Costa Rica: Where Bodyboarders Meet Birdwatchers
What do bodyboarders and birdwatchers have in common? At first glance, absolutely nothing. One scans the horizon for perfectly peeling waves; the other peers into the treetops for a flicker of feathers. And yet, somehow, both end up in the same bucket-list destination: Costa Rica.
It’s easy to see how wires get crossed. Each tribe speaks its own language, one that, to outsiders, sounds surprisingly similar. Bodyboarders talk of the “claw grip,” “clipped tails,” and fins like duck’s feet, while birders fire back with “inverted nuthatches” and terms that wouldn’t sound out of place in the surf, – “a bumbarrel,” anyone? Both are gloriously obsessive, homing in on the smallest details, constantly refreshing weather apps and chasing the next perfect sighting… or ride.
And that’s the twist. Despite their differences, they’re drawn to Costa Rica for remarkably similar reasons. One comes for a kaleidoscope of birdlife; the other for warm water (28 to 30°C) and world-class waves. Both are really chasing the same thing, raw, untamed nature at its best.
I realised this somewhere above the Nicoya Peninsula on my first trip there, wedged into a tiny Cessna plane beside an enthusiastic birder. He was on his way to Cueva Murciélagos Wildlife Reserve, just south of Santa Teresa, while I was heading for a Bodyboard Holiday in Santa Teresa itself. At the time, our conversations felt worlds apart. But by sheer coincidence, we crossed paths again on the journey home. sunburnt, salt-streaked, and glowing as we compared notes.
Somewhere between his rare sightings and my perfect waves, we reached the same conclusion: it wasn’t just the birds or the waves that made Costa Rica unforgettable, it was everything else. The food, the people, the wildlife, the sunsets, the accessibility, and that unmistakable Pura Vida way of life. In this article, I’ll dive into nine reasons why I keep coming back year after year since 2016.
1. A Charter Plane Sets the Tone
It starts before you even land properly. The short 30-minute flight from San José down to Santa Teresa is more than just a transfer, it sets the tone for the entire trip: adventure, nature, and excitement.
This isn’t your usual airport routine. The same guy who checks you in walks you out to the plane, hands you a cold beer, and, at the last minute, switches his high-vis for sunglasses and a captain’s hat before flying you over the Nicoya Peninsula.
For half an hour, you’re rattling through thermals above dense jungle, volcanic hills rolling into coastline, and the turquoise Pacific opening up ahead. The propellers roar, the plane bumps through the air, and there’s a feeling that you’re already deep into the experience, not just travelling to it.
By the time you touch down, Costa Rica has already done what it does best: pulled you straight into its rhythm.
If you are concerned about flying in small planes, there is an option to drive down to the Santa Teresa!
2. Pura Vida
If there’s a phrase that captures the spirit of Costa Rica, it’s Pura Vida. You’ll hear it everywhere, at airports, in the lineup, shouted between strangers in the street. On the surface, it translates to “pure life,” but that barely scratches the surface.
It’s a greeting, a goodbye, a thank you, and a way of saying “all is good” rolled into one. More than that, it’s a mindset. Life moves a little slower here, priorities shift, and the small things, good waves, a wildlife sighting, an ice-cold Imperial at sunset, carry more weight. Whether you’re chasing swell or scanning the canopy, Pura Vida ties it all together, and before long, you find yourself living by it too.
It’s that slower pace that keeps pulling me back every January with Bodyboarding Holidays, a time to slow down, recalibrate, and reset.
It’s also no coincidence that Costa Rica is home to one of the world’s few Blue Zones, where people consistently live beyond 100 years old. Life here doesn’t just feel good in the moment, it feels built for longevity.
3. Escaping the January Blues (Without the Hassle)
There’s no better time to leave cold, grey Europe and the post-Christmas comedown than January. When everything feels flat and routine, Costa Rica is the reset button.
Swap winter layers for boardshorts, grey skies for tropical colour, and routine for something that feels alive. Life naturally shifts into clean living here, fresh food, early starts, saltwater, sunshine. Without trying, you fall into a rhythm that just works.
On our last trip, we were clocking 12,000 plus steps a day without even thinking about it, just moving between surf checks, beaches, and downtime, on top of two bodyboard sessions most days. You come back feeling lighter, not just physically, but mentally too.
And the best part? It’s surprisingly easy to get to. For Americans and Canadians, it’s a straightforward flight with frequent connections. From the UK and mainland Europe, there are also direct routes into San José or Liberia, making the whole journey simple for somewhere that feels this remote.
It’s that rare kind of destination that delivers a real bodyboarding adventure without the logistical headache.
“In my early twenties I worked for ThreeSixty bodyboard magazine, Carve Surfing Magazine and Surf Girl magazine, and they asked me to choose a destination to visit to write a travel feature and I decided that I wanted to go to Costa Rica. I'd heard great things from friends, I’d read that the weather should be phenomenal on a daily basis and I was keen to escape the UK in January, so I headed over there, and I wasn't disappointed! …I’ve been back almost every year since, and I’ve never seen it rain”
4. The Waves
It would be a crime to write a bodyboarding blog about Costa Rica without talking about the waves.
Santa Teresa delivers fun, sand bottomed beach breaks that are as playful as they are consistent. Get up early and you’ll find them empty, offshore, and perfectly groomed, the kind of conditions that make it ideal for learning, progressing, or just getting a belly full of waves before breakfast.
Typically, you’re looking at 1 metre, peaky, clean waves offering a bit of everything: barrels, clean walls for carving, and sections that beg to be boosted off. It’s the kind of surf where you don’t stop moving the entire session.
From our camp, we rotate between five or six go to spots depending on sandbanks and swell direction, each one offering its own variation on the same theme: warm water, jungle backdrop, and pure fun. Even better, all of these beaches are within walking distance from our jungle accommodation, making it easy to chase the best conditions without ever needing to jump in a car.
“It’s summer all year round here. The water temperature is eighty five degrees fahrenheit or about twenty eight degrees celsius year round the waves don’t stop coming! Perfect waves to learn bodyboarding or for the advanced rider to get even better.”
And best of all, these white sand beaches, with lush green jungle as a backdrop and morning sunrise light, make for epic water shots—and we guarantee to capture a magazine worthy watershot of you, ready to take pride of place on your mantlepiece.
“Next up was the waves. As a fan of lefts, I initially thought I wouldn't like it so much because there were predominantly right-handers but after further investigation spending time there I found that whilst there are a lot of fast-breaking barrelling right-handers, there are also lots of short, sharp bowling left-handers so it has something for everybody.”
5. Wildlife Encounters Everywhere
It’s in the early morning that you first hear it the loud, guttural calls of howler monkeys echoing through the trees, adding another layer to the dawn patrol adventure.
While my birder friend was chasing exotic sightings and I was focused on bodyboarding, we both agreed on one thing: some of the most memorable moments came from the wildlife encounters themselves.
Parrots and toucans become your alarm clock, joined by flashes of hummingbirds darting through the trees and the unmistakable calls of magpie jays overhead. With over 300 bird species in the Nicoya Peninsula, there’s always something moving, calling, or catching your eye. Macaws cut across the sky, while iguanas casually cross your path like they own the place. White-faced capuchin monkeys are also often seen, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot a sloth hanging quietly in the trees, almost impossible to notice unless you slow down.
In the water, it continues. Rays glide beneath you, turtles surface between sets, and during the right season, whales can be spotted further out to sea. Flying fish skim across the surface, pelicans cruise past on effortless fly-bys, and if you’re lucky, a flash of blue from a morpho butterfly drifts through the trees as you head back from the beach.
“What struck me at first on arrival was how green the place was, just incredible jungle everywhere and the biodiversity blew my mind!”
6. The People You Meet
Costa Rica isn’t just waves and wildlife, it’s the people that bring it all together.
The locals embody Pura Vida effortlessly, welcoming, relaxed, and always up for a chat. But just as memorable are the people who come on the trip itself.
Bodyboarding holidays tend to pull together a mix you wouldn’t normally find in one place, different ages, backgrounds, nationalities and abilities, but once you’re in the water sharing waves, all of that disappears. What you’re left with is a shared passion, early starts, and long days in the ocean that often turn into lasting friendships.
We’re also lucky to have ex-pro bodyboarder Jay Reale and Vicki join trips, whose energy, stories, and positivity help shape the whole atmosphere. Their deep knowledge of the sport and on-the-spot coaching tips add real value in the water, helping everyone improve while keeping things fun. They bring experience, but more importantly, they bring genuine enthusiasm for the ocean and that sets the tone for everyone.
“Yeah, it's been a diverse group from all around the world and everyone's just having fun. And you know what I love about them is none of them have egos, you know? They're just super rad and you kind of have to be rad to be a bodyboarder. So, I love that!.”
7. Sunsets That Steal the Show
Those lasting friendships are often cemented in the simplest of ways, sunset drinks in hand, waxing lyrical about the day’s waves, wildlife encounters, and everything in between.
If there’s one daily ritual in Santa Teresa, it’s sunset. And everyone shows up for it.
The sky shifts through gold, orange, pink, and deep purple as surfers catch the last waves of the day. Everything slows down. Conversations fade. Everyone ends up facing the same direction.
You don’t need to overthink it, just walk onto the beach at Playa Santa Teresa, or grab a drink at one of the beachfront spots along the main strip, and settle in. Playa Hermosa offers a quieter, more expansive version of the same show if you want space.
One sunset turns into two drinks, which turns into a daily habit. It becomes non-negotiable. My favourite way to do it is a pre sunset bodyboard session at Banana Beach, followed by drinks as the sun drops, grabbing some food with the crew, and soaking up the live music as night rolls in.
“What's not to love? Palm trees, coconuts, sunshine, uncrowded surf with 84 degree water. And good friends. I mean it's living the dream right here in Costa Rica. You are blowing it if you're not here.”
8. Fuel for the Good Life
And it’s not just Banana Beach that does good food, Santa Teresa punches well above its weight when it comes to eating well.
Mornings start early, often up at 5am for the first surf, with breakfast only coming after the session, strong coffee and fresh fruit, smoothie bowls, eggs, something light and clean to refuel after the water.
Lunch is simple and fresh: poke bowls, tacos, grilled plates that keep you moving through the day.
Dinner is where it really opens up. Wood-fired pizzas, fresh seafood, international dishes, plant-based options you can eat as clean or as indulgent as you want, often in the same day.
One of my personal favourite spots is Eat Street, a laid-back open-air food hub in the heart of Santa Teresa where different kitchens come together to serve everything from fresh, healthy bowls to proper comfort food, all in a relaxed, social setting. It’s the kind of place you end up going back to more than once in a trip.
My go-to order is the smoked mushroom burrito with sweet potato fries, washed down with a coconut water, and finished off with an espresso and tiramisu for dessert. – You can take the man out of Europe, but not the Europe out the man.
9. Things to Do (Beyond Bodyboarding… or Birding)
If all the aforementioned hasn’t already got you searching Skyscanner for the next flight to Costa Rica, there’s also a wide variety of things to do when you’re not bodyboarding (or birding) your way through the day.
Many of our guests head out for ATV missions along dusty coastal roads in the afternoons, kicking up dirt as you weave between beaches and hidden viewpoints. It’s an easy way to cover ground and explore a bit further afield without losing that sense of adventure.
For something slower, yoga sessions are everywhere in Santa Teresa, offering the perfect reset after early surf starts and long mornings in the ocean. Horseback rides at sunset give you a completely different perspective of the coastline, while snorkelling trips offshore open up a whole other world beneath the surface.
A standout for many is the canopy zipline through the jungle, flying through the treetops with sweeping views over dense rainforest and out toward the Pacific. It’s fast, a little wild, and an unforgettable way to see the landscape from above.
But for me, the highlight is always the trip to Montezuma waterfall. A beautiful hike through lush jungle leads you deeper into the valley, with flashes of wildlife along the way, before arriving at a series of cascading falls. Here you can cool off with a refreshing, invigorating dip right beneath the waterfall itself. Afterward, the best seat in the house is a warm rock on the edge of the pool, watching adventurous youngsters launching themselves from various high ledges into the water below. It’s nature meets adventure in its purest form.
Why Bodyboarding Comes Together in Costa Rica
So what do bodyboarders and birdwatchers have in common?
More than you might think.
By the end of a trip like this, it becomes clear that Costa Rica isn’t just about the waves or the wildlife on their own. It’s about everything wrapped around them, the jungle you wake up in, the people you share the ocean with, the food you refuel on, the sunsets you don’t rush, and the slow rhythm of life that somehow makes it all feel effortless.
That birder I met on our propeller flight over the Nicoya Peninsula was chasing rare sightings in the canopy. I was chasing perfect waves on the coast. Different paths, same outcome. We both left Costa Rica with the same feeling—that it had a way of pulling you in, slowing you down, and quietly resetting everything.
And maybe that’s the real magic. Not just what you come for, but everything you don’t expect to stay for.
It’s why I’ve kept coming back year after year since 2016. And it’s why so many people who join us on Bodyboarding Holidays end up doing the same.
If you’re ready for your own version of that experience, waves at dawn, jungle at your doorstep, good times, and sunsets that stop time, come join us in Costa Rica.
“Costa Rica is freaking amazing. Like waking up frothing in the morning knowing you're going to get barreled and get good waves. It's so fun!”
