surfing in CR in November
Oct 8th, 2004, 10:59 AM
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surfing in CR in November
My wife and I are thinking of heading to Costa Rica for my 40th birthday in Nov, (maybe the 6th-14th). I surf, but she doesn't, so we want to stay at a place that has great food, good atmosphere, activities we can do together, and surfing for me. We'd like to avoid the crowds and don't mind being in a remote area. So far we've looked at Mal Pais and Matapolo on the Oso Peninsula. I'm a pretty solid intermediate surfer and am looking for some fun head-high waves, preferably rights, or good beach break peaks. I don't want to travel somewhere where I have to deal with aggressive localism. I'd also rather not hassle with lugging a board along with us, so a place that rents boards would be great.
Does anyone have any advice about an area that would cover all these bases? And one last question, what's the weather like in early November? Thanks!
Does anyone have any advice about an area that would cover all these bases? And one last question, what's the weather like in early November? Thanks!
Oct 8th, 2004, 01:24 PM
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Cabo Matapalo would be a good option, although you might get a little more rain than you'd like that far south--and still at the tail end of the green season. MalPais is wonderful. I think either would be excellent choices for you. You sound like you would prefer "no crowds", but Tamarindo is a fun place and would certainly provide some diversion for your wife. There are some nice beaches near there for surfing as well--Playa Negra & Playa Avellena (sp?). Of course, Tamarindo is one of the more popular surfing spots. There is quite a bit to do there and in the area for your non-surfing times!
Oct 8th, 2004, 01:37 PM
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Thanks, Shillmac! I appreciate the input.
We're definitely into no crowds. Have you heard of any hassles from the locals who surf down in Matapolo? And do you have a favorite place in Mal Pais?
We're definitely into no crowds. Have you heard of any hassles from the locals who surf down in Matapolo? And do you have a favorite place in Mal Pais?
Oct 8th, 2004, 02:39 PM
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We met some people who surfed Matapalo this past summer. We were staying at Bosque del Cabo (wonderful place) and they offer surfing to the guests. We spoke with several who were taking lessons and others who came there for the express purpose of surfing. No one ever mentioned problems such as you mentioned.
MalPais has several nice places to stay and several budget and moderate places. Don't know how booked everyone will be at this rather late point in time, but we throughly enjoyed Tropico Latino--it is in an excellent location. Met some people from Houston who have been surfing there for 12 years.
They'd never been anywhere else in the country! We paid $90 during March. It would be less in November. Also, Milarepa has a good reputation and does Flor Blanca. Both in the deluxe range, with Flor Blanca being the ultimate. These hotels are actually in Santa Teresa (adjacent to MalPais) and also a popular surf area.
MalPais is a nice locale because you can also enjoy Montezuma nearby for restaurants and shops. There are the Montezuma Falls as well as Cabo Blanco Reserve (great for wildlife and hiking). I think you would really like it here. It is a very relaxing place.
MalPais has several nice places to stay and several budget and moderate places. Don't know how booked everyone will be at this rather late point in time, but we throughly enjoyed Tropico Latino--it is in an excellent location. Met some people from Houston who have been surfing there for 12 years.
They'd never been anywhere else in the country! We paid $90 during March. It would be less in November. Also, Milarepa has a good reputation and does Flor Blanca. Both in the deluxe range, with Flor Blanca being the ultimate. These hotels are actually in Santa Teresa (adjacent to MalPais) and also a popular surf area.
MalPais is a nice locale because you can also enjoy Montezuma nearby for restaurants and shops. There are the Montezuma Falls as well as Cabo Blanco Reserve (great for wildlife and hiking). I think you would really like it here. It is a very relaxing place.
Oct 9th, 2004, 11:23 AM
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Hi Shillmac,
As it turns out, Tropico Latino has availability for their bungalows during the time we want. Unfortunately, the ocean bungalows are booked until January!! Do you think the other bungalows are nice and worth staying in even though we won't have the ocean at our front door?
As it turns out, Tropico Latino has availability for their bungalows during the time we want. Unfortunately, the ocean bungalows are booked until January!! Do you think the other bungalows are nice and worth staying in even though we won't have the ocean at our front door?
Oct 9th, 2004, 11:31 AM
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Absolutely. The other bungalows looked very nice. They are on either side of a pathway that leads from the road and parking area to the beach. The restaurant, pool, and beach bungalows (there are only 2) are close to the beach. The garden bungalows are back just a short distance. Still very close to the beach. They had larger porches and really looked very comfortable.
Oct 11th, 2004, 06:08 AM
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Please allow me to butt in here, as my husband has been surfing for years in CR and I am not a surfer.
First, If you're talking about Cabo Matapalo on the Osa and not the Playa Matapalo south of Dominical, then you may indeed have some small hassel with locals. You may not have those problems on the Drake Bay side, but on the Cabo Matapalo side. We took a trip there one Sept. We were all set to rent a house, The Bamboo House, when it was snatched out from under us. We had been making arrangements with the 'wife' of the couple who own the house, and all was going well. Then she found out my husband was a surfer and said she was sorry, but her husband would not rent out the house to a 'surfer'. Apparently, they are trying to keep that area to themselves for surfing and don't want it to become another Tamarindo. Crazy huh? As hard as it is to get to that area, and because there is relatively little accommodations, I can't see this place as ever being another Tamarindo.
In any case, we ended up going afterall, and stayed at Rancho Almendros which was great. However, at that time of year, the surf break was very 'chocolate' due to all the streams runoff, and a kid had been biten by a shark a couple days before we got there. We stayed 4 days and my husband never surfed there due to the murky conditions of the surf. Also, I think your wife could get quite bored in the area.
On the other hand, Mal Pais is great! We stayed in one of the 'garden' rooms at Tropico Latino and it was fine. Very large room with a king bed and a twin. Very large patio with a hammock and still close to the beach, just no beach view. We loved this area. Nice people, surfers included, and good places to eat. Also, the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve is there for hiking ,and Montezuma is about 45 minutes away. I think Mal Pais would be a better bet for both of you.
First, If you're talking about Cabo Matapalo on the Osa and not the Playa Matapalo south of Dominical, then you may indeed have some small hassel with locals. You may not have those problems on the Drake Bay side, but on the Cabo Matapalo side. We took a trip there one Sept. We were all set to rent a house, The Bamboo House, when it was snatched out from under us. We had been making arrangements with the 'wife' of the couple who own the house, and all was going well. Then she found out my husband was a surfer and said she was sorry, but her husband would not rent out the house to a 'surfer'. Apparently, they are trying to keep that area to themselves for surfing and don't want it to become another Tamarindo. Crazy huh? As hard as it is to get to that area, and because there is relatively little accommodations, I can't see this place as ever being another Tamarindo.
In any case, we ended up going afterall, and stayed at Rancho Almendros which was great. However, at that time of year, the surf break was very 'chocolate' due to all the streams runoff, and a kid had been biten by a shark a couple days before we got there. We stayed 4 days and my husband never surfed there due to the murky conditions of the surf. Also, I think your wife could get quite bored in the area.
On the other hand, Mal Pais is great! We stayed in one of the 'garden' rooms at Tropico Latino and it was fine. Very large room with a king bed and a twin. Very large patio with a hammock and still close to the beach, just no beach view. We loved this area. Nice people, surfers included, and good places to eat. Also, the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve is there for hiking ,and Montezuma is about 45 minutes away. I think Mal Pais would be a better bet for both of you.
Oct 12th, 2004, 09:32 AM
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Hello- My husband and I just returned from a mid-September surf trip in CR. He has surfed his whole life (grew up in Hawaii), and I am not a surfer so had some similar concerns. We spent about 5 nights in Playa Grande, just north of Tamarindo and 2 nights in Nosara, on Playa Guiones. Both beaches had great surfing and we loved both places very much. Can't wait to return. Playa Grande is fairly remote and was not crowded at all (although September is the off-season), however it is convenient enough to Tamarindo or Brasilito that you can go into town and have dinner, lunch, etc. Though some of the hotels in P. Grande have good restaurants as well. I strongly recommend having a 4WD to get around. Also, my husband didn't want to drag a board down either, so he bought a board at a surf shop in Tamarindo and then sold it back to the surf shop at the end of the trip for 1/2 price. It worked out to be less expensive then renting for a week and it was a better quality board then the rentals. Being a non-surfer I never had a dull moment, and I did learn to body-board and my husband gave me some surf lessons. Had a blast! We stayed at the Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande and absolutely loved the place, great staff, good food, great beach. In Nosara we stayed at The Gilded Iguana and enjoyed that as well. Have a wonderful trip!
