Costa Rica Surf & Yoga Camp in Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa is a small dirt-road surf town on the Pacific side of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula. The breaks here work year-round — consistent, warm water, no wetsuit needed — and the school running this camp has been teaching in the village since 1999, which is a long time in a town where surf schools come and go. Lessons run at the beach closest to the school, and the team decides each morning where to go based on swell, tide and wind. Transport to the break is included on lesson days.

A typical day starts with a yoga class at the school's studio, either at sunrise or mid-morning. After breakfast you head out for a surf lesson of roughly two to three hours, split between time on the beach working on technique and time in the water with an instructor. Groups are capped small — two to six students per instructor — and beginners start on soft-top boards in the whitewater before moving out back. Intermediates get video feedback and coaching on turns and positioning. Boards, rash guards and leashes are provided, so you can travel without gear.

After lunch (included) the afternoon is yours. Most people walk down the beach, swim, head to the Montezuma waterfall, take a horse ride on the sand, or just nap. Late afternoon there's a second yoga class, then dinner is up to you — Santa Teresa has a decent spread of sodas, cevicherías and slightly nicer places along the main road, all within walking distance of the house.

Accommodation is in the school's own house, a short walk from the beach and the studio. You can book a bed in a shared room or take a private room; all rooms have fans, mosquito nets and shared bathrooms. It's simple, clean and sociable rather than luxurious, and the point is that you're a few steps from the water.

What separates this from the many surf camps along the same road is the length of time the school has been running, the small lesson ratios, and the fact that yoga is built into the day rather than sold as an optional add-on. If you're after a surf-first week with a couple of yoga classes a day and no need to think about logistics, this is set up well for that.

What's included

- Accommodation in shared or private rooms at the surf house - Breakfast and lunch on lesson days - Daily surf lessons with instructor (2-3 hours) - Surfboard, leash and rash guard rental - Daily yoga classes (usually two per day) - Transport to and from the surf breaks on lesson days - Video analysis of your surfing - Wifi at the house and school

What's not included

- Flights to and from Costa Rica - Airport or ferry transfers (can be arranged at extra cost) - Dinners - Travel and medical insurance - Personal expenses and souvenirs - Optional excursions (waterfall trips, horse riding, boat tours) - Extra surf lessons beyond the daily session