Costa Rica Surf and Yoga Camp in Playa Jacó – Learn to Surf on the Pacific Coast

The surf programme is built so that absolute beginners and seasoned surfers can be in the same school without holding each other back. Beginners work on paddling, standing up, turning and reading waves with instructors who've completed international surf instructor and ocean lifesaver training. Intermediate and advanced surfers get pointed at the better breaks in the area and can push on their technique, or switch to the Surf Intensive track — four hours a day with one-on-one coaching from the head surf instructor, open to advanced surfers only. Alongside the daily water sessions, there's land-based balance training and photo plus video review built into the week.

A typical day has surf class first, two hours Monday to Friday, with the timetable switching weekly based on the tides. You meet in the lounge 15 minutes before, load boards, drive to the beach, and check the waves before the instructor chooses the best spot. If you've combined surf with another programme, the schedule is designed to leave at least 10 minutes between your surf session and your next class — but be aware that with a three-class combo you could be in class for up to 6¼ hours a day. Midweek everyone gathers for the surf video analysis session.

Playa Jacó is the home beach, with Playa Hermosa a short drive away. Between them they're widely regarded as the most consistent surf spots in Costa Rica, so the conditions work no matter what time of year you book. The water is warm year-round and there's a spread of different breaks in the area, which means waves for every level and enough uncrowded peaks that you're not fighting for a spot.

The multi-programme setup is what separates this from a standard surf camp. You can pair surfing with Spanish lessons, yoga, photography or videography — one, two or three programs running in parallel across your week. The Surf + Yoga combo runs 3¼ hours a day in total, the Surf + Spanish combo 5 hours a day, and the three-class combos like Surf + Spanish + Yoga run 6¼ hours. Prices vary by how many programmes you take and what room you choose, from a shared room up to a deluxe private or a local homestay.

The school has been running year-round since 1997, which makes it one of the more established surf schools in the country. Instructors teach day in and day out, the equipment and vans are set up for it, and the whole thing has the feel of a working surf school rather than a resort. If you want the learning-vacation version — surf every morning and Spanish or yoga every afternoon — it's all under one roof.

What's included

- Surf classes Monday to Friday, 2 hours per day (1 Class Surf) or 4 hours per day (Double Surf / Surf Intensive) - Board loading and transport to the beach in the school's surf vans - Internationally trained surf instructors and ocean lifesaver cover - Land-based balance training sessions - Midweek surf video analysis session in the lounge - Accommodation on campus in a shared, standard private, private or deluxe private room (room-type packages) - Homestay accommodation option with a local family - Access to the campus lounge and pool - Option to combine surfing with Spanish, yoga, photography or video classes

What's not included

- Flights to and from Costa Rica - Airport transfers - Travel insurance - Meals and drinks - Surfboard and wetsuit rental where not supplied with the class - Additional or optional surf sessions outside scheduled class times - Personal expenses and excursions such as ziplining - Classes-only option does not include accommodation or meals