L ocated directly in front of our hotel is Playa Negra, the break known worldwide since being featured in Bruce Brown’s movie Endless Summer II. Considered by many to be one of the top spots in Costa Rica, Playa Negra has rock bottom with perfect right-hand barrels and well defined channel for paddling out. The break has good exposure to both Northern and Southern Hemisphere swells and is reasonably consistent year-round. December through April is the dry season, and surfers can expect steady off-shore breezes, cloudless skies and flawless conditions. May through November are officially considered to be the rainy months. Lucky is the visitor, however, who finds that he has arrived during one of the numerous “veranillos,” or “little summers”, and encounters perfect conditions and a Southern Hemisphere swell to boot. Remote from other tourist developments, Playa Negra offers a surfing experience in pristine conditions: crystal clear water, abundant sea life and remnants of the tropical forest down to the high tide line. Sea turtles and parrot fish cruise the line-up accompanied by schools of brightly colored reef fish. A white sand beach just 100 yards south provides swimming and boogie-boarding opportunities for the whole family. Within walking distance are numerous other breaks, including some off-shore reefs for the more adventurous.
A short drive widens your horizons to include dozens of other spots including the reef, beach and river mouth breaks at Avellanas, a quick 10 minutes by car from Hotel Playa Negra. Another half hour brings you to Tamarindo, the sometimes-crowded surfing capital of Guanacaste, with the nearby breaks of Playa Grande and Langosta and its interesting night life.
Boat trips to Witch’s rock and Ollie’s point can be booked at out Boutique/Surf Shop, where you will also be able to rent all sizes of surf and boogie boards or book surf lessons at Sandy Beach with our certified surf instructor Manu.
For more information, please contact the Surf Shop by email: playanegra.surfshop@gmail.com