Surf in Santa Teresa and Malpais
Surf in Malpais /Santa Teresa
The beaches of Mal Pais and Santa Teresa are viewed as some of the best surf spots in Costa Rica. There are a variety of world-class breaks offering ideal surf conditions throughout the year.
The main surf beach, Playa El Carmen, is on the border between Malpais and Santa Teresa. It has a good set of sand bars that offer some nice lefts and slightly longer rights. As with all beach breaks, the sand bars can change overnight. For latest information ask at the Malpais Surf Camp or at one of the many surf shops in Santa Teresa.
The break of Playa Carmen is popular with long-boarders but you can always find a few hot short-boarders pulling tail slides, aerials and 360s.
Rip tides and beach breaks at Playa Carmen are less powerful than in other surf spots on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, which makes
it well suited for surf beginners.
The waves tend to get heavier, faster and steeper as you head north towards Playa Santa Teresa where you can find breaks with less crowds.
Overview of Surf Spots:
Surf Map of Malpais and Santa Teresa
Surf in Mal Pais:
El Carmen:
A long right and a shorter left, surfing over sand. It is the best break for beginners learning to surf.
The other surf spots in Malpais are more challenging and not suited for beginners:
Punta Barrigona:
A reef break with a long lefthand which wraps around the point turning into a great hot dog wave as it moves through the inside.
This area needs a lot of swell to work properly. Watch out for the rocks.
Sunset Reef:
Another lefthand reef break with a fast take off followed by a long workable wall. Gets hollow with size and offshore winds and
also needs a good swell to work. Recommended for advanced surfers only as the break over the shallow reef can be quite dangerous.
Malpais, Punta Barrigona
Surf in Santa Teresa and further north:
Santa Teresa:
Usually bigger and more hollow than Playa Carmen, Playa Santa Teresa presents a variety of beach breaks, point breaks and high swells
for the more experienced surfers. The surf is better at low tide when waves tend to be faster.
Playa Hermosa:
Beach break, lefts and rights. A long sandy beach, less crowded. Also popular with kite surfers.
Manzanillo:
The reef is offshore at the north end of the beach. Very fickle wave which needs a lot of swell to work.