Whenever you go on a surfing vacation, you obviously want to experience the best surfing that the world can offer you. So, how can you narrow down all the potential surf spots? Well, you first need to remember that a fantastic surfing vacation will be different for every surfer. The thing that makes a vacation great will depend on what the surfer is looking for. For example, it may be low cost, the wave choice, and it can be the travel partner.

Basically, there are three general groups that usually go on a surfing vacation. By knowing which group you belong to, you will be able to find out what makes a satisfying surfing vacation for you.

For hardcore surfers, you will usually be traveling solo. You are also experienced well enough to ride harder and much more challenging waves. So, the experiences that you will usually look for are bigger, faster, and much more challenging waves. Or, you will be looking for some serious waves. This will also involve traveling to various remote locations to find the perfect wave. These places are not easy to get to and will require some trekking.

For serious or hardcore surfers, you will want to go to Teahupoo, the Banzai Pipeline and also in Cyclops, Australia. You are also the type of person who isn’t really that much particular when it comes to the cost of travel. What you want is to experience big waves that will be able to satisfy your cravings.

For family surfers, you will be bringing your family on a surfing vacation. For this trip, you will balance the desires of the rest of the family and your surfing desires. You will also need to go on a place where everyone will have a lot of fun surfing. Unless your spouse and your kids are expert surfers, you can take them to the Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii but this is very unlikely. The best possible place that you can take them would be in Waikiki, Mexico, San Diego, and even on Costa Rica. These places will be able to cater to the needs of the entire family. It will be able to provide waves that is perfect for beginners as well as waves that are more challenging for serious surfers.

Beginner surfers are the easiest surfers to go on a surfing vacation. If you are a beginner, then you will find that there are plenty of locations that will be perfect for you. In fact, you don’t even have to travel out of the country just to find the perfect wave for your skill level. You can go to Hawaii, and even in California. If you wish to travel out of the country, then you can try going to Costa Rica, which also provides a lot of places for beginners to surf.

After you find out which group you belong to, the next thing that you need to do is to consider other important things and put them on a list, such as your travel partners, the destination you plan on going to, the weather, the crowd, the surfing conditions, and also the pros and cons of each area you list down as a potential location for spending your surfing vacation.

Remember these tips and you can be sure that you will be able to experience the most satisfying surfing that you will ever have.

photo credit: maveric2003

It’s really rare to see surfers get injured. But, you need to remember that although surfing is relatively a safe sport to do, there are dangers that you should be aware of. You still need to be careful whenever you hit the water as surfing has its inherent dangers.

In surfing, drowning is by far the most obvious risk there is. And, there are quite a number of ways where you can unintentionally raise the odds of drowning whenever you go surfing.

The first is by not being prepared to surf. You need to remember that you will be dealing with strong waves and if you get wiped out, you will need to swim. Also, being able to swim is not enough as surfing will put you in a place where the waves are very strong, which means that you need to be physically fit in order for you to get yourself out of harms way.

You have to remember that it is common for surfers to fall off their boards. In fact, even the most advanced surfers still fall off their boards.

Training is the key in order to prevent the risk of drowning or at least minimize the risks. When you fall off the board or you get wiped out, the first thing that you need to do is locate your board. You have to keep in mind that your board is positively buoyant which means that you will be able to use your board as a floatation device when you experience a wipe out. If you lose your board or if it drifts to the shore, you will need to swim back. This will require you to have a strong stamina as you will be dealing with strong currents.

So, before you surf, it is important that you should get fit first and also learn how to swim. By being a strong swimmer, you will be able to pull yourself out of dangerous situations in case you are wiped out whenever you go out to surf.

Another common error is by not being alert. Although surfing looks like a simple sport, you need to remember that there are quite a number of things that you need to be aware of whenever you go surfing. For example, the winds near the shore can shift rapidly which can throw you off balance and push you off your board. Riptides and current eddies are also things that you should be aware of as it will prevent you from swimming ashore easily.

You should also always follow the unwritten rule in surfing, which is never to surf alone. Your surf buddy is your backup and you are also his or hers. If you do get in to trouble, your surf buddy will be able to assist you. For example, if you unexpectedly experience getting cramps while swimming ashore, your surf buddy will be able to help you get out of the water safely. You should also do the same for them.

You also need to be aware of underwater rocks, unseen underwater formations, and coral reefs which can potentially damage your board as well as your body. Marine life can also be a problem, such as jellyfish, and sharks. Watch out for the presence of all these things and you will be able to know whether it is safe to surf or not.

Surfing is a fun sport. However, you need to remember that surfing has its inherent dangers. By following these tips, you can be sure that you will be able to surf safely and also have a lot of fun in the process. Also, you might want to check the waves if it is suitable for your skill level. You wouldn’t want to surf a wave that you can’t handle, would you? Surfing a wave that is too dangerous for your skill level can have disastrous consequences.

photo credit: Shot in the Blue

If you are a surfing enthusiast, then you should know about Nosara, Costa Rica. This place is one of the most popular surfing destinations in the world where you will be able to experience some of the best waves that you will ever get to ride. With beaches that are extremely clean, and almost never crowded, you can be sure that you will be able to find this place to be a surfer’s paradise.

With ideal surfing climate combined with fantastic waves that is described as unparalleled all over the world, you can be sure that you will have a lot of fun surfing in Nosara. With a relaxed lifestyle, low cost of living, and stable economy, you can be sure that you will be able to afford surfing here.

Nosara, Costa Rica has a lot of surfing spots that you can try. Some spots are for experts only, while there are also spots that can cater to novices and beginners.

Playa Guiones is one of the most ideal surfing spots in Nosara. You will get good waves in this part of Nosara and is perfect for novice and advanced surfers. If you are looking for better waves, Playa Ostional will be able to provide it for you. However, this spot is only recommended for experts to surf in as there are sharp rock formations in the area, and heavy shark population. Also, Playa Ostional features blistering hot black sand beaches which are less accommodating to surfers.

The great thing about Playa Guiones is its pink sandy beaches as well as its multiple peaks from both the left and the right. With ideal beach breaks, you will definitely have a great time surfing here. If you want to travel to the hottest surfing spots in Nosara, you have to expect that this will be no easy feat as there are only very few paved roads in the area. However, according to surfing aficionados who already traveled across Nosara, it will be well worth your time even if you have to walk some distance just to get to the perfect surfing spot in the area.

Nosara, Costa Rica also has a long surfing season. You will be able to enjoy the best waves during October up until May. For the most ideal surfing experience, you may want to go to Nosara, Costa Rica between December and April. With this kind of surfing season, you will be able to have a lot of flexibility when it comes to your travel plans.

The best time to surf is in the morning. There are fewer surfers in the area and you will also be able to experience the best waves during this time of day. This means that if you really want to make the most out of your surfing in Nosara, then you will want to skip or avoid overdoing your wild nightlife and parties.

Nosara, Costa Rica is one of the best surfing destinations that you should try to visit. If you are truly a surfing aficionado, then you will definitely want to get to this place. Here, you will be able to have a lot of fun surfing. With a great climate combined with fantastic waves, you can be sure that your travels will be well worth it.

photo credit: jurvetson

I surf mainly on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula which includes Mar Azul, Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa and Playa Hermosa. Playa Carmen, an area in Mal Pais, is a really great beach break with multiple peaks breaking both left and right. In regards to breaks, I feel like this is one of the best beaches because both north and south swells produce here. It also has several peaks which tend to spread the crowds making it a less congested break. My favorite peak in this zone is called “El Bar” (named so because of the nightclub bar directly in front of the break).  It has a sand bottom for forgiveness and a wedgey left and right peak that line up really well. This break as well as many other breaks in Mal Pais fires better at mid to incoming high tide. It can break well on small swells and also holds a bigger swell in the over head category. It is an easy break to access as it is located at the cross roads of Town in Mal Pais.

photo credit: keepitsurreal

This is a first in a series about surfing Costa Rica.

I have been surfing for 40 years in various parts of the world. This column will focus on my surfing experiences in Costa Rica. I have been surfing in this beautiful country for 15 years and it is one of my favorite places not only for the surf but for the natural beauty, the people, the fishing and many other outdoor activities.

I will start with the break called “Mar Azul” which just so happens to be located right out my front door. Mar Azul is a left hand point break that breaks best on a large south swell. It has several peaks starting with the large first peak that begins right in front of a very large reef rock. It can be a sketchy drop for a beginner and is only recommended for advances surfers depending on the size. The inside second peak is much more user friendly and when working correctly can break for over 200 yards. The paddle out is usually easy because you can begin paddling at the mouth of the bay into which the waves break without getting your hair wet. Mar Azul does not break often, but when it gets big enough it can be one of the most fun waves in Mal Pais.