Playa Negra is a favorite spot for surfers, having been made famous when featured in the surf cult movie “Endless Summer II”.

Serious surfers who can make do with minimal night life and more dawn patrols love it but there is plenty to do for those who like to do other things besides surf. Just 7½ miles south of Tamarindo, it’s one of Costa Rica’s most sought after surf spots.

Although experts love Playa Negra, it’s also great for beginners because of its consistent and powerful right hand break that’s one of the best in the country. It breaks on all tides and holds almost any swell as well as picking up nearly all swell directions.

This area picks up swells and holds them the longest of any place in Costa Rica. You’ll get the best surfing on mid-to-high tide; at low tide it’s a little rocky and shallow. Locals say only lunatics will brave the low tide to ride the perfect tubes it creates.

At Playa Negra you’ll get about 150 waves a day that are fast, powerful, and produce a lot of tubes. These waves average 250-400 feet long; swells start working at 3 feet and hold up to 16 feet and more.

Its right hand barrel waves are famous, coming from a rock-reef right break formed by a narrow channel that causes the ocean to rush over a rocky, shallow bottom.

The optimal take off zone is a small area that is pretty crowded with as few as a dozen surfers. If you want to avoid the crowds, go during the week as it’s very popular on the weekends. Watch for urchins and rocks or you might be out of commission for awhile!

If it’s too crowded you can walk to some less famous breaks like south to Playa Callejones or paddle over to an off-shore reef. You can also take a ten minute drive to Avellanas. If you tire of the rights at Playa Negro but don’t want to leave, you can paddle 300 feet over to Stone Fish Reef or Lefty’s Left and take advantage of the left breaks.

The surf is consistent year-round so no matter what time of year you go, you’ll have the time of your life.

There are a lot of things to do besides surf if you want a break from the water. Pablo Picasso’s Restaurant has some of the best burgers you’ve ever tasted; they’re as big as your head and it’s just a short walk from there to the shore.

For non-surfers in your party, the dark sand with rock outcroppings is beautifully pristine and dotted with tide pools. Swimmers will fine protection from the break about 300 feet south of it.

Hotel Playa Negra has a beachfront rancho where you can get drinks and food. A kilometer inland is Los Pargos, a village with lodgings and restaurants if you want to stay the night or longer; you’ll find everything from surfer cabins to boutique hotels, burgers to gourmet dining.

The village is laid back and friendly and has a Yoga center and lots of small shops including those catering to surfers, surf rentals.

You might want to go to Tamarindo Beach and catch the boat trip to Witches Roca and Ollie’s Point early in the morning. They’ll show you the very best surf spots plus some secret spots where you’ll find tubes and other delights.

Rincon de la Viejo National Park offers an Adventure Tour to Rincon de la Vieja, an active volcano. You can find horseback riding, see turtles nesting if you’re there at the right season, or investigate Palo Verde National Park Guaitil artisan village which is a bird watcher’s paradise.

One thing you should never do is park at the beach and leave anything valuable in the vehicle. The area’s remote location makes it attractive to thieves. Happy surfing!

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There is something for everyone in this beautiful Guanacaste residential community with affordable condos for sale from about $150K where you can easily walk to two beautiful beaches plus there are lots for sale should you wish to have your own home built by a proven U.S. builder and, if making money is your goal, you might want to consider buying one of their commercial spaces in the Commercial Center.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.