Surf's Up at Playa Cocles on Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast

[Shannon Farley]

While there may not be 70-foot point break waves like in the movies, Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast still sports some of the top surf spots in the hemisphere. 

For one thing, the town of Puerto Viejo is home to the most powerful wave in Costa Rica: “Salsa Brava”. The thick, Hawaiian-style wave builds in deep water and breaks over a shallow reef right in front of the funky Caribbean beach town. For advanced surfers only, Surfline notes: “Salsa Brava loosely translated means ‘angry sauce’, and if that ain't a groovy little metaphor, nothing is. It is called Costa Rica's heaviest and best wave, and believe it: pound for pound, it's as intense as any coral reef double-up right tube in the world.”

Just around the corner from Salsa Brava, Playa Cocles – known as one of the prettiest beaches on the Caribbean coast – was the site of the first national Costa Rica surf competition of the 2016 season at the end of January. 

2015 was a big year for Costa Rica’s National Surf Team – flying high with the ultimate win of World Surfing Champions in June and then making Central American Champions in December 2015.

Playa Cocles offers a consistent beach break with both lefts and rights. The Costa Rica Caribbean coast surf report keeps you posted on wave conditions. Check Puerto Viejo weather here.

Where to Stay in Playa Cocles, Costa Rica

One of the finest Costa Rica boutique hotels on the Caribbean Coast and an Enchanting Hotel of Costa Rica, Hotel Le Caméléon is located across the street from beautiful Playa Cocles, where the hotel has a private beach club. 

Want to go surfing? Hotel Le Caméléon can arrange surf rentals or lessons. Be sure to check out all of the other activities available. The Costa Rica Caribbean beach hotel provides spa services, private yoga classes, a first-class restaurant, reading/lounging areas, and a lap pool and cool water Jacuzzi.

Plan your trip now to the best value destination for 2016 by the Lonely Planet – Caribbean Costa Rica! Getting there is easy with daily flights from San Jose to Limon on Nature Air and Sansa Airlines.