Surf Camps in Tamarindo, Costa Rica: 5 Compared (2026)
Compare 5 surf camps in Tamarindo, Costa Rica: rated 4.6/5, 4-5ft swell. Learner waves: All year. Ratings, surf conditions and season side by side.
Meals included at 4 of the 4 camps that state it. Yoga offered at 4 camps. Video analysis of your surfing at 2 camps. As stated on each camp’s own website.
When to go: waves by month
How often each surf town here has waves for each level, month by month, 1995–2025. First lessons happen in the whitewater near the shore, so they are said in words; the other levels are named by what you can do and the size of the wave on the body. What’s my level? · How we calculate this
Tamarindo · 5 camps
First lessons (whitewater near the shore): Almost every day: May–Jun, Aug–Sep. Most days: Jul, Oct–Apr.
| % of days | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First lessons | 79% | 77% | 74% | 73% | 85% | 87% | 79% | 86% | 88% | 83% | 77% | 75% |
| Too small | 21% | 23% | 26% | 27% | 15% | 13% | 21% | 14% | 11% | 14% | 22% | 25% |
| Too big | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 0% |
| Beginner (green waves) | 48% | 61% | 60% | 56% | 52% | 56% | 57% | 65% | 56% | 51% | 56% | 51% |
| Intermediate | 34% | 21% | 23% | 24% | 35% | 31% | 23% | 20% | 32% | 35% | 23% | 26% |
| Advanced | 10% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 8% | 9% | 6% | 4% | 12% | 13% | 5% | 6% |
Beginner (green waves) (knee to chest high): most days in Feb–Dec · Intermediate (chest high to just overhead): no month on most days · Advanced (head high and up): no month on most days
Model estimate: no suitable buoy within 50 km to check it against.
Days that miss first lessons are too small when every learner spot is under 0.5 m, and too big when none is in the 0.5–2 m band and one is above it. The other levels are read on the face of the wave at its peak: beginner on green waves 0.6–1.2 m, intermediate 1.2–2 m, advanced 1.5 m and up.
1. Dreamsea Surf Camp Costa Rica
★ 4.3/5 (268 reviews)
An open-air jungle camp in Tamarindo selling seven-night weeks with five surf lessons and daily yoga, in dorms and private rooms. Breakfast and dinner included.
2. Iguana Surf Camp
★ 4.9/5 (1749 reviews)
A boutique beach hotel in Tamarindo with a rooftop pool, running Saturday-to-Saturday surf weeks with daily lessons, shared and private rooms and video analysis. Breakfast included.
3. La Botella de Leche
★ 4.7/5 (1549 reviews)
Tamarindo's first hostel, open since 2001, with its own surf school selling four- to eight-day surf camps in its rooms and dorms, with board use, yoga and a pack of surf photos. Breakfast included.
4. Playa Grande Surf Camp
★ 4.7/5 (85 reviews)
A surf hostel 200 metres from Playa Grande, across the estuary from Tamarindo, with dorms, cabins, treehouses and an apartment, selling surf weeks with group lessons. Yoga is on offer.
5. Witch's Rock Surf Camp
★ 4.5/5 (551 reviews)
A beachfront surf camp in Tamarindo since 2001, with 20 rooms and a hotel across the street; daily coaching, boards and the Saturday airport ride come with the week. Breakfast included, with yoga and video analysis.
Common questions
How many surf camps are there in Tamarindo?
findsurfcamp.com compares 5 surf camps in Tamarindo.
What does a surf week cost in Tamarindo?
The cheapest verified surf week we have found is $445 per person at Dreamsea Surf Camp Costa Rica: 6-8 nights with surf lessons included, as the camp's own site states it. 2 of the 5 camps here publish a surf-week price we have verified. Prices read on each camp's own site in October 2026.
When are there waves for first lessons in Tamarindo?
Tamarindo: Almost every day: May–Jun, Aug–Sep. Most days: Jul, Oct–Apr. Estimated at the beaches from 1995-2025 swell data.
How warm is the water in Tamarindo?
In Tamarindo the sea ranges from 28°C (82°F) in Jan to 29°C (85°F) in May: monthly medians of the sea surface temperature, 2015-2025.
Which airport is closest to Tamarindo?
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) is the nearest airport for every camp here, about 80-85 minutes by car.