Tucan Hotel & Hostel - A Travelers Rest in Uvita De Osa, Costa Rica

Uvita de Osa Surfing

Are you planning to catch some surf on your vacation in Uvita or Costa Rica? Check out our map and surfing guide. Also see our rentals page for info about our surf board rentals. We also have a local surf teacher if you are just starting out. Just ask at reception when you come in for information about lessons.

Surfing in Uvita: Don't let the guide books tell you that there is no surfing south of Dominical. As it happens, we feel that Playas Bahía, Ventanas & Hermosa are perfect beaches for beginners & intermediates. Nice waves and no crowds ... MMMM!

The Caribbean
1 -Manzanillo Very fast beach break located 20 km from Puerto Viejo, Limon. Rustic lodging and typical food. Located close to unpaved road, and easy to get to
2 - Puerto Viejo Very thick and voluminous wave that comes from deep water onto shallow reef, also called "salsa", for its juice power. This place gets very big and tubular (legitimate big wave). Salsa approx.3-1/2 hour drive from San Jose. Restaurant and accommodation close to point.
3 - Black Beach, Cahuita. Excellent beach break, not well known and therefore not heavily visited. Waves all year round.
4 - Westfalia Stretch of beach breaks extending south from Limon to Cahuita, offering lefts and rights that tend to close out where the swell gets too big.
5 - Playa Bonita Point/reef break known for very thick, powerful and dangerous left. Located 5 km north of Limon (downtown).
6 - Portete Small bay located north of playa Bonita. With a right working off southerly point. Close to limon, easy access.
7 - Isla Uvita Island off coast of Limon. A good left. Isla Uvita about 20 min boat ride from Limon with passage available at certain times of year.
8 - North Caribbean Coast Good beach break waves accessible via Tortuguero channels or by private plane. Rent a boat to take you through channels near Puerto Moin, 15 km north of playa Bonita.
North Pacific Coast
9 - Potrero Grande Right point break, with very fast and hollow waves. Located 270 kms from San Jose with no road access. Go to playas del coco or playa Ocotal and from there by rented boat.
10 - Playa Naranjo (Witch's rock) one of best breaks in country, with very strong off-shore winds from Dec to March. Wilderness point in national park of Santa Rosa. Go totally prepared for camping since there are no facilities. Good 4wd a must, and don''t forget mosquito net.
11 - Playa Grande Beach break, located about 20 mins north of Tamarindo. Accessible by road.
12 - Playa Tamarindo 2 mains points : Pico Pequeño rocky point in front of hotel Tamarindo, and el estero, excellent river mouth break.
13 - Langosta A right and left point break that curls off mouth of small river, located 1 km south of Tamarindo.
14 - Avellanas Good beach break, 'guanacasteco' featuring very hollow rights and lefts. 10 km south of Tamarindo.
15 - Playa Negra Right point break with very fast waves, 350 kms from San Jose. One of best breaks in country. 5 km south of playa Avellanas.
16 - Nosara Beach break, with lefts and rights. About 350 kms from San Jose. Go from San Jose to Nicoya and from there to Nosara. Approx. 5 hour trip.
17 - 18 - 19 - Playa Coyote, Manzanillo, & Mal Pais Beach breaks, with very consistent lefts & rights and several points. 4 wd vehicle recommended. Lot of places to stay.
Central Pacific Coast
20 - Boca Barranca river mouth with very long left, 100 kms of San Jose with excellent access, paved road. Many places to stay. Dark water during rainy season scares off many. Boca Barranca and any other nearby beach not contaminated. Boca Barranca offers some of best waves.
21 - Puerto Caldera Very good left located 3 km south of Boca Barranca, Puntarenas.
22 - Playa Tivives and Valor Variety of waves from beach breaks (Tivives) to rocky point (valor). Good quality rights and lefts.
23 - Playa Escondida Excellent point break that peaks up forming very good left & surfable right. Accessible by land, if member of beach club (fresh water shower on beach for member & guests), or by taxi boat to cove to south. Rent a boat from playa Jaco or playa Herradura.
24 - Playa Jaco Can be good beach break when surf not too big. Tends to close out when over 5 ft. Playa Jaco approx 2 hrs from San Jose (140 km), and waves not always dependable. One of principal - surfing, because of location on central pacific and being close to many places, specially playa Hermosa, playa Escondida, and Boca Barranca, Puntarenas. Jaco is growing center of tourism enjoyment, with hotels, cabins and camp grounds.
25 - Roca Loca 1.5 km south of playa Jaco. A rocky point with rights that break over submerged rocks. To get the point, you will have to climb a small hill.
26 - Playa Hermosa and Others Very strong beach break. This long stretch of break peaks working any given day, but preferred sand bar in front of large tree known as Almendro. Waves conditions generally best when tide is rising. Don't forget to tip kids who open gate for your car.
27, 28, 29, 30 Esterillos Este, Esterillos Oeste, Bejuco, Boca Damas. Beach breaks, good wave forms, points very close to playa Hermosa, making easy access and many nearby accommodations. Wave conditions very similar to playa Hermosa.
South Pacific Coast
31 - Quepos This small left `point is found at river mouth in city of Quepos, easy access with many restaurants and accommodations.
32 - Playita - Manuel Antonio Beach break, lefts and rights with good shape. This area needs larger swell for surf to show.
33 - Playa El Rey Rights and lefts beach break peaks. Best access is taking road to playa Dominical, 25 mins from Quepos, in Roncador go right 11 kms.
34 - Playa Dominical Good, strong beach break with lefts & rights. Beautiful landscapes & very tropical.
35 - Drake's Bay & area accessible only by boat. Remote break offers long, powerful waves when swell running. Boca del Rio Sierpe, another place with exciting potential for same kind of waves . Corcovado national park, adjacent lush, tropical wilderness, approximately 1-1/2 hours by boat.
36 - Pavones Excellent left point, considered one of longest in world. Good shape and very fast. 400 kms from San Jose (8 hours by car). Bring camping gear if you wish to hang there. Out on peninsula across Pavones, half-hour boat ride away, reputedly series of right points equivalent of Pavones's world class lefts.
37 - Matapalo Excellent right point located in front of Pavones, by road from Pavones or by car from Golfito. Perfect waves. 38 - Punta Burica Very remote reef breaks. Accessible only by boat, No accommodations. Not much known. If you really want to get away...