Should I fly into SJO or LIR for Costa Rica?

Depends on your hub. LIR (Liberia) is the Guanacaste door: Tamarindo and Playa Grande are about an hour and fifteen minutes away, Nosara about 2.5 hours with a rough final stretch. SJO (San José) serves everything else — Jacó and Hermosa town about 1.5 hours, Dominical and Uvita 3 to 3.5 hours, Santa Teresa via the Puntarenas–Paquera ferry, the Caribbean side about 4.5 hours — and SJO is also the domestic-flight hub for Sansa hops. Both airports have year-round nonstops from LAX, with seasonal and one-stop options from SFO.

How do I avoid a car break-in in Costa Rica?

Never leave anything visible in a parked car, ever — trailhead and beach parking lots are worked systematically, and rental stickers mark targets. Take valuables with you, leave the glovebox open and visibly empty, and pay the informal parking watchman the few hundred colones — it works. The pattern across the country is opportunistic petty theft, not violence: unattended bags on the beach, visible valuables, unlocked rentals.

When should I go — dry season or green season?

Pacific coast: dry season runs roughly December–April — dusty, hot, near-zero rain in Guanacaste. Green season is May–November, with afternoon rains, everything lush, and rivers up; September–October are the wettest months on the Pacific. The Caribbean coast is inverted: its driest, calmest windows sit roughly February–April and September–October, exactly when the Pacific is at its wettest — so a two-coast trip can dodge weather nearly year-round.

Costa Rica Zone Guide — Secrets of Surf Travel

Q: Do I really need a 4x4 in Costa Rica?

Depends where and when. Not needed for the paved Tamarindo and Jacó corridors. Strongly advised year-round for Nosara and Santa Teresa — the last stretch into both is unpaved. Required in green season for Nosara back-routes, the Santa Teresa–Montezuma shortcuts, the hills above Dominical and Uvita, and anything past Golfito toward Pavones. In the rainy months, especially September–October, unbridged river crossings on Nicoya back-roads and in the far south become impassable after storms — route around via inland roads after heavy rain.

Q: What are the boardbag fees for flying to Costa Rica?

As of 2026: Alaska treats board bags as standard checked bags. United, American, and Delta now mostly give standard-bag treatment under 50 pounds. Avianca and Copa vary by fare class. Boardbag policies churn constantly — confirm with the airline at booking, and remember the Sansa domestic legs are a separate, stricter question.

Logistics

Getting There

Two doors: SJO and LIR

Costa Rica has two international gateways, and picking the right one is half the trip plan. LIR (Liberia) is the Guanacaste door — Tamarindo and Playa Grande are about an hour and fifteen minutes away, Nosara about 2.5 hours with a rough final stretch. SJO (San José) serves everything else: Jacó and Hermosa town about 1.5 hours down the highway, Dominical and Uvita 3–3.5 hours on Ruta 27 and the Costanera, Santa Teresa via the Puntarenas–Paquera ferry, the Caribbean side about 4.5 hours on Ruta 32, and the far south by domestic hop. Both airports have year-round nonstops from LAX; SFO runs seasonal and one-stop options.

Sansa — the domestic-hop network

Sansa (flysansa.com) runs small caravans out of SJO — no point-to-point between coastal strips, everything routes through the capital. The airstrips that matter for this zone: Nosara (NOB), Tamarindo (TNO), Cóbano and Tambor (for Santa Teresa), Quepos (XQP), Golfito (GLF — recently renovated, the Pavones door), Puerto Jiménez, Drake Bay, and Limón (LIO — for Puerto Viejo). Strict weight limits apply and board policy varies by route — it is unconfirmed as of this research pass. Verify directly with Sansa before you build a fly-in itinerary around a boardbag.

Shuttle networks — the no-drive backbone

Costa Rica’s shared-shuttle system is mature enough to run a whole trip on:

Interbus — 180-plus routes, the workhorse of the system.
Tropical Tours Shuttles — strong on the adventure-town routes.
Caribe Shuttle — the Caribbean-side specialist, with connections through to Bocas del Toro and Panama.
Monkey Ride — the SJO–Guanacaste corridor.

Shared shuttles run roughly 35–90 USD per person per leg. Boardbag surcharges are common — confirm per company before booking.

Logistics

Ground Transport

The 4x4 question, by region: not needed for the paved Tamarindo and Jacó corridors. Strongly advised year-round for Nosara and Santa Teresa — the last stretch into both is unpaved. Required in green season for Nosara back-routes, the Santa Teresa–Montezuma shortcuts, the hills above Dominical and Uvita, and anything past Golfito toward Pavones.
River crossings are a weather fact, not an adventure story: in the rainy months (especially September–October), unbridged crossings on the Nicoya back-roads and in the far south become impassable after storms. The coastal “shortcut” routes south of Sámara are the classic trap — route around via inland roads after heavy rain.
Shuttle vs self-drive: single-hub trips — shuttle in, rent an ATV or bikes locally. Multi-hub trips — 4x4 rental. Ferry note: the Puntarenas–Paquera car ferry is the standard Santa Teresa approach from SJO.
Rental partners (Costa Rican-owned): Adobe Rent a Car is the largest Tico-owned national company — offices in most hubs, 4x4 fleet, surf racks available. Vamos Rent-A-Car is the independent with a transparent-pricing reputation. Nomad America rents 4x4 overland and camping rigs for the go-everywhere trip.
The number-one rental-counter surprise: mandatory local liability insurance is NOT included in US credit-card coverage — budget for it up front and get an insurance-included quote before you compare prices.

Logistics

When to Go & What to Pack

Pacific coast seasons: dry season roughly December–April — dusty, hot, near-zero rain in Guanacaste. Green season May–November — afternoon rains, everything lush, rivers up, with September–October the wettest on the Pacific.
Caribbean coast — the inverted calendar: its driest, calmest weather windows sit roughly February–April and September–October, opposite the Pacific’s. A two-coast trip can dodge weather nearly year-round — this is the zone’s best-kept planning trick.
Water temps (wetsuit guidance only): warm on both coasts year-round — boardshorts country, springsuit optional. Seasonal deep-water upwelling can cool patches of the north Pacific coast early in the year. No wetsuit in the bag means more board room.
Boardbag fees (confirm at booking): Alaska treats board bags as standard checked bags; United, American, and Delta now mostly give standard-bag treatment under 50 pounds; Avianca and Copa vary by fare. Sansa domestic is the wildcard: hard weight caps, boards space-available — the single biggest packing risk in the zone.
Money: colones (CRC) are the currency; USD is accepted nearly everywhere at soft exchange rates. Pay colones at sodas, cards at hotels. ATMs thin out in Pavones and run fee-heavy in Santa Teresa — carry cash south.
Connectivity: eSIMs (Kolbi, Claro, Liberty) work in every hub, and Starlink is common in remote lodging now. Signal gaps: the Pavones road and parts of the Nicoya back-country. Download offline maps before leaving the airport.

Logistics

Good to Know

Calm, practical, and in order of importance:

The real issue is petty theft, not violence. The pattern is opportunistic: unattended bags on the beach, visible valuables, unlocked rentals. Normal travel sense handles most of it.
Car break-ins are the specific thing to plan around. Never leave anything visible in a parked car, ever — trailhead and beach parking lots are worked systematically, and rental stickers mark targets. Pay the informal parking “watchman” the few hundred colones; it works.
Town-by-town temperature: Tamarindo and Jacó carry standard party-town nighttime awareness needs; Nosara, Uvita, and Pavones are sleepy. Puerto Viejo: normal town awareness after dark, and put lights on the bike.
Ocean safety: rip-current drownings are the country’s top tourist killer — a general water-safety fact worth stating plainly. Guides, not guesswork.
Health: tap water is fine in most of the country — go bottled on the Caribbean side and in remote Nicoya. Dengue exists in the wet season: repellent at dawn and dusk. The emergency number is 911 nationwide.

Hub 1

Witches Rock / Ollie’s Zone

The zone that isn’t a town. Witches Rock and Ollie’s sit in and around Santa Rosa National Park in the far northwest of Guanacaste — protected land, no lodging strip, no soda row, no shops. Getting in is the whole story, and there are exactly two ways: a boat charter up the coast from the Tamarindo–Playa Grande–Flamingo–Coco corridor, or overland through the park entrance off the Interamericana north of Liberia. Everything below is access logistics, because out here that’s all there is.

The Park: Rules, Fees & the Road

Entry and hours: the park is open daily, roughly 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Foreign visitors pay about 15 USD (5 USD for kids); nationals and residents pay in colones. The park is run by SINAC as part of the Área de Conservación Guanacaste — verify current fees and sector status at sinac.go.cr before you commit to the drive.

The road is the filter: past the Santa Rosa ranger station, the track down to the coastal Naranjo sector is about 8 km of rough going — 4x4 only, and realistically a dry-season proposition. In the green season it closes after rain and rangers will turn you around. Ask about sector status before leaving Liberia; it saves a long turnaround.

No services, full stop: no fuel, no food, no water for sale past the entrance. Full tank, full cooler, shade, and everything you need for the day. Camping at the Naranjo sector has historically been possible in the dry season — verify directly with the park before planning an overnight.

Boat Charters — the Way Most People Go

Kelly’s Surf ShopTamarindo Independent Tamarindo shop that has run dawn boat days into the park for years — departures around 5:30 a.m., boards and gear sorted from their own racks. “There are 100 surf shops in Tamarindo, this is the only one worth your time” — TripAdvisor reviewer. kellyssurfshop.com
Costa Rica Surf TripDepartures from Tamarindo / Playa Grande / Playas del Coco Local charter outfit running six-person pangas and a larger ten-person boat with a toilet aboard — roundtrip ground transport from the Tamarindo–Playa Grande side and the park fee come included in the quote, which is exactly the question to put to everyone else. costaricasurftrip.com
Witches Rock Surf N FishPlayas del Coco Charter operation on the Papagayo side — surf tours and fishing off the same boat, departing from the Coco end of the corridor. Guest testimonials call Glen “one of the most personable and giving people” — trustworthy and prepared. witchesrocksurfnfish.com

Two things to know before booking: a charter day is still a park visit — the entry fee applies on the water side too, and good operators fold it into the quote, so ask straight: “is the park fee included?” And the filter, stated plainly: the most famous operation in this category is a resort-scale Tamarindo camp that wears the rock’s name on its sign — big, corporate, and exactly what this site filters out. The independents above are the shortlist, pending the ground-truthing pass.

Hub 2

Playa Grande Zone

Across the estuary from Tamarindo and a world quieter: Playa Grande is the low-rise, dark-at-night town sitting inside the boundaries of Las Baulas National Marine Park — one of the last major leatherback-turtle nesting shores in the Pacific. Gateway: LIR, about an hour and fifteen minutes. From Tamarindo it’s the small boat shuttle across the estuary or the long drive around. The nights stay dark on purpose — lighting rules protect the nesting beach — and that discipline is the whole character of the town.

Stays: Hotels & Bungalows

Hotel Las TortugasPlaya Grande, beachfrontBudget The town’s original beachfront hotel — built by Louis Wilson, who fought to get the nesting beach protected as a national park. The tree line blocking man-made light from the sand is deliberate. “A true Costa Rican beach experience, not an upscale resort” — TripAdvisor guest. lastortugashotel.com
RipJack InnPlaya GrandeMid-range Owner-operated since 2004 — twenty-one rooms and four villas a short walk from the sand, with a treetop restaurant leaning on fresh local seafood. TripAdvisor’s top-ranked hotel in town — guests call it “a sweet spot.” ripjackinn.com
Villas KaleiPlaya GrandeLuxury Owner-managed four-villa eco boutique a short walk from town — the small-group buyout play on the Grande side. 9.8 on Booking.com — guests call hosts Marcos and Jeisha “wonderful and attentive.” villaskalei.com
Indra InnPlaya Grande, town entranceMid-range Small inn with breakfast included, walking distance to everything — the budget anchor on this side of the estuary. No direct site confirmed; find it by name. “One of the best values in all of Playa Grande” — Booking.com guests, 9.0 score.

Playa Grande is one of the two independent-rental clusters in this corner of Guanacaste (Langosta is the other) — central Tamarindo is condo-tower dominated. If the Tamarindo Zone below reads corporate, this is the answer.

Surf Shops & Board Rentals

Frijoles LocosPlaya Grande The town’s surf shop since 2007 — rentals, gear, and the unofficial local-advice counter for everything from where to eat to who to call. TripAdvisor guests treat the staff like “a personal concierge” — boards, rides, dinner plans sorted. playagrandesurfshop.com

Where to Eat

El HuertoPlaya GrandeMid-rangeThe open-air institution on the Grande side — Mediterranean plates and wood-fired pizza. No direct site confirmed; find it by name.Wood-fired pizzas “large and so good,” limoncello on the house — TripAdvisor reviewers.
Kike’s PlacePlaya Grande, past the surf shopBudgetThe local standby a few minutes’ walk up the road. Sourced from local listings; walk in and judge for yourself.“THE place to eat in Playa Grande” — TripAdvisor; the casado de pescado is the favorite.

Other Adventures

The leatherback program is the best non-surf story on this coast: guided night visits to the Las Baulas nesting beach run October–February only, capped at roughly sixty visitors a night in small guided groups. Book through the Playa Grande ranger station (about 25 USD including entry) or from the Tamarindo side through the local guide association, with the estuary boat crossing folded in (about 35 USD). Reserve ahead — this is not a walk-up. Estuary mangrove boat tours run from the same waterway; see the Tamarindo Zone below.

Hub 3

Tamarindo Zone

The most developed surf-tourism town in Guanacaste, about an hour and fifteen minutes from LIR — and the services hub the neighboring zones lean on. An estuary separates Tamarindo from Playa Grande: small boat shuttle across, or a long drive around (Playa Grande now has its own zone sheet above). Straight talk on this hub: the guiding and camp categories here are dominated by large corporate camps and resort operators — exactly what this site filters out. The independent-local layer is thin and mostly individual operators, which makes the shortlist below more valuable, not less.

Surf Guides & Tours

Tamarindo Surf & ToursTamarindo Small locally run outfit (Sara and David) doing surf guiding plus fishing, estuary, and waterfall tours — the useful multi-service shape. TripAdvisor guests call Sara “passionate, attentive, and deeply connected” — sailfish stories on the fishing side. tamarindosurfandtours.com
Native’s Way Costa RicaTamarindo Tico-run tours and transfers company — surf guiding by lifelong local surfers plus airport transfers. The transfer-plus-guide combo is rare and valuable. TripAdvisor reviewers rave about guides who spot sloths and monkeys along the way. nativeswaycostarica.com
Lost in Paradise ToursTamarindo Locally owned private surf tours along the Guanacaste coast, small-group focus. lostinparadisecr.com

The camp gap, stated plainly: the famous surf camps in Tamarindo are large corporate operations with resort pricing — filtered out on principle. No strong small independent camp surfaced in this research pass; that gap is flagged for the ground-truthing trip.

Surf Shops · Board Rentals & Ding Repair

Club 33 Surf ShopTamarindo Independent shop — rentals, ding repair, surfskate, accessories. WhatsApp +506 7027 9176. Reviewers call it a “world class gem” — 4.99 average across 177 reviews. club33cr.com
Dr. Ding Surf ShopTamarindo The town’s trusted full-service repair tech for about a decade — also rents boards. Operates through Surf City Tamarindo. via surfcitytama.com
Surf City TamarindoTamarindo Independent retail shop — and the roof over Dr. Ding’s repair bench. surfcitytama.com
Surf CultureTamarindo Small friendly independent shop with rentals. No website confirmed — listing sourced from traveler reviews; walk in and judge for yourself. “The Best Surf Shop in Tamarindo” — TripAdvisor; swap your rental board anytime, no charge.

Stays: Hotels & Bungalows

Hotel Capitán SuizoTamarindo (Langosta end)Luxury Family-owned beachfront boutique — local wood and craftsmanship on the quiet end of town. 9.5 on HotelsCombined — guests praise the gardens, staff, and beachfront calm. hotelcapitansuizo.com
Tamarindo Bay Boutique HotelTamarindoMid-range Small apartment-and-studio boutique in the walkable center. 9.4 on Booking.com — “very reasonable for where you are and what you get.” tamarindobayhotel.com

Langosta is Tamarindo’s independent-rental cluster; central Tamarindo is condo-tower dominated. Book the edges, not the middle — or cross the estuary to the Playa Grande Zone above.

Where to Eat

Soda Las PalmasVilla Real, just outside TamarindoBudgetFamily-owned classic, fresh daily — widely called one of the best sodas in Guanacaste. Walk in; find it on the map by name.4.7 on TripAdvisor — “the flavor is sensational”; go early before the popular plates run out.
Soda El Buen ComerTamarindoBudgetReal Tico casados at the best price in town.“Best casado plate in Tamarindo” — TripAdvisor; full plates around five bucks.

Surf Photographers & Videographers

Tamarindo FilmsTamarindo Local photo and video house that shoots surf sessions among other work — the session-shoot add-on for this hub. tamarindofilms.com

Most photo offerings in Tamarindo are bundled inside camp packages — the independent shooters book by word of mouth. Another gap for the ground-truthing pass.

Wheels: Car Rentals & Transfers

Adobe Rent a Car — Tamarindo officeTamarindo Costa Rican-owned national company, not a US chain — 4x4 fleet, surf racks available. 4.8 renter rating in the region — spotless cars, no-surprise pricing, per review roundups. adobecar.com
Native’s Way Costa RicaTamarindo The same Tico-run outfit from the guiding list doubles as the local transfer operator — one vendor, two problems solved. nativeswaycostarica.com

Other Adventures

Estuary boat tours run into the mangroves between Tamarindo and Playa Grande — book through local operators like Tamarindo Surf & Tours. The turtle-nesting night program sits on the Grande side; see the Playa Grande Zone above.

Hub 4

Playa Negra Zone

The dirt-road corridor south of Tamarindo — Avellanas, then Playa Negra (the settlement itself is Los Pargos), then Junquillal — where Guanacaste goes quiet again. There’s no town center to speak of: a scatter of owner-run lodges, a couple of serious kitchens, and roads that are dust in the dry season and mud in the green. Gateway: LIR, roughly 1.5 hours with the last stretch on dirt; from Tamarindo it’s a short hop south on back roads that get rough after rain. Services are thin — the nearest reliable ATMs and full supermarkets are back in Tamarindo or Santa Cruz — so arrive with cash and a full tank.

Stays: Hotels & Bungalows

Cabinas Las OlasAvellanasConfirm on the ground Longtime lodge on the Avellanas end with its own boardwalk through the mangrove estuary to the sand, a restaurant, and a small board-rental rack — the corridor’s all-in-one. TripAdvisor guests call the staff “amazing, very friendly and accommodating.” cabinaslasolas.com
Hotel Playa NegraPlaya NegraMid-range Seventeen round bungalows in tropical gardens on the shore, with a restaurant — the corridor’s established oceanfront stay. 9 on Booking.com — hammock-on-the-patio bungalows guests call “perfect and relaxing.” playanegra.com
Café Playa NegraLos Pargos, Playa NegraMid-range Small bohemian hotel-and-kitchen a few minutes from the beach — Peruvian-leaning menu downstairs, simple rooms upstairs. 4.5 on TripAdvisor — guests call the kitchen “world-class,” the plates beautifully presented. cafeplayanegra.com
Villa DeevenaPlaya NegraConfirm on the ground Six-room boutique run by chef Patrick Jamon and family — the restaurant is a destination in its own right, and the quiet rooms are the bonus. “Food fit for a president” — TripAdvisor; diners drop Michelin comparisons on Patrick’s plates. villadeevena.com

Where to Eat

Lola’sAvellanas, on the beachMid-rangeThe beachfront institution since 1998 — the reason day-trippers drive down from Tamarindo. No booking site; find it on the map by name.“Lola’s is your happy place” — TripAdvisor; 94% recommend it on Facebook.
Café Playa Negra & Villa Deevena kitchensPlaya NegraThe two stays above double as the corridor’s best tables — both listed with links in the lodging list.

The rental gap, stated plainly: no standalone independent board-rental shop surfaced in this corridor on this pass — rentals run through the lodges (Cabinas Las Olas keeps a rack). Flagged for the ground-truthing trip; until then, sort boards in Tamarindo before driving south.

Hub 5

Nosara Zone

Expensive, wellness-saturated, and the most expat-dominated hub on this list — the lodging and wellness categories skew hard toward upscale expat-owned resorts, while the Tico-owned layer is strongest in surf guiding and food. That’s the honest map, and it tells you where to spend. The rough access road keeps some riff-raff out. Gateway: LIR with about a 2.5-hour drive, or SJO plus a Sansa hop into Nosara’s own airstrip (NOB) — one of the best domestic-flight plays in the country.

Surf Guides & Tours

Nosara Tico Surf SchoolPlaya Guiones area Locally owned and run — guiding by Costa Rican surfers with a family-and-community reputation. The Tico-owned flagship for this hub. “If they can teach me to surf, they can teach anyone” — TripAdvisor reviewer. nosara-surf-school.com
Nosara CR Surf SchoolGuiones Local company with a beach-stewardship bent. “Super professional, talented, and fun team” — TripAdvisor; a fresh coconut ends every session. nosaracrsurfschool.com
Nosara Surf & SUPPlaya Pelada side Small groups and local coaches, including ISA champion José Ruiz — the Pelada-side alternative when the Guiones core is booked out. Students call José “the best coach” — unmatched at breaking technique down, per reviews. nosarasurfsup.com

The famous camp and club brands in Nosara are resort-scale or franchise operations — filtered out. No strong small independent camp surfaced here either; flagged for the ground-truthing pass.

Stays: Hotels & Bungalows

Hotel GuionesGuionesLuxury Small jungle-path hotel with a locally sourced kitchen. 8.6 on Booking.com — guests call the pool and waterfall feature “phenomenal.” hotelguiones.com
Olas Verdes HotelGuionesLuxury Sustainability-certified and locally staffed, near the Ostional refuge boundary. TripAdvisor’s number-one hotel in Nosara — “exceptional staff,” per reviewers. olasverdeshotel.com
Hostel NosaraGuionesBudget Eco-hostel — the budget anchor in an expensive town. TripAdvisor guests: helpful staff and unbeatable prices steps from the sand — dorms run basic. hostelnosara.com
Norte NosaraGuiones townMid-range Family-owned small hotel. 8.7 on Booking.com — “prices are reasonable, at least for now.” nortenosara.com

Nosara lodging skews hard premium and expat-owned — the four above are the closest fits to the independent-local profile this site exists to find.

Where to Eat

Rosi’s Soda TicaNosara pueblo + GuionesBudgetThe institution — two locations, casados around 6 USD. The casado benchmark of the Nicoya.“The only authentic soda in Guiones” — TripAdvisor; local workers pack it at lunch.
Soda VanessaNosaraBudgetAll-day gallo pinto breakfast soda.Reviewers on Wanderlog rave about the gallo pinto — generous portions, small prices.
Soda La BarraNorth Guiones, inside Gabi’s food courtBudgetWomen-run, homemade.“Really cheap, and the portions are huge” — local dining guides.
Soda Playa GarzaGarza, 15 minutes southBudgetFisherman’s-village soda, seafood straight off the boats — worth the drive.“Ridiculously fresh seafood” and a family welcome — Nosara dining guides.
Pilo’sGarza areaMid-rangeFish caught by Pilo himself.“Some of the freshest ceviche you will ever have” — TripAdvisor; high tide reaches the tables.

None of these keep websites — they’re walk-ins, findable on the map by name. That’s rather the point.

Wellness & Massage

Spacio Spa & Massage StudioNosara Founded by Juan Carlos Saldaña — about twenty years of practice, fifteen of them in town. The independent massage referral for the hub. “Juan Carlos just might be a demi god” — TripAdvisor; repeat verdict: best massage of their lives. spaciocr.com
Nosara WellnessNosara Holistic center established in 2000 — physical therapy, massage, acupuncture. nosarawellness.com

Wellness in Nosara is otherwise dominated by resort spas and retreat brands — these two are the independents.

Surf Photographers & Videographers

Surfing NosaraGuiones Long-running local photo operation — also does rentals and real estate, so current focus needs verifying before you book. Contact is by Instagram DM. @surfing_nosara

Other Adventures

Ostional wildlife refuge: seasonal mass turtle arrivals just north of town — entry is only with an accredited local guide from the Ostional guide association, bookable through any Nosara hotel desk. The single best non-surf story in the hub. Closer in, the Nosara Biological Reserve trails run along the river mouth — howler monkeys guaranteed.

Hub 6

Malpais / Santa Teresa Zone

The Nicoya Peninsula’s boomtown: one dusty-or-muddy road, ATVs everywhere, prices climbing yearly. Food and boutique lodging are now heavily expat-owned here — the strongest independents are in rentals, repair, and the sodas, and that’s where this list leans. Gateway: SJO plus the Puntarenas–Paquera car ferry if you’re self-driving, or a Sansa hop to the Cóbano or Tambor airstrips. LIR is technically possible but a long overland haul.

Surf Guides & Tours

Nalu Surf SchoolSanta Teresa Established local guiding and rental operation. TripAdvisor guests praise Ramón and Mario — patient coaching, riders up on day one. nalusurfschool.com
Ollie’s AdventuresSanta Teresa Local tour shop — surf tours, horseback, ATV and moto rentals. The one-stop for mixed groups. TripAdvisor riders call guide Krissy “the horse whisperer” — sunset rides a highlight. olliesadventures.net

Surf Shops · Board Rentals & Ding Repair

Kina Surf ShopCentral Santa Teresa Owner-run (Eric and Rachel) — rentals about 10 USD a day with every seventh day free. The best rental economics we found in the whole zone. “A real surf shop run by real surfers” — TripAdvisor; swap boards as often as you like. kinasurfcr.com
Denga Surf ShopSanta Teresa Big rental quiver plus respected in-house repair techs (Juan and Juampi) — the ding-repair referral for the peninsula. No website — sourced from map listings; walk in. “Awesome board repair” — TripAdvisor; Juan’s epoxy fixes called beautiful, timely work.
House of SomosSanta Teresa Hotel-plus-shop that hosts shapers — custom orders, rentals, glassing on-site. Order a custom board, pick it up on arrival. houseofsomos.com

Wheels: ATVs, Motos & 4x4

ATValeriosCenter of town, next to Kina Local family operation — quads and motos, with delivery. “The best for renting quads — really responsive and helpful,” per Google reviewers. atvalerioscostarica.com
Sweet Jungle ATVsSanta Teresa Delivers to Mal País, Cabuya, and Montezuma. atvsantateresa.com
Buggy BlueSanta Teresa Since 2019 — ATVs plus golf carts, the family-friendly fleet. 4.7 on Google — spotless quads and Bluetooth-equipped carts, renters report. buggyblue.com

ATV rental is the most crowded category in town — a dozen-plus operators; these three are the curated independents. And the 4x4 reality: in green season the Cóbano–Santa Teresa road and anything toward the Cabuya–Montezuma shortcut involves mud and water crossings — ATV or true 4x4 only.

Stays: Hotels & Bungalows

Somos HotelSanta TeresaMid-range Run by Costa Rican entrepreneurs with local materials — same family as the House of Somos shop. Hostelworld guests call it hostel prices with hotel-level comfort — “incredibly comfortable beds.” houseofsomos.com
Makanas Beach BungalowsSanta TeresaMid-range Six-unit bungalow property steps from the sand. No direct site confirmed; find them by name. TripAdvisor guests praise sunset views and “wonderfully attentive staff” — location scores 9.2.
Ritmo TropicalNorth end of the stripMid-range Ten jungle bungalows, small and owner-run. No direct site confirmed; search the name. 8.2 on Booking.com — cozy cabins around the pool, “away from the buzz.”
Banana Beach BungalowsSanta TeresaMid-range Owner-operated (Emylia), personalized. No direct site confirmed; search the name. 94% recommend it on Facebook — breakfast served right on the sand.
Funky Monkey LodgeSanta TeresaMid-range Small family-run lodge with bungalows. No direct site confirmed; search the name. Booking.com guests wake to howler monkeys — location scores 9.3.

Where to Eat

Soda TiquiciaSanta Teresa, Cóbano roadBudgetBest price-to-value plate in town — fresh mahi casado.TripAdvisor calls it a “savior restaurant” — generous casados, standout smoothies.
Soda La AmistadSanta TeresaBudgetCasados around 3,500 colones. Cash only.“The best and cheapest soda in Santa Teresa” — TripAdvisor; the only one plating fresh-cooked veggies.
Soda Típica Las PalmerasSanta TeresaConfirm on the groundThe long-running típica standby.

Wellness & Massage

Jungle WellnessSanta Teresa Independent collective of bodyworkers. “The best professionals in Santa Teresa — I tried everybody!” per client testimonials. stjunglewellness.com
Pura Vida BodyworksSanta Teresa Licensed therapists, open-air jungle studio, in-home sessions. No website — sourced from review listings; book by WhatsApp once you have the number in hand. “A true expert — best massage of my life” — TripAdvisor on Julie’s treetop studio.
BeWell Costa RicaMobile — Santa Teresa, Mal País, Montezuma Thirty years of experience and comes to your rental — the mobile-massage answer for villa groups. Client testimonials call Sabrina’s sessions “the perfect treat between surf sessions.” bewellcostarica.com

Surf Photographers & Videographers

Santa Teresa session shooterSanta Teresa An active independent shooter works this strip under the handle below — Instagram-sourced only, so verify the person and current rates before booking anything. @surf_photographer_santa_teresa

Other Adventures

The Montezuma waterfalls, Cabo Blanco Absolute Reserve (the country’s oldest protected area — historically closed Monday and Tuesday, verify current days), the Cabuya island tide-walk, and the Curú Wildlife Refuge plus Tortuga Island boat day. Local operators — Ollie’s, the hotel desks — book all of these.

Hub 7

Jacó Zone

The closest hub to SJO — about 1.5 hours down the highway, the “land at noon, in the water by four” gateway. Jacó is a full-service (and full-noise) town; Playa Hermosa town, ten minutes south, is the quiet strip of lodges and sodas. Honest finding for this hub: Jacó lodging is condo-tower and party-hostel dominated with a thin independent layer — the value here is in the guides, the board shops, and the sodas.

Surf Guides & Tours

Erly Farrier — Tico SurfJacó A Tico-owned guiding operation — Erly has 27 years in the water locally and runs surf tours to beaches south of town. The local-guide flagship for the Central Pacific; his URL carries the industry word we don’t use, but the operation itself is guiding, pure and simple. “Best experience ever!” — TripAdvisor; board use stays free for 24 hours after each session. ticosurflessons.com

Surf Shops · Board Rentals & Ding Repair

Carton Surfboards / Carton the Surf ShopSouth Jacó Locally owned — custom boards, rentals, repairs; widely called the best board stop in town. No website — sourced from map and review listings; walk in. “Best surf shop… probably in Costa Rica” — TripAdvisor; owner Ed treats you like a lifelong friend.
Walter Surf ShopJacó main drag Staffed by pro surfers and shapers, including six-time national champion Mauricio Jiménez — big rental inventory. waltersurfshop.com
Magic Mushroom Surfboards & Ding RepairJacó Dedicated independent repair shop, epoxy and poly — the named repair referral for the hub. Site testimonials on Anthonny’s hand-shaped boards: “amazing… a breeze to maneuver.” magicmushroomsurfboards.com

Where to Eat

Soda Jacó RústicoJacóBudgetBuffet-style local legend — around 8 USD a plate, and the locals queue for it.“So much delicious food for mere pocket change” — TripAdvisor; always full of locals.
Soda GarabitoDowntown JacóBudgetCafeteria-style casados.TripAdvisor diners: huge home-cooked casados with a drink for pocket change.
Soda Marea AltaSouth end of the stripBudgetFamily-owned, open basically always.“The best soda in Jacó!” — TripAdvisor; open round the clock, truckers and locals in the seats.

Stays: Hotels & Bungalows

The honest gap: Jacó lodging is condo towers and party hostels — thin on the independent layer this site lists. The small lodges cluster in Playa Hermosa town instead, and the strip there leans corporate-ish too; the smaller cabinas need verifying on the ground before we put names here.

Surf Photographers & Videographers

Independent shooters work the Hermosa town strip — the names that recur in local forums and CRSurf galleries are Augie Misiak, Justin Gillis, Nestor Rago, and David McNeill, booking by referral. These are forum-sourced only: verify the people and current rates before any booking. The ground-truthing plan is to vet one and make them the hub’s session-shoot partner.

Other Adventures

Carara National Park is twenty minutes north — the most accessible scarlet-macaw flocks in the country — with the Tárcoles crocodile bridge next door. Pura Vida Gardens has the waterfalls. All bookable via local desks.

Hub 8

Dominical / Uvita Zone

The mellow jungle-coast corridor running south from Quepos through Dominical to Uvita on the Costa Ballena: Dominical the dirt-road town, Uvita the services hub with the national marine park, Quepos the airstrip (XQP) and northern anchor. About 3–3.5 hours from SJO on Ruta 27 and the Costanera. This is the finding worth underlining: this corridor has the strongest independent-local vendor density of any hub in Costa Rica — if you want your money landing in Tico hands, this stretch makes it easy.

Surf Guides, Tours & Camps

Costa Rica Surf CampDominical Small owner-run camp (Cesar and Kaitlyn) across from the beach with a fifty-board quiver — Cesar is a respected local surfer. The top camp partner in the zone: small, local, established. TripAdvisor guests say Cesar “went above and beyond” — airport runs on time, coaching patient. crsurfschool.com
Uvita 360Uvita Tico-founded surf and adventure outfit from Álvaro “Tito” Azofeifa — surf tours plus waterfalls and whale trips, all with local guides. A single-vendor itinerary for Uvita. “Lowest price but definitely supreme service” — TripAdvisor, on the mangrove kayak day. uvita360.com
Uvita Surf CampUvita Small camp with lodging and coaching. uvitasurfcamp.com

Board Rentals

WetfallUvita–Dominical Independent rental outfit — boards around 15 USD a day. wetfall.com
Costa Rica Dive and SurfUvita Local ISA-certified crew — rentals plus guiding. 98% recommend on Facebook — Caño Island days called “seamless and fun.” costaricadiveandsurf.com

Stays: Hotels & Bungalows

Tropical Sands Dominical Eco InnDominicalMid-range Budget eco-inn one minute from the sand on a quiet dead-end road. 8.6 across 662 reviews — staff “friendly, welcoming, and attentive,” per guests. tropicalsandsdominical.com
Pacific Edge Eco LodgeRidge above DominicalitoMid-range Twenty-nine years running — owner-operated cabins with huge coast views. 4x4 access. 9.3 on Booking.com — “the best views in Dominical,” sunsets watched from hammocks. pacificedgedominical.com
Hacienda Barú LodgeJust north of DominicalConfirm on the ground Locally owned lodge attached to a private wildlife refuge, Tico breakfast included — lodging and wildlife in one independent vendor. No direct site confirmed; find it by name. “A fantastic deal — trails swarming with wildlife” steps from the rooms, per TripAdvisor.

Where to Eat

Soda NayoaDominicalBudgetCasados around 6 USD.“Best soda in Dominical!” — TripAdvisor; the batidos draw best-in-country claims.
Soda Ranchito Doña MaríaUvitaBudgetWeekday breakfast-and-lunch soda — a gallo pinto institution.“The best soda in Uvita!” — TripAdvisor; casados land at twice the usual size.
Los LaurelesUvita, 7 minutes inlandConfirm on the groundBest local plates at local prices.4.9 across two-thousand-plus reviews — owner Cindy’s fish tacos called the best ever.
Tilapias El PavónUvita hillsMid-rangeFish pulled from the on-site ponds and cooked over flame — a destination soda worth the drive.“Catch your own lunch!” — TripAdvisor; bamboo rods, waterfall next door, one flat price.

Other Adventures

Bahía AventurasUvita Tico-owned marine tour operator since 2007 — whale and dolphin trips in Marino Ballena National Park. The whale seasons (Dec–Mar and Jul–Oct) line up with surf-travel windows almost year-round. TripAdvisor guests report three-hour trips stretching to five when wildlife keeps showing. bahiaaventuras.com
Whale Watching UvitaUvita Family-owned, thirty years in the bay. Tour-platform reviewers single out guide Erika — deep whale knowledge, fresh pineapple aboard. whalewatchinguvita.com
Nauyaca WaterfallsInland from Dominical The signature waterfall of the zone, with family-run access by horseback or hike. Book ahead — find the official access by name. “Highlight of our entire Costa Rica vacation” — TripAdvisor; the horses “run the show.”

Hub 9

Matapalo Zone — Cabo Matapalo, Osa Peninsula

The remote tip of the Osa Peninsula, on the Golfo Dulce side — not to be confused with the Matapalo near Quepos. There is no town at Cabo Matapalo: just rainforest, a handful of off-grid eco-lodges, and the dirt road that continues to Carate at the edge of Corcovado National Park. Puerto Jiménez is the service town and gateway — the PJM airstrip sits in the middle of town with Sansa hops from SJO, and it holds the ATMs, fuel, and groceries; stock up before the road. From there it’s roughly 45 minutes to an hour of unpaved driving to the cape — high clearance in dry season, 4x4 in green season, with river crossings after rain. No wheels? The colectivo truck runs Puerto Jiménez–Matapalo–Carate twice a day (roughly 6 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., a few USD). Coverage here is deliberately thin — it’s a remote zone, and the ground-truthing pass will do the heavy lifting.

Stays: The Eco-Lodge Coast

Encanta La VidaCabo MatapaloLuxury Family-run, solar-powered beachfront lodge at the cape — off-grid, locally sourced kitchen, all-inclusive format. “THE place to stay in Matapalo!” — TripAdvisor; crew and kitchen draw repeat praise. encantalavida.com
El Remanso LodgeCabo MatapaloLuxury Owner-operated since 1999 on a 185-acre private rainforest reserve — twelve cabins and a deep sustainability record. “Set the bar so high I fear no other hotel will ever compare” — TripAdvisor. elremanso.com
Bosque del CaboCabo MatapaloLuxury Owner-operated since 1990 — clifftop bungalows on a 750-plus-acre forest reserve at the very tip of the peninsula. “Worth every penny” — TripAdvisor; scarlet macaws, monkeys, even wild cats on the reserve. bosquedelcabo.com
Ojo del MarCabo Matapalo road, south of Puerto JiménezMid-range Small hand-built, 100% off-grid nature lodge on four beachfront acres — five cabins and two tent cabins, solar everything. TripAdvisor guests praise Nico’s fresh-ingredient kitchen — macaws, coatis, even ocelots on the grounds. ojodelmar.com
Lapa Rios LodgeCabo MatapaloLuxury The 1,000-acre reserve lodge that put the cape on the conservation map in 1993 — the marquee name here, premium-priced. “Scarlet macaws flying all over the lodge” — TripAdvisor; 9.7 location score on Booking.com. laparios.com
Cabinas JiménezPuerto Jiménez waterfrontMid-range The in-town base: waterfront cabinas on the Golfo Dulce with free kayaks and bikes — the budget-to-mid anchor before or after the cape. Couples rate the gulf-front location 9.4 on Booking.com — kayaks and bikes on the house. cabinasjimenez.com

Corcovado & Golfo Dulce Guides

Osa Wild TravelPuerto Jiménez Community-rooted operator built around putting tourism money into local hands — Corcovado day trips and overnights with local guides. Office 100 m west of the BM supermarket. “In a class by itself” — TripAdvisor; the crew helps keep Corcovado plastic-free. osawild.travel
Surcos ToursPuerto Jiménez Costa Rican family company running Corcovado and Matapalo nature tours with certified bilingual guides. 4.9 across 968 TripAdvisor reviews — tapirs and all four monkey species spotted. surcostours.com

The Local-Secrets-adjacent draw: Corcovado National Park — the most biodiverse corner of the country. Guides are mandatory inside the park; from this side you enter via La Leona sector past Carate, or by boat to Sirena station out of Puerto Jiménez. Book through the local operators above, not a San José reseller.

Where to Eat — Puerto Jiménez

Marisquería CorcovadoPuerto Jiménez, on the waterMid-rangeFresh-catch seafood and ceviche on the gulf. Walk in.“Best food in Costa Rica” — TripAdvisor; generous bocas, gulf-front tables on the malecón.
Restaurante CarolinaPuerto Jiménez centerBudgetThe long-standing local standby — casados at local prices. Walk in.Thirty-plus years on the main drag — “inexpensive, traditional” Tico plates, per local reviews.
Cafetería MonkaPuerto JiménezConfirm on the groundBreakfasts and Costa Rican coffee before the colectivo or the airstrip. Walk in.4.5 on TripAdvisor — smoothies and gallo pinto breakfasts called “the perfect wait.”

Out at the cape itself, the lodges feed you — that’s the format. These are the town tables on either side of the road trip. All findable by name on the map; none keep websites.

Hub 10

Pavones Zone

The end-of-the-road Golfo Dulce outpost. The whole grid: four grocery stores, pulperías, and a veggie truck at the Río Claro plaza on Mondays and Fridays. Gateway: SJO plus a Sansa hop to Golfito (GLF — recently renovated), then 1.5–2 hours of rough road; or a full-day drive from San José. Cash-heavy town — fuel up and hit an ATM before you arrive. Coverage here is deliberately light, and one thing said plainly: Pavones runs largely offline. Most vendors book by WhatsApp, and those numbers get collected in person — that’s exactly what the ground-truthing trip is for.

The Curated List

Pavones Surf ShopPavones Locally co-owned by Arelys and Randy Walker — boards shaped in town by a 35-year shaper, plus rentals. The anchor vendor for the entire far south. “Randy is the best” — TripAdvisor; riders call his classic fish shapes “magical.” pavones-surfshop.com
Sea Kings Surf ShopPavones Rental quiver around 20 USD a day with long-stay discounts. Listed via the local pavonescr.com directory — no site of its own; walk in.
Cabinas & Café de la SuertePavones centerMid-range Twenty-plus years of vegetarian food and simple rooms — the town institution. No direct site confirmed; find it by name or ask anyone in town. 9.2 on Booking.com — “Loooooove this place”; falafel and shakshuka fresh and homemade.
La PonderosaPavonesMid-range Owner-run lodge — the owner has been in town since 1989 — with a pool and restaurant. “Best place we stayed in Costa Rica” — TripAdvisor; made-to-order breakfasts, afternoon smoothies. laponderosapavones.com
Gypsy WagonsPavonesConfirm on the ground Quirky wagon-cabina stay with a community kitchen. No direct site confirmed; search the name. “Awesome place… like a wooden boat inside” — TripAdvisor; Friday taco night draws the town.
Los Almendros & Brisas del MarPavonesConfirm on the ground Simple local kitchens — fresh fish and ceviche. Walk in.

Far-south add-ons: Golfo Dulce boat trips (dolphins, mangroves) run from the Golfito and Zancudo side, and Piedras Blancas National Park sits inland. The operators are informal — this gets verified on the ground.

Hub 11

Puerto Viejo Zone (Caribbean)

A completely different country in feel: Afro-Caribbean culture, rice-and-beans cooked in coconut milk, jungle running to the sand. Gateway: SJO plus about 4.5 hours on Ruta 32 — build buffer, the mountain section is subject to fog and landslide closures — or a Sansa hop to Limón (LIO) and an hour by road. The planning insight that matters: the Caribbean’s dry, calm-weather windows sit opposite the Pacific’s — roughly February–April and September–October — so this coast is the answer when the Pacific calendar works against you. Bikes are the town transport. Coverage here is deliberately light until the ground-truthing pass.

Surf Guides & Tours

Caribbean Surf School & ShopPuerto Viejo center Hershel Lewis — the long-standing local guiding name on this coast, with a shop in the town center. No website; sourced from traveler listings — walk in or ask for Hershel. “Hershel is the best!” — TripAdvisor; he also teaches local kids for free.
Surf the JunglePuerto Viejo Local guiding plus small camps. TripAdvisor guests: Misael spots sloths mid-outing and hands out coconuts and sugar cane after. surfthejunglecostarica.com

Wheels: Bikes — the Local Transport

Puerto Viejo Bike RentalsTown center Boutique bike and e-bike rental — bikes ARE the logistics here. WhatsApp +506 8971 2196. TripAdvisor: Elena and José’s bikes “in perfect condition” — cruisers from seven bucks a day. puertoviejobikerentals.com
Ciclo Cocles Bike Shop / Pura RidePuerto Viejo–Cocles Four stores — everything from bikes through UTVs. “Best rental ever — super smooth experience,” per customer testimonials. ciclococlesbikeshop.com

Stays: Hotels & Bungalows

CaribeTown BungalowsCoclesMid-range Family-run (Joel and Karilily) bungalows near town. TripAdvisor guests wake to sloths and toucans — cooked-to-order breakfasts praised. caribetown.com
Azania BungalowsCoclesConfirm on the ground Ten thatched bungalows in gardens. 4.5 on Google — “excellent value,” ample breakfast folded into the rate. azania-costarica.com

Where to Eat

Soda JohannaPuerto ViejoBudgetThe rice-and-beans benchmark.“Best rice and beans in Puerto Viejo” — TripAdvisor; the homemade hot sauce gets its own fans.
Soda TamaraPuerto ViejoBudgetThe classic.4.6 on Google — coconut-milk rice and beans; expect a line at peak hours.
Cocomar Comida CaribeñaPuerto ViejoBudgetCaribbean home cooking.TripAdvisor calls its rice and beans “the best in town” — live music some nights.
Soda RiquísimoPuerto ViejoBudgetDoes what the name promises.4.4 across a thousand-plus reviews — Caribbean-sauce chicken “moist, tender, flavorsome.”
Soda Paradise / ShekináPuerto ViejoBudgetA mother-and-daughters family pair.TripAdvisor favorites at Shekiná: red snapper in curry sauce at “very fair prices.”

All walk-ins, all budget, all findable on the map by name — none keep websites, which is the point.

Other Adventures

The Jaguar Rescue Center near Playa Chiquita, Cahuita National Park’s snorkel-and-hike day, chocolate tours on the Bribri indigenous territory inland, and kayaking around Punta Uva. Book through town desks.

The signature list

Local Secrets

Fifteen non-surf reasons this zone rewards the curious. This is the stuff most visitors fly straight past.

Nauyaca Waterfalls Inland from Dominical
A two-tier giant with a swimmable bowl — go at opening to beat the tour vans.
Tilapias El Pavón Uvita hills
The catch-your-own-lunch pond soda — fish over open flame in the hills.
The Ostional Arribada Near Nosara · Aug–Nov peak, days after the new moon
Hundred-thousand-turtle mass nesting events. Local-guide mandatory — book through the Ostional guide association via any Nosara hotel desk.
Rosi’s Soda Tica Nosara
The casado benchmark of the Nicoya — two locations, one standard.
Montezuma Waterfalls Near Santa Teresa
Three tiers. Morning light, weekday visits.
Cabo Blanco Absolute Reserve Mal País end of the road
The country’s oldest protected land — historically closed Monday and Tuesday, so verify open days before the drive.
Curú Wildlife Refuge + Tortuga Island Paquera side
A family-run refuge with spider monkeys, paired with a clear-water boat day.
Carara National Park 20 minutes from Jacó
The most accessible scarlet-macaw flocks in the country — with the Tárcoles crocodile bridge freak show next door.
Soda Jacó Rústico Jacó
A buffet line that has literally been on the national news.
Marino Ballena Whale Windows Uvita · Dec–Mar and Jul–Oct
Two humpback seasons give near-year-round coverage — book the Tico operators in the Dominical / Uvita Zone hub above.
Hacienda Barú Refuge Dominical
Sloths and night walks on a locally owned reserve.
Jaguar Rescue Center Puerto Viejo
The Caribbean’s best wildlife morning — volunteer-run tours.
Bribri Chocolate Tours Inland from Puerto Viejo
Indigenous-territory cacao farms — book through the town desks.
Golfo Dulce Boat Mornings The far south
Resident dolphins in one of the world’s few tropical fjords.
The Río Claro Veggie Truck Pavones · Mondays and Fridays
The town’s social event — it shows up in every long-stayer’s weekly routine, and so should you.

Logistics FAQ

Questions people actually ask.

Should I fly into SJO or LIR?

Depends on your hub. LIR (Liberia) is the Guanacaste door — Tamarindo and Playa Grande about an hour and fifteen minutes, Nosara about 2.5 hours with a rough final stretch. SJO (San José) serves everything else — Jacó and Hermosa town about 1.5 hours, Dominical and Uvita 3–3.5 hours, Santa Teresa via the ferry, the Caribbean side about 4.5 hours — and it’s the domestic-flight hub for the Sansa hops. Both have year-round nonstops from LAX; SFO runs seasonal and one-stop options.

Do I really need a 4x4?

Depends where and when. Not for the paved Tamarindo and Jacó corridors. Strongly advised year-round for Nosara and Santa Teresa — the last stretch into both is unpaved. Required in green season for Nosara back-routes, the Santa Teresa–Montezuma shortcuts, the hills above Dominical and Uvita, and anything past Golfito toward Pavones. And in the rainy months, unbridged river crossings on the Nicoya back-roads and in the far south become impassable after storms — route inland after heavy rain.

Can I bring my boards on the Sansa flights?

Maybe — and that maybe is the single biggest packing risk in the zone. Sansa flies small caravans with strict weight limits, and boards travel space-available with policy varying by route. Nothing is confirmed as of this research pass — check directly with Sansa before building a fly-in itinerary around a boardbag. Renting on arrival is often the smarter play; every hub above has an independent rental shop listed.

What are the boardbag fees for flying to Costa Rica?

As of 2026: Alaska treats board bags as standard checked bags. United, American, and Delta now mostly give standard-bag treatment under 50 pounds. Avianca and Copa vary by fare class. Policies churn constantly — confirm with the airline at booking, and remember the Sansa domestic legs are a separate, stricter question.

How do I avoid a car break-in?

Never leave anything visible in a parked car, ever — trailhead and beach parking lots are worked systematically, and rental stickers mark targets. Take valuables with you, and pay the informal parking “watchman” the few hundred colones — it works. The national pattern is opportunistic petty theft, not violence: unattended bags, visible valuables, unlocked rentals.

Dry season or green season?

Pacific: dry season roughly December–April — dusty, hot, near-zero rain in Guanacaste. Green season May–November — afternoon rains, lush everything, rivers up, September–October wettest. Caribbean: inverted — its driest windows are roughly February–April and September–October, exactly when the Pacific is wettest. A two-coast trip can dodge weather nearly year-round.

Colones or US dollars?

Both work. The currency is the colón (CRC); USD is accepted nearly everywhere at soft exchange rates. Pay colones at sodas and small local businesses, cards at hotels and bigger operations. ATMs thin out in Pavones and run fee-heavy in Santa Teresa — carry cash as you head south.

The fine print

Disclosure & how this page works.

Straight talk: Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you book through them, Secrets of Surf Travel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link places and people we’d use ourselves, and coverage is never for sale. Those commissions are what keep this site running and fund the next trip.

Today, no affiliate links are live on this page — every link is a plain courtesy link. As partnerships with these local businesses come online, some links (and discount codes, where Secrets of Surf Travel benefits from their use) may earn us a commission, and this page will keep saying so plainly. Coverage is never for sale: nobody on this page paid to be here, and nobody can.

Every listing was researched in 2026 and is being verified in person. Prices, hours, and policies change — treat them as strong starting points and confirm directly with the business. And per the No-Reveal Code: you will find no surf spots on this page, ever.