Surf camps in Costa Rica
Compare 28 surf camps in Costa Rica and its 5 main surf destinations on what the camps' own sites never put side by side: the waves in each month, the water temperature and a verified price for a surf week.
Where to surf in Costa Rica
Each destination at a glance. First lessons: the months with waves for first lessons on most days at its beaches (swell data 1995–2025). Water: the coldest to the warmest monthly median (2015–2025).
| Destination | Camps | Surf week from | First lessons | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Teresa | 11 | $940 | all year | 28°C–30°C (82°F–85°F) |
| Tamarindo | 5 | $445 | all year | 28°C–29°C (82°F–85°F) |
| Jacó | 4 | $600 | all year | 28°C–30°C (82°F–85°F) |
| Nosara | 4 | $2,750 | all year | 28°C–30°C (82°F–85°F) |
| Avellanas | 2 | $730 | all year | 28°C–30°C (82°F–85°F) |
Month by month: where the waves and the water are
The share of days with waves for the chosen level at each destination's main surf town (1995–2025), or the median sea temperature for the month (2015–2025). How we calculate this
First lessons
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Teresa | 61% | 64% | 71% | 79% | 88% | 86% | 83% | 87% | 85% | 86% | 80% | 62% |
| Tamarindo | 79% | 77% | 74% | 73% | 85% | 87% | 79% | 86% | 88% | 83% | 77% | 75% |
| Jacó | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Nosara | 74% | 73% | 73% | 73% | 84% | 84% | 80% | 86% | 84% | 81% | 75% | 71% |
| Avellanas | 79% | 77% | 74% | 73% | 85% | 87% | 79% | 86% | 88% | 83% | 77% | 75% |
Beginner (green waves)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Teresa | 88% | 93% | 88% | 79% | 68% | 68% | 76% | 79% | 67% | 68% | 86% | 87% |
| Tamarindo | 48% | 61% | 60% | 56% | 52% | 56% | 57% | 65% | 56% | 51% | 56% | 51% |
| Jacó | 98% | 96% | 87% | 72% | 57% | 59% | 66% | 69% | 63% | 66% | 82% | 95% |
| Nosara | 46% | 59% | 58% | 51% | 50% | 51% | 55% | 61% | 52% | 47% | 51% | 45% |
| Avellanas | 48% | 61% | 60% | 56% | 52% | 56% | 57% | 65% | 56% | 51% | 56% | 51% |
Intermediate
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Teresa | 33% | 37% | 61% | 78% | 85% | 87% | 79% | 84% | 85% | 81% | 62% | 41% |
| Tamarindo | 34% | 21% | 23% | 24% | 35% | 31% | 23% | 20% | 32% | 35% | 23% | 26% |
| Jacó | 15% | 23% | 45% | 67% | 77% | 79% | 70% | 76% | 74% | 69% | 49% | 24% |
| Nosara | 42% | 34% | 41% | 52% | 60% | 59% | 47% | 50% | 54% | 55% | 43% | 40% |
| Avellanas | 34% | 21% | 23% | 24% | 35% | 31% | 23% | 20% | 32% | 35% | 23% | 26% |
Water (°C)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Teresa | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Tamarindo | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
| Jacó | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Nosara | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
| Avellanas | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
The 12 highest-rated of 28 surf camps in Costa Rica
Ordered by Google rating, weighted by the number of reviews behind it.
- Iguana Surf Camp · Tamarindo · ★ 4.9/5 (1749) · from $999 surf week
- Surf Synergy · Jacó · ★ 5/5 (199) · from $2,790 surf week
- Lucero Surf Vacations · Santa Teresa · ★ 4.9/5 (137)
- Surf Bikini Retreat · Nosara · ★ 5/5 (86) · from $3,350 surf week
- Uvita Surf Camp · Uvita · ★ 5/5 (83)
- Lapoint Santa Teresa · Santa Teresa · ★ 4.8/5 (283) · from €977 surf week
- Surf Simply · Nosara · ★ 4.9/5 (100) · from $7,823 surf week
- La Botella de Leche · Tamarindo · ★ 4.7/5 (1549)
- Shaka Beach Retreat · Santa Teresa · ★ 4.9/5 (96)
- Corky Carroll's Surf Resort · Nosara · ★ 4.9/5 (87) · from $2,750 surf week
- School of the World · Jacó · ★ 4.9/5 (87)
- Perfect Sunset School · Santa Teresa · ★ 4.9/5 (79)
All 28 surf camps in Costa Rica, by destination
Santa Teresa (11)
- Lucero Surf Vacations
- Lapoint Santa Teresa
- Shaka Beach Retreat
- Perfect Sunset School
- La Posada Surf Camp
- El Chante Surf House
- Akih Pods Hostel
- Believe Surf & Yoga
- DreamSea Santa Teresa
- PURE Santa Teresa
- Zeneidas Surf Garden
Tamarindo (5)
- Iguana Surf Camp
- La Botella de Leche
- Playa Grande Surf Camp
- Witch's Rock Surf Camp
- Dreamsea Surf Camp Costa Rica
Jacó (4)
Nosara (4)
Avellanas (2)
Elsewhere in Costa Rica
Common questions
How many surf camps are there in Costa Rica?
findsurfcamp.com compares 28 surf camps in Costa Rica. The 5 destinations with a page of their own: Santa Teresa (11), Tamarindo (5), Jacó (4), Nosara (4), Avellanas (2).
What does a surf week cost in Costa Rica?
The cheapest verified surf week we have found is $445 per person at Dreamsea Surf Camp Costa Rica in Tamarindo: 6-8 nights with surf lessons included, as the camp's own site states it. We have a verified surf-week price for 12 of the 28 camps; the others are not verified yet.
Where in Costa Rica are waves for first lessons most reliable?
Santa Teresa, Tamarindo, Jacó, Nosara, and Avellanas: waves for first lessons on most days in every month of the year, estimated at the beaches from 1995-2025 swell data.
Where is the water warmest in Costa Rica?
The water is warm everywhere, all year: monthly medians between 28°C (82°F) and 30°C (85°F) at every destination (2015-2025).