Tropical paradise
Perfect bodyboarding waves
Crystal-clear waters
Best beaches in the world
Bright blue barrels, beautiful beaches, bath-warm seawater, tropical wildlife, jungle-backed coastline, great food, kaleidoscopic sunsets and Pacific swell. What more could you want on this Costa Rican bodyboarding holiday of a lifetime…
Quick Facts
Water Temperature: 28°C
Local Currency: Costa Rican Colon and US Dollar
Language: Spanish
Local Beer: Imperial
Tropical climate
Reliable Pacific swell
Surf 2ft-6ft
Constant sunshine
Great variety of beach and point breaks
Perfect for riders of all abilities
Bespoke one-on-one coaching available
Beach accommodation
Trip Information
Our Aim
We’re heading to some of the world’s most incredible beaches in the secret heart of Costa Rica. This little slice of paradise promotes ‘Pura Vida’ – pure life – and there’s no better way to summarise what it’s all about.
We time it to score the most fun swells at the top breaks, guaranteeing you some well-needed tube time to hide out of the tropical sun. Make no mistake, this is boardshort and bikini territory, with bath-warm seawater peeling across uncrowded white-sand beaches.
Our destination is on the tip of the remote Nicoya Peninsula, and has been a well-kept secret for many years due to its tricky access. Truth be told it’s all the better for it – the way of life here is mellow and the environment and it’s surrounds are truly breathtaking.
Voted by Forbes magazine to be some of the most spectacular in the world, Santa Teresa’s beaches are known throughout Costa Rica as the best of the best. Unsurprisingly, the sunsets are absolutely unforgettable.
You’ll get to know some great people who all want to travel, score epic waves, enjoy the beach lifestyle and improve their riding – a recipe of interests which always makes for a great group vibe.
The consistent beach breaks and quality point breaks in the area offer a fun park for bodyboarders of all abilities. From beginners to experienced shredders, Playa Carmen and Santa Teresa have waves for everyone, so get ready for a fun week of awesome bodyboard coaching.
Waves
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.
Accommodation
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 guest house and bungalows with a swimming pool and reasonably-priced restaurant. A yoga area is located on the guest house’s second floor, and the garden spa offers massages.
Split over two floors, there is a large bungalow housing seven beds, four downstairs and three upstairs. This is often where the individual men that book on the trip will stay. The big bungalow has a bathroom and a shower – which is partially open to the sky – a small kitchenette, fridge and spacious veranda with hammock. There are also bungalows and suites for couples.
Please see our ‘Prices’ tab for a list of the options.
Bookending the trip on the first and last nights, we stay in a hotel in the old, colonial part of Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose. This ensures we’re close to the airport on the final night, eliminating the stress of missed flights home the following day.
Climate
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 is very predictable, with constant sun and high temperatures, and a guarantee of no rain.
You’re assured of perfect weather, with average air temperatures around 28C. The sea follows suit, sitting equally at 28C. So boardshorts, rash vests and sun cream, whether you’re on land or in the sea!
Food
We’re fortunate in 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 paradise!
The restaurant at our accommodation is of course no exception, and offers a fantastic food package at $36 USD per day. We can send you the varied menu before the trip begins.
This includes a delicious and healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bottomless filter water is also available as part of the package.
There’s also a nearby supermarket should anyone need additional snacks and a self catering option if you are on a budget or prefer to cook for yourself.
Coaching
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, and both will be available to take away at the end of the trip for £35 and £55 respectively.
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.
Travel
You need to make your own travel arrangements to Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica. We then meet you at the airport and show you to your accommodation. We ask you to look at flights that arrive no earlier than 10am and no later than 9.00pm please. If the only option is to arrive later, please contact us.
If you are flying from the UK, we work closely with the good people at Dial-A-Flight, so get in touch and they can hook you up – just give them a call and ask to speak to our bodyboarder-friendly agent, Lee (020 7295 1556).
Alternatively, check out SkyScanner to find the nearest flights to your location. When booking, make sure you check the airline’s baggage charges by weight and number, so you don’t get hit with any nasty hidden fees on the day.
If you have a stop, please ensure you have sufficient time to make your connection and allow for short delays. If you’re flying from Europe, this will often be in New York, Miami or Atlanta. It’s best to book a ticket that transports your luggage directly to San Jose if possible.
Remember – we have a limited supply of hire equipment in the location, which can work out cheaper than paying extra for a large ‘sports equipment’ bag in the hold, and saves you carrying the thing! Just let us know in advance if this is something you’d like to do.
Once you’ve collected your bags we’ll meet you at the arrivals area. Our representative will have a clipboard that clearly states ‘Bodyboard-Holidays’, and we’ll be looking for people with bodyboard bags. Once everyone has been located, we’ll check you in.
You may have a short wait at the airport as the rest of the group assembles. If this is the case it’s worth bringing a good book, a Kindle or an iPad.
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. However please be aware, if you arrive at an airport other than San Jose, you will need to find your own way to San Jose or Santa Teresa.
Once we’ve all made our way to our accommodation, you’ll be shown to your rooms, after which we’ll have a group meeting to chat about the holiday ahead.
Price
9 nights in a shared room £899
9 nights in a private room £1329 (limited availability)
9 nights in a private double room for two people £2119
9 nights for a couple where one is a non bodyboarder £1899
8 nights in a shared room £839
8 nights in a private room £1259 (limited availability)
8 nights in a private double room for two people £1949
8 nights for a couple where one is a non bodyboarder £1749
Photography £55 (Your image selection to take home with you)
Video £35 (All unedited footage to take home with you)
We will use taxi’s to travel to the beach ($2 to $3USD), on our optional trip to the waterfall ($15) and the night that we give you the option to eat out at a local restaurant with us ($20-25 USD). Please budget $50 USD for taxi costs for the entire trip and it is likely that you won’t spend it all.
The optional food package is $36 USD per day
Payment plans
We have three payment plans. You can pay in full at time of booking. Or you can split the payment in to two or three instalments. We will agree this with you at time of booking.
Until a payment is received your place on the trip is not reserved. The full balance for the trip must be received 12 weeks prior to departure.
Area
Costa Rica’s westernmost peninsula is a tropical paradise in the truest sense. As well as its beautiful palm-lined beaches and surf-filled coastline, there are a whole heap of other things to do.
Not far from camp you can hike to jungle waterfalls, enjoy canopy tours of the rainforest by zip wire, or saddle up for some horse riding. This protected and remote area of the country is home to many species of wildlife, including monkeys, anteaters, jaguars, iguanas, turtles and parrots. Bring your binoculars!
You can also check out the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve just a few miles from camp, the country’s first protected area, which 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, 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.
Kit List
Bodyboarding is one of life’s great pleasures, and we’re convinced if you haven’t already, you’ll want to get fully kitted out to get the most from the waves.
We offer a limited selection of kit hire for the trip, which can be ordered in advance, saving you the time and hassle. It’s can be cheaper to rent equipment with us than paying to bring your own gear – doing this means all you’ll need to think about is the surf, sea and sun!
Feel free to contact us and we can chat with you about what you’d need to hire so it’s ready and waiting for you when you arrive.
Bodyboard
The super-warm waters of Costa Rica make many boards turn to jelly. If you have an older PE board it’s likely to get very flexible in the heat, so we recommend boards with a stringered PP core. Also look for warm water waxes.
To help with this, we can supply hired boards that are perfect for use in Costa Rica’s water temperature and wave types.
If you need to hire one, or are interested in trying one different to your own, get in touch and we can get you sorted with the right-sized board so you can get the most out of the trip.
Shorts and rash vests
On any tropical trip, it’s important to invest in a good pair of high quality, lightweight, stretchy board shorts, and a good lycra vest to help keep the sun off. In fact, make that two pairs of shorts – it’s not worth risking getting caught short if you rip a pair.
Fins
It’s essential to use a pair of comfortable, powerful, bodyboarding swim fins to get the most from the awesome waves on the trip.
Leash
It’s a simple insurance policy on any trip, so don’t forget a leash – it’ll save you a whole load of unnecessary swimming.
Bodyboard travel bag
A decent board bag will keep your kit safely protected throughout your journey, especially when you consider the brutality of some baggage handlers. They range from £20 to more than £100 – the more you pay, the better protection you get. The best on the market is the Creatures wheelie bag, it’s heat-reflective, padded and you can wheel it around, saving your arms and shoulders for paddling.
Board sock
Board socks perform a dual purpose, protecting your board from the sun, and drying you off as it’s a handy towel. The humble board sock is a great all-rounder.
Heel shields
If you don’t wear wetsuit socks and want to prevent rub around your heels, it’s worth considering a set of heel shields. They make fins comfortable, stop chafe and have different thickness levels to suit the snugness of your fin.
Fin tethers
Don’t let a lost fin ruin the rest of your trip. Bag a set of tethers and know you’ll pop up from every duckdive and wipeout with both fins still attached.
Sun protection
There is a range of sun creams geared specifically for bodyboarding, and we can attest they actually stay on in the water!
On this trip we can virtually guarantee bright blue skies, and there’s nothing worse than having to sit out on an epic session because your sun cream washed off yesterday and today you’re painfully crispy.
What’s Included
- First and last night’s accommodation in San Jose
- One week’s accommodation in Santa Teresa
- Welcome breakfast on the first day in San Jose
- Airport welcome, transfer and airport drop-off
- Surf guiding to find waves to suit your ability
- Video and photo analysis to advance your riding
- Expert water and land based tuition tailored to your ability
- Guaranteed good times!
Dates
2019
9 nights from 22 – 31 Jan
NEW! 9 nights from 2 – 11 July
2020
9 nights from 23 Jan – 1 Feb
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about our Costa Rica Trip.
Do I need a visa?
British nationals can visit Costa Rica for 30 days without a visa. However, entry into Costa Rica may be refused and airlines may turn you away if you have less than six months left on your passport, or if you don’t have an onward ticket out of the country.
Please check international travel requirements for your nationality. When you depart Costa Rica you must pay a departure tax of $28 USD (correct at the time of writing).
If you’re travelling through America you need to complete a Visa Waiver form. Take a look at the ESTA Visa Online website and follow the simple instructions. The cost for application is $14 USD.
Please contact your travel agent or airline if you have any further questions. It’s a good idea to carry photocopies of your important documents and guide books, and pack them separately. We also suggest scanning copies and emailing them to yourself for extra reassurance.
I’m a silver surfer, will this be a problem?
If you’re over 60 years old – or will be turning 60 on the trip – we need to chat on the phone prior to booking. Please email us to arrange a time for a call or ring the office on +44 1637 879571
Can we contact you if we have travel problems?
On the day that you travel please keep your mobile phone handy so that we can stay in touch in case of delays and flight changes. Please inform us as early as possible if you’re delayed or experiencing travel disruption for any reason. If you need help to book your flight then just drop us a line.
If you can’t find our representative at the airport, stay there and wait, they won’t be far away, having tracked your arrival time. Don’t worry they will be nearby. However, if you’re having real problems finding them, please check your pre trip email for the number of your trip leader to call or the office on +44 1637 879571 and one of us will be sure to quickly locate you.
What’s the best way to transport my bodyboard and kit?
Remember to check the baggage size and weight allowance with your airline, as well as read 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 the largest, most permanent marker you can find. Make sure you wrap your towel 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 your bag zips with a padlock.
Do I need personal travel insurance?
Please advise our coaching staff of any medical complaints or conditions prior to your trip.
We will ask for travel insurance details upon booking, so please organise this nice and early. We will also ask you to fill out an enrolment form with these details before the holiday.
How can I find out about medical advice for travelling?
Health and safety medical advice for travellers can be found at www.doh.gov.uk. Otherwise, contact your GP or the Department of Health (DoH) for further information.
Alternatively, from the UK you can call the helpline on free phone 0800 555777. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) 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 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.
What currency should I take?
The Costa Rican colon and US dollar are both accepted in Costa Rica. It’s useful to be aware of both exchange rates, as you will no doubt use both at some point on the trip. We take a small amount of dollars and the rest in colones.
There’s a bank in Alajuela, however we suggest you bring all the currency you plan to spend in Santa Teresa with you on the trip (arrange it before you arrive) as the bank is a taxi ride away. Don’t worry, there’s a safe in each room of our accommodation.
If you do have to visit the bank, you can draw money out using your credit or debit card from the ATM. However, please note these sometimes become empty at the weekend, and there are often large queues to use them, so we recommend you plan your spending wisely to avoid losing any precious in-water action.
If you do have to visit the bank, you can also use your card and passport to take money out over the counter. Many bars and restaurants take credit cards too, and we recommend you bring at least two cards, in case one becomes blocked by the bank, lost or damaged.
How much should I budget for the trip?
Budget $35USD per day for food on the food package that we offer. Alcohol and hipster smoothies at the camp are comparatively expensive, so it’s a good idea to keep a check on your bar tab so you don’t get a nasty surprise on the last day. Unlimited water refills are free for those on the food package (please bring your own bottle), and you will use them!
Some days we will take a taxi to the beach to surf, or to a restaurant for an evening out. Everyone chips in to pay the driver, which normally cost just $2 – 3 USD per person, per journey. There is also an optional extra to visit a nearby waterfall, which is around $15 USD per person. Please budget for two journeys per day.
Photography £55 (Your image selection to take home with you)
Video £35 (All unedited footage to take home with you)
We will use taxi’s to travel to the beach ($2 to $3USD), on our optional trip to the waterfall ($15) and the night that we give you the option to eat out at a local restaurant with us ($2-3 USD). Please budget $50 USD for taxi costs for the entire trip and it is likely that you won’t spend it all.
Can I make contact from abroad?
If you are based outside of the UK and would like to chat through the trip details, we can be contacted through WhatsApp, Facetime or Skype, just let us know by email and we can arrange this with you.
How do I pay?
Payments are all made via our online invoicing system called Simple Invoices. Once you have confirmed you wish to join a trip we will send you an online invoice via email. Within this email there will be a link that will take you to our secure payment system where you will need to enter your credit or debit card details to make the payment.
Payment plans
We have three payment plans. You can pay in full at time of booking. Or you can split the payment in to two or three instalments. We will agree this with you at time of booking.
Until a payment is received your place on the trip is not reserved. The full balance for the trip must be received 12 weeks prior to departure.
What happens if I want to cancel my booking?
If you can no longer join the trip please let us know as soon as possible via email, your cancellation will be effective from the date which it is received by Bodyboard-Holidays. Cancellation charges are payable as follows:
Over 12 weeks – deposit only (one third of the total trip price)
36 days to 12 weeks – 50% of total cost
21-35 days – 75% of total cost
Under 20 days – 100% of total cost
However if your cancellation is within the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to make a claim. Further information here. https://bodyboard-holidays.com/terms-conditions/
How to book
Once you have read all the info and made your selection. Book your holiday in 3 easy steps
Enquire
Fill in the enquiry form below
Confirmation
We’ll confirm availability and explain payment plan options.
Completion
Pay your deposit, book your flights and complete the enrolment form. You’re on the trip!
Tripadvisor
” I absolutely appreciate being able to go on a holiday knowing that every detail is taken care of – I can put my thinking cap away and enjoy. Thank you Rob and Mave for the individual coaching and helping me become a better bodyboarder. If you are looking for an experience you won’t forget, this is it.“
Shannon
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