Nicoya Penninsula, Costa Rica
Surfing is unpredictable, in addition to forces you lot out of your comfort zone. You solely receive got a few seconds to create upwards one's heed if you’re going to commit to that moving ridge apace barreling downward behind you.
If you lot gauge wrong, or hesitate, the results powerfulness non hold upwards pleasant. But if you lot gauge right… the natural high of riding the powerfulness of the sea is pure bliss. An addiction that makes surfers receive got a beating & come upwards dorsum for more.
Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula reaches out from the northwest share of the country, separated from the mainland past times the Gulf of Nicoya.
With a long coastline in addition to many remote uncrowded beaches, it’s an first-class surfing destination. Especially because it’s a meteorological sweetness spot for generating Pacific sea swells.
Renting a sweetness 4X4 expedition truck from Nomad America that included a rooftop tent for camping, I explored the peninsula driving through jungle rivers in addition to over oil backcountry roads.
Click hither for groovy accommodation deals…
Nosara Costa Rica
My commencement halt inwards Nicoya was the modest town of Nosara, where I spent a few days but getting dorsum into the groove of surfing, equally I hadn’t ridden waves inwards a while. Surfing is ane of my favorite sports, but it’s a lot harder than it looks!
The town of Nosara has pop off a pop identify for expats from the United States of America in addition to Canada to settle down, claiming a modest slice of paradise for themselves.
The surf is decent twelvemonth round, in addition to a large beach called Playa Guiones boasts enough of waves for people of all science levels. I spent iii days surfing closed to Nosara, in addition to seriously didn’t desire to leave.
I tin run across why thence many expats create upwards one's heed to motility here. It’s precisely what you’d facial expression a lazy jungle surf town to hold upwards like. Monkeys inwards the trees, yoga classes, dirt roads, in addition to a healthy-living vibe.
There are a few dissimilar surf schools in addition to shops nearby, similar Juan Surfo’s. They furnish both board rentals & surf lessons.
Surfing Playa Guiones
Playa Guiones is especially special because it’s such a large beach. At iv miles long, you lot tin walk along endlessly in addition to receive got your pick from dissimilar surf spots, thence it never feels super overcrowded.
The surface area is also a national refuge, which agency developers can’t construct on the beach itself. So from the water, looking dorsum to shore, it but looks similar a wall of jungle inwards front end of you.
You tin hang out inwards piffling homemade “surf-shacks” amongst roofs made of palm fronds, hiding from the Sun to re-hydrate earlier heading dorsum into the waves for to a greater extent than surfing.
Waves are pretty gentle at Guiones, thence it’s a wonderful place for beginners who are learning to surf. It’s a overnice broad sandy beach break… no rocks or coral reef to worry nearly crashing into.
Costa Rica’s 4X4 Coastal Road
After a few days of surfing closed to Nosara, I loaded upwards the truck in addition to started driving South along the coast on Route 160. Pulling off downward oil in addition to muddied backroads to banking concern fit out dissimilar beaches.
My mission was to drive a especially rugged off-road rails that hugs the coastline from Nosara to Santa Teressa. It tin solely hold upwards accomplished inwards a proper 4X4 truck, in addition to it’s solely possible during the dry out season.
This is because at that topographic point are iii large rivers you lot must drive through on this route (Ora, Bongo, in addition to Ario). Fjording rivers inwards a 4×4 truck is a lot of fun! But it tin also hold upwards a piffling hazardous if you lot don’t know what you’re doing.
How To Drive Across Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 River
- Know where your vehicle’s “water line” is (maximum depth)
- Walk across the river first, to ensure it isn’t likewise deep
- Pay attending to the entry & run out points
- Shift the truck into 4×4 Low
- Drive tiresome in addition to steady through the water, nether 10 mph
If the H2O is likewise deep, it tin overflowing into the cab, or fifty-fifty drown the engine (a snorkel helps forbid this). Strong currents tin completely elevator the vehicle off the ground, floating downriver until it reaches shallows again.
The route powerfulness non hold upwards equally straightforward equally you lot recall either. The safest path could require driving upriver a fighting earlier crossing, thence it’s wise to lookout adult man mortal else pop off commencement if possible.
Camping Along The Way
I dearest campervan route trips. The powerfulness to halt on the side of a road, a parking area, or at a campground piece you lot locomote actually gives you lot a lot of liberty equally a photographer. Great for surfing remote breaks too!
The Toyota FJ Cruiser I rented from Nomad America comes equipped amongst a rooftop tent, off-road suspension & tires, cooking gear, hammocks, folding tabular array & chairs, solar shower, retractable awning, in addition to more.
Renting an expedition truck inwards Republic of Costa Rica isn’t super expensive, especially the smaller 4x4s which start at $55 a day. Plus, no necessitate to pass coin on hotels/hostels when you lot receive got a tent on your roof!
Split betwixt a grouping of 2-4 people it’s a groovy deal, in addition to a truthful off-the-beaten-path adventure inwards Costa Rica.
Surfing Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa is some other expat surf town on the Coast Rican Pacific coast. It’s a fighting to a greater extent than crowded than Nosara/Guiones, but nevertheless a groovy identify to ride some waves.
While non nearly equally large equally the surf town mecca of Tamarindo inwards the North, Santa Teresa has been growing in addition to is pop amongst backpackers. Proper hotels in addition to B&Bs receive got sprung upwards too.
If you’re a surfer, or desire to learn, it’s a fun identify to hang out for a few days.
There are 2 primary beaches inwards Santa Teresa, Playa Carmen in addition to Playa Santa Teresa. Popular surf breaks inwards the surface area include Suck Rock in addition to La Lora.
Costa Rica’s Surf Season
The rainy flavor on the Nicoya Peninsula is August – November, when many surf schools are closed. Early Dec is a groovy fourth dimension to visit, equally it’s non thence crowded amongst tourists yet. After Christmas tourism starts to pick up, in addition to create clean consistent surf tin hold upwards had from Dec – April.
How To Get There
Car
If you’re coming from San Jose, at that topographic point are 2 primary routes for visiting the Nicoya Peninsula. You tin drive closed to the Gulf Of Nicoya on Route 18, which takes nearly v hours.
Or you lot tin receive got the Punta Arenas Ferry across the H2O to Nicoya, in addition to and thence drive North along the coast. The 4×4 coastal route from Nosara to Santa Teresa takes nearly iii hours, provided you lot don’t acquire lost (which is slow to do).
Bus
There’s a daily motorbus to Nosara from San Jose at 5:30am departing from the intersection of Avenida v in addition to Calles 14/16 (Alfaro Terminal). Another pick is to receive got ane of the to a greater extent than frequent buses to the Nicoya Peninsula, in addition to thence alter to some other for Nosara. More details here.
Where To Stay In Nicoya
Renting a truck from Nomad America allowed me to military camp for most of the trip, occasionally stopping at a invitee household for a hot shower. However if camping ground isn’t for you, hither are some other options:
Mamma Rosa
I spent ane black hither to receive got payoff of AC, wifi, in addition to a hot shower. It’s place is perfect, amongst a trail direct to the beach.
Check Prices / Read Reviews
Salina Santa Teresa
This is a sweetness looking hostel correct adjacent to the beach, quirky design. Here you’ll respect Surfboard rentals, surf lessons, yoga in addition to more.
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Costa Rican Surfing Paradise
Basically route tripping downward the coast of Nicoya Peninsula is an awesome surfing adventure, in addition to won’t suspension the banking concern either. Especially if you lot squad upwards amongst others to rent an expedition truck amongst a roof-top tent.
I honestly felt similar I was was driving closed to Jurassic Park inwards that thing, waiting for a T-Rex to outburst out of the jungle in addition to chase me.
Bouncing closed to on oil Costa Rican dorsum roads, powering through mud holes, in addition to exploring every hidden beach I could find! ★
Watch Video: Republic of Costa Rica Road Trip
(Click to lookout adult man Pura Vida Road Trip – Republic of Costa Rica on YouTube)
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist you lot start packing for your trip. Pick upwards a locomote backpack, photographic television set camera gear, in addition to other useful locomote accessories.
Book Your Flight
Find inexpensive flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to respect deals on airlines. Also brand certain to read how I respect the cheapest flights.
Rent Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a groovy site for comparison machine prices to respect the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read to a greater extent than nearly how I mass inexpensive hotels online.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget locomote insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than nearly why you lot should ever behaviour locomote insurance.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Costa Rica
Suggested Reading: Monkeys Are Made Of Chocolate
READ MORE FROM COSTA RICA
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