Costa Rica Surf Camp & Oceanfront Stay in Playa Grande

Playa Grande Surf Camp is based in the south of Playa Grande, Guanacaste, in northern Costa Rica. The beach is under 200 metres away and is the permanent nesting site for leatherback turtles. Because the area sits inside a national park, the Costa Rican government has protected the habitat, which keeps the beach quiet and the waves uncrowded — surfers have long called Playa Grande home to some of the country's best breaks.

Accommodation is deliberately budget-friendly: a shared dorm, private cabinas, and treehouse-style rooms. Many rooms have AC, guests share three communal bathrooms, and there's a common kitchen plus a swimming pool. The whole property is a wifi zone, daily maid service is provided, and the team can help arrange tours and trips. Cafe Mar Azul, the on-site restaurant, handles meals.

Surfing is the main event. The camp runs a range of surf lesson packages and tours, and there's a wide selection of boards to rent by the day for all levels. A team member will help match you with the right board. Lessons are run through the on-site surf school, so you can go from your room to the water with minimal fuss.

What separates this from a standard surf hostel is the setting. You're sleeping inside a national park, and in season you can watch leatherback turtles come ashore at night to lay eggs. That combination — a protected beach, consistent waves and a turtle nesting site — is hard to find elsewhere.

Evenings can go two ways: stay put at the camp and the restaurant, or walk 15 minutes and take a one-minute boat ride across the estuary into Tamarindo for its restaurant and party scene. Transport from Liberia airport, about an hour away, can be arranged through the camp.

What's included

- Accommodation in shared dorm, private cabina or treehouse-style room - Access to swimming pool - Common kitchen area - Wifi across the property - Daily maid service - On-site restaurant Cafe Mar Azul - Surfboard rental available on site - Surf lessons and tours available - Help arranging tours and trips

What's not included

- Flights - Airport transfers (can be arranged for an additional cost) - Travel insurance - Meals and drinks not specified - Personal expenses