Central America is home to some super solid surfing. There are powerful barreling waves across the area. However, longboarders are likely looking for something a little softer. Because of where I live, I most often ride a midlength, which is fun because it does work well at the longboard waves as well. Here are a few of our favorite longboard waves in Central America.

Playa Guiones, Costa Rica

Located just at the south end of Nosara, Playa Guiones is an amazing spot to longboard. Nosara is one of our favorite surf towns in Costa Rica, and is home to some incredibly consistent waves. It’s a bit mellower than Tamarindo to the north as the beach is protected. Surfing here is rad because you look back at pure jungle on the beach.

The waves themselves are often called mushy or soft, but this is great for longboarding. They can pick up quite a bit with the right swell, but are generally perfect longboard waves. The waves themselves are fairly close to town, and produces both rights and lefts! In the rainy season it can grow to well overhead, while the rest of the year is more waist to chest high.

The town is pretty chill. It’s a traveler and wellness-oriented place, with vibes created by healthy food, digital nomads, and beautiful natural parks. There are plenty of surf camps and surf schools in the area, and you should have no problem renting a longboard once in town. If you’re looking for a surf camp, we recommend checking out Safari Surf School.

El Remanso, Nicaragua

Located just south of San Juan del Sur, El Remanso is a popular surf spot. Because it offers a lot of waves for different skill levels and it’s relatively close to town, it can get crowded during high travel seasons. It’s a beach break with some rocks underneath, but provides solid lefts and rights. The wave is often knee to stomach high, with occasional swells bringing in bigger waves. Even when it grows, it stays relatively soft and slow, ideal for loggers!

San Juan del Sur is the surf hub in the area, with access to a bunch of different breaks on the Nicaraguan coast. The town is growing in popularity, and is full of surfers and travelers from all over. The town is fun, active, but not too overwhelming in our opinion. In addition to surf, there are plenty of other activities like hiking, visiting waterfalls, seeing volcanoes, ziplines, and more.

If you’re looking for a surf camp in the area, we recommend checking out Casa Happy Life. They’re on our list of the best surf vacations for beginners, and provide a solid offering. They have comfortable bedrooms, are located blocks from the beach, and handle all the equipment and feedback you’ll need! They offer 5 day surf camps and 7 day surf camps in San Juan del Sur.

From the Store

El Sunzal, El Salvador

Located in the area of La Libertad, El Sunzal is home to an amazing right. The cobblestone ground creates a solid wave that doesn’t get too powerful. This point break is long, often running over 300 meters on a good day! It can draw in a range of swells from the south, and is great for both beginners and longboarders. You’ll find plenty of locals, and crowded waves on the weekends.

The town itself, La Libertad, is known as part of Surf City. The government in El Salvador has designed the area intentionally to be a world-class surf destination. There are waves year-round, with the dry season bringing offshore winds nearly ever day. Rainy season will have stronger and more powerful swells, but more days that are blown out. It’s super accessible from the airport (about 45 minutes on a new highway), they use the US dollar as currency, and have plenty of other things to do for everyone.

The area is home to plenty of surf camps and surf lessons. We recommend checking Maya Surf Tours. Maya is on our list of the Best Surf Camps for Beginners. They offer 7 day surf camps for around $1,200. They can take you to various breaks depending on conditions, work with Papaya Lodge to offer solid accommodations, and max out at only six people. This gives you the opportunity for plenty of time with coaches and to progress!

Playa Venao, Panama

Playa Venao is definitely not a secret spot, but it’s one of the best uncrowded surf spots in Central America. It’s one of the best beginner surf spots in Panama, and rocks in the dry season (North American winter). There are offshore winds basically everyone morning, nothing but soft sand beneath your feet, and can get a little bigger with the correct swells to allow you room to progress.

This is a relatively small surf town with a tight knit community. One thing I love about Playa Venao is how mellow and family-friendly it is. Here in the Azuero Peninsula, it’s relatively remote without a ton of parties or craziness going on. The main activity will be surfing, and maybe some beach relaxation when you’re out of the water.

As far as surf camps go, check out Beach Break Surf Camp. It’s on our list of 7 Amazing Surf Vacations for Families, as they cater to surfers and groups of all ages. You can rent single rooms, family rooms, and stay as long as you’d like. If you’d like a true surf camp in the area, check out Safari Hostel. They offer 8 day surf camps for around $3,000.

Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

Playa Hermosa in Santa Teresa is another solid option for longboarding. This isn’t to be confused with the World Surfing Reserve location down south near Jacó. That place pumps. This Playa Hermosa offers relatively mushy waves, empty lineups, and ideal waves for both beginners and loggers. It’s a solid wave with consistency.

The town of Santa Teresa has definitely grown in popularity among international surf travelers in the last decade or so. But it’s still chiller than Tamarindo up north. There are a ton of breaks in the area for different skill levels and boards, but Playa Hermosa offers the best longboard wave in our opinion. There are lots of surfers and yogis in the area, with a bit of a high-end backpacker vibe.

As far as surf camps go, there are a few options. If you’re traveling with family, we recommend checking out Santa Teresa Surfing Villa, one of our favorite family surf camps in Costa Rica. This private villa comes with a certified instructor, video feedback, a ton of boards, and simply beautiful accommodations. They have 8 day camps for around $4,000 (includes 4 people), 10 day camps, and 14 day camps for around $7,000.

For a bit of a different vibe with some yoga, you can check out Zeneida’s Surf Garden. They offer 4 day camps, 5 day camps, 5 day couples camps, and 6 day camps. They are literally the first one on our list of the 4 Best Surf and Yoga Retreats in Costa Rica. If you’re looking to longboard and get some real time to focus on holistic wellness, Zeneida’s is your place!

Iliana surfing la saladita.jpg — Ilianet Nuñez surfing La Saladita (@ilianetnv on Instagram)

Honorable Mention: La Saladita

Finally, we have to mention La Saladita, Mexico. Mexico isn’t actually part of Central America, but it borders it, so we’re mentioning it. As of writing this, we just came back from a trip there last week (August 2025). Sure, we live in Mexico so we’re a bit biased, but La Saladita is probably my favorite longboard wave I’ve ridden. I’ll admit I don’t actually longboard it myself, but Elizabeth does. I hit it with my midlength, but it’s always full of longboarders.

The town itself was a well-kept secret on the international scene for decades, but has come onto the radar quite a bit in recent years. It’s just north of Zihuatanejo, and a quiet little surf town. Seriously, everything here basically revolves around the surf community. It’s laid-back, super friendly, and has some of the largest longboard rental selection I’ve ever seen.

The wave itself is a super long left. You can get a solid few hundred meters in, with different sections to keep you on your toes. Out back, it stands up a bit more. On bigger days, there can be a section that closes out here, but it is slow enough you can usually get around. Next comes a beautiful longboard wave for a while, before a dead section leading into the end of the wave.