Nicoya Peninsula Surf Tour Itinerary

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Tour Overview and Tips
This tour is one of our most affordable, yet mobile tours. We have a basic itinerary set below, however a vehicle is always on hand to take you to surf the best locations and conditions near our hotels. The Nicoya Peninsula Surf Tour is meant for beginners to expert surfers as waves of nearly all variety can be found near each individual location. This tour is not designed as an introductory surf course, however anyone who is interested in this can make arrangements for one on one (or more) instruction through info@solencounter.com; the price of the tour will reflect this change. Clients are recommended to bring their own surfboards for comfort and performance. Please check with your airlines to verify extra fees associated with bringing a surfboard on the plane. If anyone prefers not to bring their own board/s, weeklong rental boards are available in Tamarindo-our first stop. Expect to pay about $150-200 extra for a week of rental. Breakfast is included everyday, as well as a few dinners, but in general, lunch and dinner is not included. This provides the flexibility to individualize surf sessions and not have scheduled meals if the waves are good at lunchtime or around sunset. On average, you can expect to pay between $5 per lunch and $10 per dinner.

Day 1
Arrive to Costa Rica’s capital city of San Jose (Juan Santamaria International Airport). A member of Sol Encounter will meet you at the airport and orient you to the city as well as help you exchange money and then drop you off at the hotel. A welcome dinner with the entire group is planned for the evening.

Optional Activities- Depending on your arrival time, you can explore downtown San Jose, visiting the central walking mall and the central market. A Sol Encounter guide will show you around or provide detailed maps and explanations if preferred.

Day 2
After breakfast in San Jose, you will pack your belongings to leave early for the 4 hour drive to Tamarindo, the surf capital of the Nicoya Peninsula. When we get to Tamarindo, those that did not come with boards will be able to rent a board for the week. We will arrive with plenty of time for an afternoon session in the warm Pacific waters. Tamarindo is a beach break with many peaks so that the surfing can be spread out and uncrowded.

Day 3
Start your day early with a cup of Costa Rican coffee, bird calls of the tropics and a touch of sunscreen, then grab your board for an early morning session. We will have a vehicle on hand today for those that would like to explore the nearby Playa Grande beach break as well as the Tamarindo break. We’ll spend the entire day in the area and are open to hunting for the best waves in the nearby vicinity.

Day 4
We’ll pack up early and drive an hour south to our next destination – Playa Avellanes. Avellanes is another beach break, but you can expect see uncrowded peaks all day long. This area is not very well known, but is a very fun break where the small town is separated from the beach by mangrove. The way to get to the water is to walk a quarter mile raised platform across the mangrove. Because of the mangrove, you’ll likely see numerous tropical birds, small animals and howler or spider monkeys. For those looking for a fast, hollow wave, our vehicle will make several trips throughout the day to nearby Playa Negra. Playa Negra is a fast, heavy, hollow point break that is remarkably consistent.


Day 5
Enjoy another surf at uncrowded Avellanes or the point break of Playa Negra and then after lunch, we’ll pack our vehicle once again and head southbound. We’ll drive approximately 2 hours through rainforest, open stretches of beach and rolling farmland to get to the village of Nosara. Our goal is to arrive with enough time to check in to our hotel and then get in a sunset surf. Another uncrowded beach break that can pick up a large swell, Nosara is known for its mix of surf, yoga centers and eclectic restaurants and hotels. Maybe a quick yoga session can relax those paddle-sore muscles.

Day 6
Today will be spent at Nosara, so feel free to sleep in or wake with the sun for an early session. The choice is yours. We’ll remain at Nosara for one more day and night allowing you plenty of time to explore the different breaks, coves, and this interesting village.

Day 7
After breakfast and that morning cup of strong Costa Rican coffee, we’ll once again load our vehicle for the last surf destination of the trip-Mal Pais. Mal Pais translates into English as “Bad Country”; it is anything but that. Mal Pais and its sister town of Santa Teresa are two classic Costa Rican towns and beach breaks. The waves in this area are consistently good and the towns are centered around the surf lifestyle – open air restaurants, lounge chairs with views of the ocean and a laid back atmosphere.

Day 8
We’ll spend our last day on the ocean in the Mal Pais/Santa Teresa area and after a full day of surfing, load up the vehicle for the drive back to San Jose. This is about a 4-hour drive with an interlude on a ferry to take us across the Gulf of Nicoya. Along the route, we’ll stop off at an oceanside restaurant for dinner and then arrive into San Jose late that night.

Day 9
Sol Encounter will accompany you to the airport and assist with checking in. Don’t forget your $26 exit tax paid in cash-either dollars or colones.

Optional Activities- If you will be staying in Costa Rica longer, a Sol Encounter guide will be available for advice, trip planning and general information. Or, if you have time to spare before your flight, San Jose is a great place for shopping and sightseeing.


All dates and itineraries are subject to change based on safety conditions and local festivals/holidays to enhance your adventure and cultural experience.

All breakfasts are included. Please budget for most lunches and dinners.