Playa Pavones Costa Rica boasts the world’s longest ride-able left-break, making this Costa Rica surfing destination a global favorite. Once the waves really get going, the break at Playa Pavones Costa Rica lasts so long and takes surfers so far that paddling back to the beginning is takes longer than just walking the beach back to the start.
Playa Pavones Costa Rica is all about surfing; so much so that a small local surfing community stays year round. The locals can be rather possessive and protective of their waves, and occasionally are a bit cool to new comers. Don’t let that deter you though! If you love surfing, Playa Pavones Costa Rica is one destination you don’t want to miss. (You might just become a local yourself!)
The waves at Playa Pavones Costa Rica are at their most reliable during the rainy season, but any time of year is still a great time to check out this Costa Rica surfing Mecca. Although you can drive your own car to Play Pavones if you own a four-wheel drive vehicle, you’ll have to catch a ferry for the last lap of the journey, and the tides make the hours or operation erratic.
A cheaper, easier way to get to Playa Pavones Costa Rica is to catch a bus from Golfito. Buses depart at 10 AM or 3 PM. Bus fare is only $2.25 USD for the three-hour trip, although weather conditions can cause cancellations on short notice. Unexpected delays are common, but the travel challenges are worth it. A private tax runs around $60 USD and takes about two hours.
Accommodations in Playa Pavones Costa Rica tend to be basic and even somewhat Spartan. There isn’t a lot to do here besides surfing, and the expectation is that visitors will be spending 90% of their time doing lots and lots of that, not hanging out in their rooms or exploring the countryside.
Expect to pay $10 to $20 USD per night for a double room. Most of the small hotels and lodges don’t even have telephone service so same day walk-in reservations are customary. Esquina del Mar is located right next to the best part of the break, right on the beach, but Cabinas Casaolas, while farther up the hill, provides excellent budget accommodations.
For luxury accommodations, try Tiskita Jungle Lodge, a small eco-lodge near the Panamanian border set into a hill several meters from the beach. The lodge offers a spectacular ocean view, and the deluxe cabins offer wide verandas, screen walls, and outdoor bathrooms. Tiskita Jungle Lodge also serves family style meals in an on site open air lodge. Many meals feature fresh ingredients from local gardens.
Casa Siempre Domgino is another good lodging choice, with moderate prices, tile floors, and some of the highest beds in the country—a design element meant to capture as much tropical breeze as is humanly possible. Air conditioning is available when the breezes fail. Family-style meals are served at picnic tables in the open air.
In town, hungry visitors to Playa Pavones Costa Rica will find several ‘sodas’ serving fresh local fare, a popular pizzeria, and La Manta Club, a gathering place which features falafel and other Mediterranean cuisine, as well as first run movies on a widescreen TV. After a day of surfing these legendary waves, you may find you have quite an appetite.
Related links:
Planning for Your Costa Rica Surf Vacation
Surfing in Costa Rica
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