Best surf spots in Costa Rica for beginners
The beaches in Costa Rica where a beginner can surf on the most days of the year: small enough, clean enough, on sand. Ranked from 2 years of hourly wave and wind model data at each spot, rated the way the app rates them for beginners. Updated 3 November 2026.
Today's forecast for beginners in Costa Rica →
The beaches with the most beginner days
| # | Spot | Beginner days a year | Best months | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Playa Samara Samara · Guanacaste | ~285 (61 good) | all year | 28–31 °C |
| 2 | Playa Jaco Jacó · Puntarenas | ~275 (80 good) | August to May | 28–31 °C |
| 3 | Playa Guiones Nosara · Guanacaste | ~184 (76 good) | May to June, August to October | 28–30 °C |
| 4 | Tamarindo Beach Tamarindo · Guanacaste | ~98 (29 good) | June, September | 28–30 °C |
| 5 | Playa Espadilla (Manuel Antonio) Manuel Antonio · Puntarenas | ~0 | no clear season | 28–31 °C |
"Beginner days": days with a surfable hour for a beginner (small waves, light or offshore wind, no dangerous size) at that spot; "good" days rate Good or better for a beginner. From 2 years of model data, not observations: a sandbank, a rip or a crowd can change a beach. How the rating works.
When beginners should go
Across Costa Rica's beginner spots, the best months are April to December. July has the most surfable days for a beginner (about 21 a month at the best spots), March the fewest (about 14). Water: 28–30 °C over the year, see the wetsuit by month.
Questions
Where is the best place to learn to surf in Costa Rica?
On our numbers, Playa Samara (Samara, about 285 beginner days a year), Playa Jaco (Jaco, about 275 beginner days a year), Playa Guiones (Nosara, about 184 beginner days a year). These are sandy, forgiving spots where the waves are small and clean enough for a beginner on the most days.
When is the best time for beginners to surf in Costa Rica?
April to December: the months with the most days of small, clean waves at the beginner spots. The fewest are in March.
Is Costa Rica good for beginner surfers?
5 of the 45 spots we follow suit beginners. At the best of them a beginner finds about 21 surfable days in July and 14 in March. Take a lesson first and surf near lifeguards.
Before your first session: your first surf lesson and rips and safety. More: all surf spots in Costa Rica · best time to surf in Costa Rica.