Playa Hermosa Surf Guide
A World Surfing Reserve site, Playa Hermosa is one of the best waves in all of Central America. Certainly a good place to catch a barrel or two!
Quick Facts
Consistent and powerful waves
Lots of different peaks and space for crowds
Closes out on heavier days pretty easily
Crocodile encounters every year
Introduction to Playa Hermosa
Located just south of Jacó, Playa Hermosa is where the good waves are at. It’s one of the newest additions to the Save the Waves World Surfing Reserves, and one of only a few in all of Central America. The beach runs for a few miles, picking up tons of SW swells that roll in. There are solid A-frames, lefts, rights, and a ton of closeouts. A mostly intermediate and up spot, you can surf here without fighting crowds due to the sheer number of peaks on offer. When it gets heavier or bigger swells come in, you’ll find tons of closeouts. With stingray and crocodile sightings common, it’s definitely a wave for more experienced surfers.
The best time of year to surf Playa Hermosa is definitely the rainy season from May to November. This period (the North American winter), brings in the swells from the SW beautifully. It can get too big (over 10 feet) and a little messy. In dry season from December to April, the NW swells will create less power here. It can barrel nicely, and is much more friendly to beginner and beginner-intermediate surfers.
Playa Hermosa Surf Season
Because the beach is so big here, there are several spots to check out. Here we’ll cover Terrazas. Terrazas is perhaps the most popular break here because it’s right near the hotels on the beach. It’s a fairly hollow left over some jagged rocks and reef.
Where to Surf in Playa Hermosa
Crowds - Some, but not too much
Surfer Level - Intermediate, Advanced
Ideal Swell - SW
Ideal Wind - E/NE
Break Type - Reef/beach
Consistency - 80%
Be Aware: Rocks and crocs!
Sayulita is perhaps the best place in Mexico to go for classes and beginner surf camps. Just a ton of waves and options you won’t find everywhere else.
Tropical Camas - Located right on Playa Hermosa, Tropical Camas is a locally owned surf camp that caters to all surfing levels. They have four-bed rooms, six-bed dorms, private rooms, and kitchens. Their instructors are ISA certified, and they have access right out the door to some of the best waves in all of Central America. They offer 8 day surf camps starting at around $600/person or $1,500 for four people in a private quadruple room.
Surf Camps, Classes, and Lessons in Playa Hermosa
School of the World - With almost 20 years of working in the area, School of the World is located just north in Jacó. One thing we like is that they offer a 7 Day Double Surf Camp. This means you get two 120-minute surf lessons a day, which is uncommon for surf camps. They also have other offerings like a Photography and Surf Camp in Jacó. A week with School of the World costs in the $720 range!
Damo - Damo is the rare surf camp that has 5 full stars on Google with about 50 reviews. For real, it’s a solid choice for beginners up in Jacó. They include yoga and meditation, some food, hiking, and tons of equipment to use. For all of their offerings, the prices are extremely reasonable as well. They offer 3 day surf camps, 5 day camps, and 7 day camps. The 3 day camps start at $300, 5 day camps at $550, and 7 day camps at $800.
Surf Inn Hermosa - As the name suggests, this place is located at Playa Hermosa. It’s a bit more chill than the camps in Jacó. They have beachfront properties right in Playa Hermosa with high speed internet, A/C, and kitchens. They also can help organize transport! They offer 7 day camps for beginners, and camps for intermediates/advanced surfers as well. Rates run around $2000 for the week, but they frequently have discounts so check to see!
Vida Asana - Located less than a mile from the beach in nearby Jacó, Vida Asana is a little tropical retreat. It’s an eco-friendly place that offers yoga, mindfulness, and surfing. They offer 6 day surf and yoga retreats for around $1,100, and you can also just stay here if you wish! If you’re looking for an overall wellness vibe, this is your place.
From the Store
Nearby Surf Spots
Backyards
Maybe the most reliable wave in Playa Hermosa. Can work with any swells from the general west. Sandbank break that can produce barrels. Not surfable at low tide due to shallows and rocks.
Crowds - Some
Surfer Level - Intermediate+
Ideal Swell - W/SW/NW
Ideal Wind - E, Low
Break Type - Sandbar
Consistency - 90%
Be Aware: Crocs and rays
Almendros
Bigger wave that works best in the slightly OH range. When it goes DOH, full of closeouts. Has nice big shoulders, located basically in the middle of Playa Hermosa.
Crowds - Some
Surfer Level - Intermediate+
Ideal Swell - SW
Ideal Wind - E/NE
Break Type - Sandbar
Consistency - 70%
Be Aware: Can blow out
La Curva
A hollow spot with plenty of lefts and rights. Generally the rights are better. Full sand bottom, good for lower level intermediates in our opinion!
Crowds - Some
Surfer Level - Intermediate
Ideal Swell - SW
Ideal Wind - E/NE
Break Type - Sandbar
Consistency - 70%
Be Aware: Beginners
Tulin
At the southern end of Playa Hermosa, Tulin is super punchy. Can barrel year-round. Get’s rather crowded, especially in afternoons.
Crowds - With good swell
Surfer Level - Intermediate+
Ideal Swell - SW
Ideal Wind - E/NE
Break Type - Beach Break
Consistency - 80%
Be Aware: Crocs
Other Things to Do in Playa Hermosa
Playa Hermosa itslef doesn’t exactly have a ton going on outside of surfing, but nearby Jacó serves as a tourist hub for all of the activities you could want to do.
Snorkel and Dive - There’s plenty of snorkeling tours and diving opportunities from Jacó. There’s some incredible volcanic formations, coral, and of course plenty of fish. We’ve seen the white tip reef sharks diving here, as well as a bunch of eels and an octopus once! We recommend going with Jaco Guides if SCUBA is your thing!
Fish - If you like fishing (or have never tried it), Jacó is a great place to give it a shot. I’ll be honest, we’ve never been fishing here, but we hear it’s a good place from friends and family! There are plenty of fishing charters you can take out to the Pacific to get some good deep sea fishing in!
Zipline - There are a ton of ziplining tours all over Costa Rica. It’s super fun and a good way to explore the jungle. We recommend checking out Chiclet Zipline in Playa Hermosa. They have 12 ziplines, with the longest one being over 300 meters. It’s about $60/person, and you won’t regret it!
Hike - As with much of Costa Rica, there’s super beautiful hiking. My favorite trail in the area is the trek up to El Miro just at the south end of Jacó. If you want to go farther out, check out Rainmaker Conservation Park. They have beautiful rope bridges, waterfalls, and a magical little hike.
Visit Carara National Park - About a half hour north of Jacó is Carara National Park. There are gorgeous jungle trails, and you’ll almost certainly see tons of lizards and crocodiles. It’s a transition forest, so you’ll find a huge diversity of flora and fauna, and you can go yourself if you want without a guide. It’s one of the top spots for birdwatching as well.
Los Sueños Adventure Park - About 20 minutes inland from Jacó, Los Sueños offers a bit of everything. You can do a zipline tour, ride ATVs, raft down the Savegre River, or go canyoning through the waterfalls. We definitely recommend the rafting and canyoning!
Spot the Crocs - About a half hour from Jacó you’ll find the Tarcoles River. I’m not sure what the bridge is called. When I lived there, we just all called it “Crocodile Bridge.” There are tours that take you on a boat down below, or you can hang up above and watch the crocodiles from the bridge.
If you don’t want to stay at one of the many surf camps in Sayulita, don’t worry! We have you covered. There’s no shortage of accommodations in Sayulita. Be aware that staying near the center of town means you might hear the loud music playing until the early hours of the morning!
Where to Stay in Playa Hermosa
Budget-Friendly in Jacó (~$50-90/night)
Jaco Lodge
Small hotel near town and highway
Jaco Lodge is a small hotel in town. It’s just a few minutes to walk down to the beach through town, and you can get to the freeway easily to access the other surf spots in the area!
Cabinas Jacomar
Small hotel steps from beach
Cabinas Jacomar is a small hotel just a few steps from the beach in nearby Jacó. With its central lcoation in town, you can walk through town easily, get to the beach in seconds, and explore Jacó. Great if you’re on a budget but want to be in town and close to surf.
Hotels in Town (~$70-100/night)
Marea Brava
Condo-style boutiqe hotel in town
Marea Brava is a small hotel with rooms, suites, and villas. It’s right at the beach, and super close to surf. There are multiple pools, activities they can organize, A/C, and a super chill atmosphere.
Cabinas Brisa del Mar
Simple beachfront hotel
Located right on the beach, Brisa del Mar has several beautiful pools, A/C in every room, free WiFi, and access to the waves here in literal steps.
Private Residences for Groups (~$325-380/night)
Casa Barracuda
Beachfront 3 bedroom home
Located right on the beach, Casa Barracuda has three bedrooms (two of which have multiple beds), a beautiful pool and patio, and access to the breaks on the beach just literal steps away.
Casa Alma
Four bedroom home in community
Located in Hermosa Palms, a private gated community, Casa Alma is a four bedroom house with a private pool that has recently been remodeled. It’s spacious, and great for families and groups of surfers!
Getting to Playa Hermosa
If you’re flying into Costa Rica to head to Playa Hermosa, you’ll head to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). With the new highway, it’s only about an hour and a half to get down to Playa Hermosa. Keep in mind that most surf camps can help organize transportation.
Public Transportation - To get down to Playa Hermosa, you’ll have to go to the Coca-Cola bus terminal in San Jose from the airport. From there, the bus heads straight to Jacó.
Taxi/Uber - Taxis at the airport will cost around $150 USD and take about an hour and a half.
Private Transfer - You can get a private transfer from the airport to Playa Hermosa for around $150-200. If you’re with a group or family, or have your boards with you, this is the way to go.
Car Rental - Finally, you can of course rent a car. When we go to Costa Rica, we rented cars with Target Car Rental who no longer is in business. But you can rent a car and drive no problem. Contrary to everything everyone says, the roads really aren’t bad right here. The style of driving may be a bit more aggressive, but we had no problem driving here.
Vida Hermosa - Solid beachfront restaurant open all day long. Solid sushi at night! We recommend checking it out for sunset if you’re not in the water!
Ginger Restaurant Bar - Ginger has an awesome little treehouse setup. Great for couples, with Asian-inspired tapas and delicious cocktails.
Pescado Loco - Best place for fish and seafood. They have lots of more casual Costa Rican food, and the prices are super good.
Restaurants in Playa Hermosa
Travel Tips
Noise Levels
If you do stay in nearby Jacó, keep in mind the town can get rather noisy at night or during high season. If you want something quieter for your sleep, consider staying away from the center of town.
Getting Around Jacó
In our opinion, you don’t need a car if you plan on staying in and hanging around Jacó. If you want to explore other surf spots nearby or go on tours, a car can be helpful. But you can also take taxis fairly easily. As far as getting around town, everything is super walkable. We prefer walking actually as you get to know the city a little more closely!
Spending Money and ATMS
As a fairly touristy town, you will be able to spend foreign currencies like Euros and US Dollars in many parts of town We generally recommend using the local currency, as the exchange rate offered will be better from your bank than a local business. For safety reasons, we always recommend not using the ATMs sitting out on the street. When we use ATMs, we look for an actual bank ATM. There’s a Banco de Costa Rica, a Banco Nacional, and a few BAC ATMs. You also might consider getting a Wise card for the best currency exchange rates.
Doctors and Hospitals
Like many places in Latin America, the pharmacies will have doctors on staff for smaller things. If you need a private walk-in clinic, visit MMI. They have a pharmacy and lab and everything. You also can go to any public hospital for free/cheap medical attention if you need an ER.
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