfect wave. It is a black diamond wave, NOT FOR BEGINNERS. On high tide, it only breaks on big swells. For the big board riders.

Callejones - just south of Playa Negra lies the right of Callejones…it comes off a reef point and is not as crowded as Negra. Better at higher tides w/ offshore winds. Further to the south and you'll see Junquillal, a beach break and a left reef that work better on a higher tide.

Playa Ostional - beach & reef break with rights and lefts that works on higher tides & south to southwest swells.

Playa Nosara - great beach break with peaks and shallow rock-reef lefts that get barrelling with a south or southwest swell

Playa Guiones - a beach break with a left point that works better at high tides

Playa Carillo - a south facing protected bay with inside beach breaks and an outside reef break. Rights on incoming tide…LONG PADDLE.

Playa Coyote - a short right point reef break

Playa Caletas - high tide break w/ beach & reef breaks

Playa Santa Teresa - good lefts & rights on this hollow beach break…best at low tides. Tends to pick up more swell then Playa Carmen and holds shape better at low tide

Playa Carmen (Mal Pais) - a beach break that peaks with some rock reef. This break offers a long right wall and a shorter left section that breaks over a sloping sand bottom.