Wavehunters Southern Costa Rica Surf Tour operations, commencing in March of 2009, is based out of The Zancudo Lodge, located inside the Golfo Dulce just north of Pavones, with its own private marina and fleet of boats. The Zancudo Lodge is ONLY 30min. and 40min. by speedboat respectively from the world class pointbreaks of the Pavones and Cabo Matapolo areas.
This region has largely been inaccessible to the modern surf traveler seeking a first class surf vacation due to the lack of infrastructure (modern hotels), poor roads (over 8 hrs drive from h--- from San Jose), and issues with domestic air carriers not accepting surfboards at all (or only taking "max. 1 board under 7 feet on a space available basis"). Not anymore though.
Already the leading sportsfishing lodge in Costa Rica (in existence for over 20 years), The American-owned Zancudo Lodge is teaming up with Wavehunters Surf Travel to become the #1 surfing destination resort in Costa Rica. Not only does this region of Costa Rica have the best pointbreaks in the country, but it offers BOTH left and right pointbreaks of world class caliber (as well as a good uncrowded beachbreak option right in Zancudo itself). These breaks line both sides of the Golfo Dulce which is like a big catcher's mitt that faces due south into the dominant S swells. Because the lefts are on one side of the Gulfo Dulce (the mainland) and the rights are on the other side of the Gulfo Dulce (Osa Peninsula), even though they are both equally exposed to South swells they are offshore on opposite wind conditions. With boat access, you can move freely and quickly from one side of the gulf to the other and be at any break within 45min. or less, while surfers on land deal with the most rugged topography and worst roads in Costa Rica.
Wavehunters Southern Costa Rica tours include a full day out on the water on state-of-the-art boats w/skipper and surf guide surfing the best surf breaks in the region each of the full days of your trip. On the first day we will try to get you in the water for an afternoon session with the best quality waves possible given the time limitations. On your last day we will get you into a morning session before your midday departure. When you’re not surfing you’ll be appreciating the exotic scenery and culture, or lounging back at the lodge in complete comfort eating fresh seafood and enjoying the finest selection of beverages and modern facilities of the hotel.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive San Jose Intl Airport (10am). Clear customs and transfer to Pavas domestic airport (15min.). Board charter flight at approx. 1130am.
Arrive Golfito at approx. 1pm. Transfer to Zancudo Lodge by Truck/Boat and arrive Zancudo Lodge at approx. 2pm. Have lunch and afternoon surf at the local beachbreak to get warmed up for the week.
Days 2-6
Breakfast 500am. Board boats at 530am and depart to surf break of your choice, arriving 30-40min. later. Surf all morning. Lunch on boat. Surf afternoon session at break of your choice. Return to Lodge mid-afternoon for shower, drinks, dinner, in bed by 9pm for early-wake up call again next day.
Day 7
Early morning surf at Pavones or other breaks. Depart Lodge by 12noon for 1pm flight to San Jose. Arrive San Jose approx. 230pm. Transfer to Intl airport for evening return flight home.
Getting there w/Surfboards
The surfboard problem is not a problem anymore. We are using chartered flights now that can guarantee at least 2 surfboards boards per passenger up to 8 feet long comfortably. Longboards can be accommodated on the larger charter plane (additional expense may apply) or even easier and much cheaper for you we will have our own quiver of longboards onsite for 2009 and available for rental!
Surfing
This trip will be limited to a maximum of 10 surfers, with a maximum of 2 boats in use per week with a maximum of 5 surfers per boat. The 2 boats will not surf the same break at one time. There are at least 6 good pointbreaks to choose from (3 rights and 3 lefts) as well as a beachbreak. Your surf guide will ensure that surf forecasts, tides and local wind conditions are all taken into account to get you on the best spots at the optimal time.
Wavehunters’ Henry Morales and friends completed a successful recon trip here in September of 2008. “I’ve been to Costa Rica 4 times and surfed some good beachbreaks and a few fickle reefs, but this is the real deal. It is hard to believe a place like this still exists in Costa Rica. This was the first official surf trip The Zancudo Lodge had hosted, but I’ve been in surf travel for over 10 years and the service was as good as any established surf tour operation I have experienced. The Zancudo Lodge’s hotel, marina and fleet of high speed boats, not to mention their captains and staff, seem to transfer over to surf travel effortlessly, and frankly I don’t know any surfing resorts that have this much money invested in their boats. It is almost overkill, but obviously a huge advantage to be working with an established sportsfishing resort in this remote region of Costa Rica where access to the breaks is totally controlled by the water. Now they have employed an Ex-Pat surf guide w/15 years experience surfing this region, and they have it completely dialed in.”
