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PURA VIDA! WELCOME TO COSTA RICA
Bright blue barrels, the world’s most beautiful beaches, tropical wildlife, jungle-backed coastline, great food, mellow pace of life, kaleidoscopic sunsets, bodyboarding in boardshorts, consistent offshore winds and Pacific swell. What more could you want on this Costa Rican bodyboarding holiday of a lifetime?
You’ll be waking up early to the sound of howler monkeys and calling macaws to take advantage of the perfect morning conditions and uncrowded line ups. We base ourselves at the beach all morning where you can get in and out at will to eat, hydrate and take stock of the paradise you’re in. When the unfavorable onshore winds arrive, we drag our blissfully exhausted bodies back to camp to chill, eat great food and view the days video before sharing some sunset beers with newly made friends.
The consistent sand bottomed beach breaks offer a fun park for bodyboarders of all abilities. The waves are never too big or too small and the beaches are lifeguarded, so, get ready for a week of awesome bodyboard coaching. You’ll also meet some great people all wanting to score epic waves, enjoy the beach lifestyle and improve their riding – a recipe of interests which always makes for a great group vibe.
Santa Teresa (7 nights)
Here we spend seven nights at a surf & yoga lodge nestled into the jungle but just a short walk from the idyllic beaches.
Throughout the week we will deliver several bodyboarding related workshops that are optional to attend.
We spend a lot of time bodyboarding, but when it is finished for the day, people’s time is then their own to visit the local coffee spots, surf shops or chic boutiques that Santa Teresa has to offer, or simply chill in the pool or with a book in a hammock. We organise an excursion to the waterfall and guide you through the jungle to this epic location.
We enjoy epic evening meals together at the camp or occasionally visit one of the beach front restaurants. The highlight of each evening is the end of day free surf. We take a cooler box to the beach, set up camp, enjoy the incredible sunset with a cold drink and buy snacks from the local vendors who walk the sands selling everything from cookies to quesadillas!
Each day we’ll get up early and score perfect, clean waves, tracking down the best peaks and breaks along this special palm-fringed coastline.
The sheer variety of sand banks means there is truly something for everyone – whether you’re just starting to catch the booging bug and want to nail the basics, or you’re a seasoned traveller, simply looking for some tropical pits and ramps to tear apart.
With low crowds, no localism, high swell consistency, offshore winds and a big variety of surf spots, travelling bodyboarders are spoiled for choice in the breaks around Santa Teresa and south to Playa Carmen.
From sucky, fast barrels at low tide to mellower peaks at high, and some pumping point breaks only a short distance away, the waves on this coast are a fantastic arena for high-performance bodyboarding. You really couldn’t wish for better setups and consistent conditions to improve your abilities.
Our bodyboarder-friendly accommodation is located amid palm trees just 200m from the white sandy beaches and warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.
It comprises a welcoming guest house, comfortable bungalows, a refreshing swimming pool and a reasonably priced restaurant. A yoga area is located on the guest house’s second floor and the garden spa offers massages. There is a family of howler monkeys that live in the jungle canopy above!
ROOMS
LARGE BUNGALOW
BUNGALOWS
Prices are based on individuals sharing a room. If you are a couple and would like a private room please contact us for a price.
When it comes to meal times, we’re super fortunate that the food in Santa Teresa is incredible. The reason? Well, many surf-loving chefs from around the world have visited this peninsula and never returned home, deciding instead to set up kitchens in their own slice of paradise!
The restaurant at our accommodation offers a great selection of dishes. Traditional Costa Rican cuisine includes Gallo Pinto (a tasty brekky consisting of rice and black beans) deep fried plantains and a whole host of fresh fruit including mango, guava and starfruit. We can send you a varied menu before the trip begins to get your taste buds tingling! The Bodyboard-Holidays staff team choose to eat almost exclusively here as it’s so convenient with the restaurant being on-site. Bottomless filter water is also available free of charge for guests staying in the accommodation.
If you would like to explore a little further out, there are plenty of other nearby restaurants, bars and cafes offering fantastic food options should you wish to switch it up. One night during the trip we will organise a social get together meal at a stunning seaside restaurant. There’s also a nearby supermarket if you want extra snacks, such as salty plantain, corn chips or “chorreadas” pancakes.
We also offer a self catering option if you are on a budget or you would just prefer to cook for yourself.
Food is not included in the package price. Please see ‘What to Budget For’ for further details.
Intermediate and foundation level coaching
Our coaching team offers daily tuition, tailored to your ability with instructors who are in-house qualified and fully insured. Our team are all experienced lifeguards, some have 30 years of surfing experience and 20 years of worldwide travel experience all trained by multiple-times British National Champion and Team Coach Rob Barber.
You’ll never be thrown straight into the deep end. We’ve got your back whatever your ability, and that’s a promise. Likewise, intermediate and advanced-level coaching is also tailored towards the individual. We use separate ability groups to ensure that everyone receives one-to-one tailored tuition.
Don’t stress if you haven’t been bodyboarding long – on this trip there’s something for everyone. You’ll be amazed how quickly you master riding good-quality waves, and we’re committed to patiently helping you progress.
To aid with this, we send out an enrolment form to measure your ability before you arrive. If you’ve not attended a coaching holiday before, don’t worry – we can have a surf assessment, get to grips with your riding and help plot you a path of improvements. By the time you fly home you’ll be well on your way to reaching that next level.
Our instructors are on hand with groups in the water, able to give extra tips on the beach, and give detailed feedback during our informal classroom analysis. Our coaching covers all levels of riding, with separate ability groups and instructors to suit your standard, whether you’re a novice or a pro.
We aim to have one long session or two 2-hour sessions each day, depending on the swell, tide and wind conditions. There will also be both photo and video analysis available following most sessions to help improve your riding. We create a professional package of images and video of you in action during the trip. This is supplied to you on a memory stick to take home with you as an amazing memento and to use to reflect on and continue to improve.
Advanced Coaching
If you rip and are just looking forward to tackling some Pacific swell in good company, with some expert guiding you’ll love Costa Rica – a daily routine of shredding crystal-clear bathwater barrels and boosting off punchy sections in the tropical sun. Our mission will be to make sure that you’re in the right spot for the best pits and ramps that the Santa Teresa area has to offer. The key will be to get plenty of footage to help you improve quickly. From peaky wedges to to fast, sand bottomed bowls, you’ll be tearing into Pacific power, so it will be the perfect opportunity to fine-tune your air or barrel game.
You will need to arrange your own flights to Tambor Airport (TMU). This will usually mean flying into Juan Santa Maria International Airport (SJO) and connecting from there…
We highly recommend that you have a read of our ‘How to book a flight’ blog post to help you organise the best flights for your holiday.
FLIGHTS
Please arrange your flights to coincide with the following times:
If you want to arrive earlier or leave later, that’s fine. We’ll let you know where and when to meet us on the first day at our accommodation. However, please be aware that if you arrive at an airport other than Tambor, you will need to find your own way to Santa Teresa.
You may also be interested in our Multi Stop Tours as you can carry on your trip with Bodyboard-Holidays to El Salvador if you really want an epic adventure!
FLIGHTS AND CONNECTIONS
If your flight includes a stop, please allow enough time to make your connection and factor in short delays.
It’s best to book a ticket that transports your luggage directly to the airport in Costa Rica if possible.
AIRPORT TRANSFER
We offer airport pick ups and these are included in your package price. Pick up times are: 13:30 or 15:30. If you arrive outside of these times we will email you local taxi details so that you can make your own way to the hotel – it is roughly a 40 minute car ride.
ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT
Once you’ve collected your bags we’ll meet you in the arrivals area. Look out for our representatives, they’ll have a clipboard with “Bodyboard-Holidays” on it and will be looking for people with bodyboard bags. We’ll then head to the accommodation to get you checked in.
WELCOME MEETING
Once we’ve all arrived at our accommodation and checked into our rooms, we’ll have a brief group meeting to chat about the holiday ahead and get excited for the waves. The following morning we’ll lay on breakfast for everyone, introduce ourselves and explain the plans for the rest of the trip.
Costa Rica’s westernmost peninsula is a tropical paradise in the truest sense. As well as its beautiful palm-lined beaches and surf-filled coastlines, there are also a whole host of other activities to embark on.
This protected and remote area of the country is home to many species of wildlife including monkeys, anteaters, jaguars, iguanas, turtles and parrots. Make sure you bring your binoculars!
THINGS TO DO
Throughout the week (when we’re not bodyboarding) we will organise some excursions for the whole group to enjoy.
The first will be a group excursion where we will embark on a jungle trek to find an awesome hidden waterfall. We will cool off after our hike with a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear freshwater pools. Another group excursion will be an organised trip on a zip-line adventure tour high above the jungle canopy for the thrill seeking ride of a lifetime! Please note: these trips are optional but they are always a real highlight and you wouldn’t want to miss out on the adventure!
You can also check out the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve just a few miles from camp. This is the country’s first protected area which covers over 7,000 acres of land and boasts hundreds of different types of bird species. Back at the beach, you can make the most of your downtime between sessions by experiencing some truly incredible snorkelling in the warm waters of the Pacific. Why not throw out a line to catch some fresh dinner, grab a hammock with a good book, or catch some zen-time with a little beach yoga; it truly is your own slice of paradise!
Other activities include:
MEALS
Budget £15 for a good standard evening meal. Lunch and breakfast would be £8.
DRINKS & SNACKS
Budget for £10 a day for any coffees, snacks and cold drinks etc.
TAXIS
We will use local taxi’s to get to the waterfall, zip lining etc. So please budget around £20 for this.
We’ll be visiting Costa Rica during the dry season. During this period the climate in Santa Teresa is one of the driest in the country.
Unlike some tropical destinations, the weather here isn’t affected too much by local microsystems and can be very predictable. Always great! There is constant sunshine, high temperatures and a guarantee of no rain!
You’re assured of perfect weather too with average air temperatures at around 28°C. The sea follows suit, sitting equally at 28°C. So boardshorts, rash vests and sun cream, whether you’re on land or in the sea!
At the time of booking, you will receive an email listing all the kit you need for your bodyboard holiday to Costa Rica.
What’s more, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss, with Mave the trip leader, the required kit and equipment, on the pre-trip video call.
We Offer 3 Easy Ways To Pay!
We can’t guarantee your place until we have received a payment from you.
Once you have made a payment, you’ll then be sent a trip confirmation email with all details on.
Yes definitely! We pride ourselves on being super welcoming and friendly. Most of our guests arrive solo and leave with a host of new bodyboarding buddies.
Due to this trip being in high demand and having limited spaces, we can only hold your space for up to 24 hours without payment.
You are welcome to attend for a shorter period to suit your personal schedule, however the package price will remain the same.
Group booking discounts are available, please contact us for more information.
ASAP! These holidays fill up quickly and, with limited spaces available, sell out fast. We operate on a first come first serve basis. If you want to secure your place on the trip, it is advised that you pay as soon as you can.
If you are based outside of the UK and would like to book or chat through the holiday details, we can be contacted through our online chat.
We have a great mix of all ages from young whipper-snappers to silver surfers.
The gender ratio at the moment is around 60% men to 40% women. However, this is constantly changing and Bodyboard Holidays is inclusive to all.
Most international mobile’s work in Costa Rica, you should check with your supplier before you fly.
Yes there is WiFi which is of a good standard for the area.
You’ll be asked to fill in an enrolment form as part of the booking process. You’ll signify which level of bodyboarder you are. You may be in a different group suited to your ability, however, there will be plenty of time to see each other back at the accommodation and during our social evening meals.
We choose the time of year and location for our holidays based on local knowledge and historical swell data. In the event of flat waves or stormy conditions, we will offer alternative activities and day trips to help you get the most out of your holiday.
Please take a look at our Area section for more information. We may also adjust the format of the week, for example, choosing to run more bodyboard sessions on the days that the waves are at their best.
Please visit our Terms & Conditions for more information.
The area that we visit is blessed with constant surf, you can expect great conditions most days of the trip. To give you a clearer idea, the videos on this webpage were all filmed during previous bodyboard holiday trips.
Please refer to the Waves section for more details.
We do not offer a discount for bringing your own equipment.
Remember to check the baggage size and weight allowance with your airline, as well as reading their guidance for carrying bodyboards. Baggage handlers can be unforgiving, so a tough bag and intelligent packing are a must.
Firstly, pack your board(s) in a protective, padded board bag, and write FRAGILE and TOP LOAD ONLY on it with a permanent marker. Make sure you wrap your towel and clothes around your board inside the bag for added protection. Place your shampoo and other wet toiletries in a separate sealed bag in case of leakage. We also recommend locking the zips on your bag with a padlock.
Please check international travel requirements for your nationality. Please contact your travel agent or airline if you are unsure or have any further questions.
If you are under 18, we will need to chat to you on the phone and you will need to be accompanied on the trip by a parent or guardian throughout the holiday. If you are 60 or over we’d love to chat with you about the trip before you book. Please contact us via our online chat.
On the day you travel please keep your mobile phone handy so we can stay in touch in case of delays and flight changes. Please inform us if you’re early or delayed for any reason.
If you need help booking your flight then just drop us a line or read our helpful blog post about booking flights.
If you can’t find our representative at the airport, stay there and wait, they won’t be far away. Our transfer representatives will have access to your arrival details. However, if you’re having difficulties finding them follow the instructions in your pre-arrival email. One of the team will locate you. Upon booking the trip the trip leader will share their direct mobile number so that you can contact them if you need them
As with any holiday, full travel insurance is a requirement for all guests booking a trip with the company.
Please also ensure that your policy covers you for ‘disruption to travel’ and ‘cover for cancellations’ as standard.
For further help please read our helpful blog post about travel insurance.
You may need to add additional cover for surfing or bodyboarding, it is essential that your insurance policy covers you for all activities during your stay. Failure to take out travel insurance breaks the contract between Bodyboard Holidays and the client.
If you are joining one of our trips and you are native to the country of its location (i.e you live in Lisbon and are joining our Portugal trip) you do not need to take out medical travel insurance. This is as long as you have your own personal health-care plan or are covered by your country’s National Health Service. Although, we kindly request that you still take out trip disruption and cancellation insurance to cover all possible eventualities.
Health and safety medical advice for UK travellers can be found online at https://www.gov.uk/world
Otherwise, contact your GP or the Department of Health (DoH) for further information. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) also issues up-to-date information on safety issues for countries world-wide. Contact the FCO travel advice line on 020 7238 4503/4504 if you have any concerns.
Please contact your doctor if you’re unsure about vaccinations. We advise you to take mosquito repellent to avoid getting bitten, though we’ve never been aware of any malaria or dengue fever cases in the areas that we visit. According to netdoctor.co.uk, the risk is very low.
The obvious answer is the Costa Rican colon. It’s accepted everywhere and you never have to worry about exchange rates after you arrive. However, the US Dollar is used widely and most businesses accept both currencies.
Please refer to the “What to budget for?” section.
We are a UK based company that delivers trips all over the world welcoming travellers of all nationalities.
If your circumstances change and you can’t join the trip, please let us know as soon as possible via email. Your cancellation notice will start from the date we receive it.
Cancellation terms:
We hold part or full costs, depending on when you cancel:
Cancellation may fall under the terms and conditions of your holiday insurance policy and you may be able to claim.
Please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions videos.
