Costa Rica Surf & Jungle Adventure: 7-Day Surf Camp in Puerto Viejo

The camp is set in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, a small town on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast about four hours from San José. The coastline here mixes reef breaks and beach breaks, and the water is warm enough to surf without a wetsuit. You'll surf most mornings, with the option of a second session in the afternoon on some days. Coaching covers 12 hours across the week, with a progression from beginner to intermediate/advanced depending on where you start. Instructors film and photograph you in and out of the water so you can look at what your take-off and bottom turn actually look like, not just hear about it.

Where you sleep depends on your group size. Smaller groups stay in hardwood bungalows; larger groups get a hand-picked local house. Either way there's a shared central area for hanging out between sessions. The whole thing is run eco-style — no big resort, no chain hotel.

Food is a big part of the week. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are made daily by local chefs with organic, locally sourced ingredients. Breakfast is at 7:00, lunch around 1:30, dinner in the evening. Day 2 is the exception — dinner that night is on your own so you can try the restaurants in town. They'll handle vegan, gluten-free, lacto-ovo vegetarian and pescatarian menus; let them know a week before you arrive if you have allergies or specific preferences.

Beyond surfing, the week includes a guided kayak tour at Punta Uva, a hike to the Bri-bri waterfalls, and a visit to a traditional organic chocolate farm. There's also a dedicated free day to do whatever you want — hang at the beach, book a massage, wander Puerto Viejo. The final night finishes with a bonfire and a farewell dinner at a beachfront restaurant.

The camp is flexible on dates. Listed 2026 departures are 15–21 April, 5–11 July, 4–10 November and 3–9 December, plus 10–17 February 2027. If none of those work, they build custom surf camps. Booking requires a 20% deposit, and you should plan to arrive in San José the day before the camp starts because the shuttle leaves at 6:00 am. Group discounts are available on request.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation (hardwood bungalow or hand-picked local house, depending on group size) - 12 hours of personalised surf coaching across the week - Surf gear: boards, wax, leashes and rash guards - Photo and video footage for technique analysis - Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner cooked by local chefs - Welcome fruits and snacks on arrival day - Welcome dinner on arrival day - One surf-focused yoga session on a bamboo platform - Guided kayak tour at Punta Uva - Hike to the Bri-bri waterfalls - Visit to a traditional organic chocolate farm - Shuttle from San José to Puerto Viejo - All internal transport to and from activities - Dedicated free day to explore Puerto Viejo - Beach bonfire and farewell dinner at a beachfront restaurant

What's not included

- International flights to/from San José (SJO) - Travel insurance - Lunch during the shuttle transfer on arrival day - Dinner on Day 2 (eat out in town) - Extra activities not listed in the programme - Professional massages (bookable about one week in advance) - Personal expenses and tips