Surfing Quepos & Manuel Antonio

Beach Break · Best May-Nov · 2-8 ft · Crowd 2/5

S-SW swell, incoming tide

Boca Damas is a rivermouth north of Quepos with long, fast lefts and shorter rights. It's usually bigger than the other breaks nearby, and the left can get hollow when the sandbar is in good shape.

Getting there is the hard part. It's a long walk from Quepos, the currents are strong and there are crocodiles in the river, so most people pay for a boat. Go on an incoming tide with a solid south-west swell and you'll often have it almost to yourself.

Quepos, a few minutes south, has the places to stay.

Reef Break · Best May-Nov · 6-15 ft · Crowd 1/5

Very big swell, tow-in

The Quepos Bombie is an outer reef south of the old jetty that only breaks on the biggest south swells. When it does, it's a thick, heavy wave far from shore, surfed with jet skis and a safety crew.

It's for big-wave specialists only, and most surfers will only ever see it from a boat.

It only breaks on the biggest south swells, a few times a year, and is surfed by experienced big-wave crews with jet skis. On other days, Playitas and Boca Damas are the waves to surf around Quepos.

Beach Break · Best May-Nov · 2-6 ft · Crowd 3/5

S-SW swell, mid-high tide

Playitas is the north-west corner of Playa Espadilla, the long beach outside Manuel Antonio National Park, and it has the best waves on the beach from mid to high tide. With a solid swell and a high tide, an outer reef right adds a better wave.

The waves suit most levels and the locals are relaxed. Between sessions you can visit the park, which is known for its sloths and monkeys.

It works best from mid to high tide on a south-west swell, and Quepos has the places to stay.

Beach Break · Best May-Nov · 2-8 ft · Crowd 2/5

Swell S-SW

Playa El Rey is a long, isolated beach about 11 km from Roncador, south of Quepos. The best peaks are near the mouth of the Rio Naranjo, where the sandbanks hold their shape.

It's usually bigger than the other beaches nearby, which makes it the place to check when they're too small, but it closes out on big swells. There are no facilities at all. You can camp, but bring everything you need.

There's usually nobody around, so go with someone. Quepos is the nearest town.

Beach Break · Best May-Nov · 2-6 ft · Crowd 2/5

Swell S-SW

Playa Matapalo is a long grey-sand beach between Quepos and Dominical on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast. It has easy beach-break peaks all along its length and very few people.

It works on a south-west swell at most tides, and suits improvers and longboarders. Walk along the beach to find the best bank. The village is small and quiet, with a handful of places to stay.

It's best in the green season, and Dominical is about twenty minutes south.