surfing suggestions

So, sometimes the Wyoming winters can get a fella craving some sun, sand, and surf and I'm feeling the need to get out of town for a bit, probably about a month, in either June, July, or August. Its a ways away, but the idea of traveling south keeps my spirits up when the mercury drops.

What I'm looking for: beginner/intermediate break, cheap or worthwhile accommodations with access to a kitchen, access to a smaller low-key town w/ at least one bar, a friendly local/tourist culture, and access to the internet at least once a week.

If they don't have boards to rent nearby, I may purchase one down there.

ANy suggestions? I have a few pennies to spend, but would like to do it as cheap as possible (maybe this goes without saying?).

Thanks in advance!

Santa Teresa/ Mal pais, Costa Rica.

Fits your bill perfectly...google it there's lots of info out there. There are more hostels there, then are listed online. Great community, great surf.

josh

thanks, josh!

another suggestion was tamarindo. any beta on that?

Tamarindo's nice, too. The surf isn't as consistently good there, though and it can get really big. I suppose that's true everywhere though. I went to Nicaragua an surfed outside of San Juan del sur at Playa Madera.. Nica is cheaper, more rustic, and because of a giant lake inland, the wind blows off shore and it breaks there all the freaking time. Might be harder to get to, but the surf is consistent. Don't listen to rumors of tamarindo being overrun with gringos (tamagringo) - I found it authentic, beautiful, fun to surf and cheap enough. It's kinda on the north east coast, so not too far if you came from nica. You could fly to Managua, bus to Madera and surf, real rusticly, then bus to tamarindo when you get bored of the tough life and want some comforts. Madera is a friendly beach break, and though it can be big, we found beginner waves outside the main break. You can surf your way back to San Jose, CR, stopping in Jaco and other coastal towns.

thanks for all the info. I'll look into all these suggestions and get back to ya'll. Thanks again

Another cool place in Costa Rica is Dominical. Its close to Jaco but its a smaller. The break is consistent.

mike seaman wrote:Don't listen to rumors of tamarindo being overrun with gringos (tamagringo) - I found it authentic, beautiful, fun to surf and cheap enough.

Tamarindo is great if you don't want to leave the United States. It used to be nice - I cannot imagine how anyone could use the word authentic and Tamarindo in the same sentence with a straight face. Santa Teresa/Mal Pais is much better, as is Domenical. The surf in Jaco is fun, but the town sucks so i'd skip it.

I'd suggest Playa El Tunco in El Salvador. Its a quick bus ride from San Salvador, fun cheap little surf town, and there is a lot of great beginner/intermediate friendly surf nearby. Sunzal is a terrific point that can accommodate lots of people, and the locals I met were psyched I was there. Board rental is no problem.

The very best beginner/intermediate surfing i've ever done is in northern Peru. When Chicama is working it is probably the longest and best easy wave in the world(you can get rides a mile or more long). When it isn't, which is kinda frequently unfortunately, Huanchaco just north of Trujillo is awesome. The downside is the Peruvian coast is a little bit dismal - a big desert with lots of marine layer fog. The surfing more than makes up for it though.

there are some good spots north of Puerto Vallarta, may be cheaper to get down there, there are some good breaks and mellow spots around Punta Mita.