Family Surfing in Costa Ballena
By Trevor Brown
Family surfing vacations have become increasingly popular in the last 10 years. The equipment has gotten lighter, making it easier to maneuver, and both adults and children of all ages can enjoy taking lessons together. In Costa Ballena, Costa Rica, South Pacific with its numerous sandy beaches, you should never be far from a local surf spot. Here are some tips to make your family surf adventure an experience that will make you come back for more.
Should families take surf lessons? It is not advised if you have never surfed, to rent boards for you and your family and just boldly rally to a nearby beach. For safety and fun, first-time surfers should be an instructor or an expert. Not only are most surf camps cheap, they provide everything from boards, leashes, wax and sometimes a snack on the beach. The instructors in the area are all seasoned surfers with great knowledge of the area. The surfboards you are given are specially designed for beginner surfers, and depending on the camp, the instructor may take you to visit a few of the numerous local surf beaches. Once you’ve had a few lessons and you feel confident, you can then think about renting a board and heading out on your own.
Where can you go for family surfing? The most commonly surfed beaches along Costa Ballena are Uvita, Dominical, Dominicalito, Hermosa, and Ventanas.
You will find most of the surf camps in Dominical and Uvita. The best tides for beginner surf lessons are the mid tides. Check out your local tide charts in Ballena Tales for more details on the tides!
For first-time surfers, Punta Uvita/Playa Chaman has great waves to help you learn and get up on the board for the first time. For intermediate surfers, Playa Hermosa has great waves and for the more advanced surfer, Punta Achiote and Playa Dominical provide consistent waves and are locals’ favorite surf spots.
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