| Surfers of all ages will be pleased to know that Costa
Rica is quickly gaining popularity on the worldwide surf circuit
due to its warm weather and great waves. The water is so warm
a wetsuit is never needed. Surfing attracts about 250,000
tourists yearly. So, about one out of five tourists come to
surf. The sport also generates about $275 million a year in
income.
The country boasts close to 40 prime areas for surfing on
both the east and west coasts. In Guanacaste, many prime surfing
locations line the peninsula from tip to tip. Roca Bruja (Witch's
Rock) inside Santa Rosa National Park is famous for its tubular
waves. Other recommended places to surf in Guanacaste are
Playa Grande, Tamarindo, Nosara, Playa Coyote, Malpaís
and Manzanillo.
In the Central
Pacific region, Playa Jaco and the surrounding
area is also worth checking out. Nearby Playa Hermosa has
been host to many surfing tournaments and is steadily
gaining popularity. Esterillos Oeste, Esterillos Este,
Bejuco, Boca Damas, Playa El Rey and Playa Matapalo are
other options in the Central Pacific area. Farther south
is Dominical, which is considered a top spot for surfers.
Pavones in the southern Pacific area is a legendary surf
spot famous for its endless waves and touted as having the
world's longest rideable left break. Try Matapalo, located
near the Panamanian border. Salsa Brava at Puerto Viejo
and Manzanillo on the east coast have good surfing. There
are numerous a surfing schools in Costa Rica, and Tico Travel
offers surfing tours to the country.
To find out about surfing lessons, see http://www.wavescr.com,
and for information about surfing, see http://www.crsurf.com.
Schools of fish, turtles, grouper, whales, rays and other
species make Costa Rica a great place for divers. Most of
the best diving areas are found in Guanacaste around Playas
del Coco, Tamarindo, Flamingo and nearby beaches. In the southern
Pacific area the diving is good at Isla del Caño just
off the Osa Peninsula. The waters teem with many interesting
species. We have friends in the area who dive there frequently.
The Caribbean coast has famous diving off Cahuita and at Long
Shoal off Manzanillo.
During the rainy season, from May to November, visibility
may often be obscured in some areas. To find out about the
country's diving, see http://www.costaricadiving.net, http://www.richcoastdiving.com
or http://www.aquacenterdiving.com.
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