Central Pacific Coast

 This area is home to some of Costa Rica's best and most consistent surf in the summer months , mid - April to mid - October . The most heavily surfed areas are the fickle but world class left at Boca Barranca , and the Jaco and Playa Hermosa area . Perhaps the most underrated surf occurs down at Dominical: hollow , heavy beach break that fires on S and SW swells- comparable to Puerto Escondido in Southern Mexico . The Manuel Antonio & Quepos area boasts some of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches and natural scenery . There is rumored to be some great secret spots in this area , however beware as several of the rivermouth breaks , especially Damas , are crocodile - infested.

1. Boca Barranca - At the mouth of the Barranca river , a mushy left - hander with 4 - 5 long sections that , when big enough , will connect up to 800 yards. Rides to a half - mile when on. Best longboard wave in Costa Rica. Crowded. Needs a big S or SW swell. 2. Dona Ana - A perfect left point 1/2 km south of Barranca Rivermouth. You can paddle across the river to get there. Polluted and crowded. Has three sections ranging from slow on the outside to critical on the inside. Needs a very large S or SW swell. 3. Caldera - Lefthand beach break sandbars off jetty. Steep, hollow lefts. Needs a very large swell. 4. Tivives - Rivermouth break that produces sandbar breaks along a couple miles of beach. 5. Escondida - Inaccessible exept by boat. Lefts and rights over a rock shelf. Lefts are really hollow. Submerged rocks.

6. Jaco Beach - Beach break slammers. Prevailing wind is SW after 10 am. Blocked from NW swell. S and SW only. 7km of beach with lots of peaks. Plenty of waves. Strong current, difficult to get out when over 5ft. 7. Roca Loca - Rock reef on the south side of southern point on Jaco Beach. Submerged rocks. Only breaks on large S/SW swell. 8. Playa Hermosa - Most popular beach break in all of Costa Rica. . Very consistent although closes out when big. Good on a high tide.

9. Damas Rivermouth - Rivermouth break 1 and 1/4 miles north of the Quepos Rivermouth. Strong rip on outgoing tide. Best on incoming tide. The right on the south side is long and hollow with three main sections. It's a fast, down the line wave with little time for cutbacks. The river is infested with crocodiles. Seriously beware... these guys mean business. 10. Quepos - Inconsistent, requires a big swell. Left off harbor jetty and beachbreak. 11. Manuel Antonio - National Park 5 km from Quepos and one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. Fickle sandbars at first beach. Short right point at the third beach; requires a very large swell to break. 12. Dominical - Strong barreling beach break. Rivermouth (Rio Baru) produces sandbars. Lots of empty peaksto N & S of rivermouth. South of Dominical are several reef-type point and reef bottom breaks good for surf.