ASK THE COSTA RICA SURF EXPERT    For many years Tico Travel has been known as the leader in all aspects of Costa Rica surfing. Now we have come up with an even better way for you to get the latest and best advice on surfing in Costa Rica. How? Ask the Costa Surf Expert! Get the latest and best advice on the Costa Rica surf scene. Our traveling surf expert is hired to do just two things, SURF and answer your questions! Costa Rica Surf Expert: Mike Brooks Mike fell in love with Costa Rica in 1980 when he took his first surf trip there and discovered the unbelievable surf and friendly people. Since that time Mike surfed Costa Rica from east to west, north to south. He has lived and worked in Costa Rica in many different roles, from managing a beachfront hotel to running Surf Schools. Mike has been working as a Costa Rica Travel and Surf expert for over 15 years helping surfers plan their vacations and working as a surf guide. Mike now spends his time consulting for Costa Rica surf camps and has some of the best surfers assisting him to provide surf lessons for beginning surfers and Surf Guide service for the more Advanced Surfers. He is also available to answer any questions you may have on planning your own surf trip to Costa Rica. Tico Travel is proud to be the only company offering this unique Costa Rica surf service and it shows once again why we are the recognized leaders when it comes to all aspects of Costa Rica Surf Travel. Send your Costa Rica Surf Questions to Mike QUESTION: Hey Mike, how's it going? A friend and I are coming to CR from July 27th to August 14th which gives us just under 3 weeks to cruise around. We were mainly thinking about the guanacaste area with the classic Ollie's and witch's and maybe some less known places, our main objective being scoring quality waves with few people (isn't that all surfers' objective?!). The thing is I'm thinking it would be ridiculous to spend 3 weeks in CR and not surf Pavones…do you think we can do it all or is it too complicated? We're on a low budget trip so we were planning to get around by bus rather then renting a car. How would you advise doing it? First go straight from San Jose to Pavones and then work our way up? What about the swell, are those places going to be good at that time of the year? Thx for your help! Tom. ANSWER: Hey Tom, My pleasure to assist you. The surf spots you mentioned will definitely be working in July. And sure I think you could surf from Ollies Point to Pavones in 3 weeks. I agree starting in San Jose would be best that is where the hub for all the buses are based go to Pavones first and than head North along the Coastal highway hitting Dominical, Playa Hermosa/Jaco and then to Tamarindo area form there you can get boats to Ollies and Witches. Mike   QUESTION: Mike, Myself and several friends are heading down to stay in Playa Grande in late June. We are hoping to catch surf at Witches and Ollies and was wondering if there is typically surf there in June and finally are their pangas that run up their for the day opposed to expensive overnight trips? Thanks, Tim. ANSWER: Hey Tim. Good to hear from you! Yes I think you should be able to catch some surf at Ollies and Witches in June. And yes there are definitely pangas you can catch that will take you out for just the day the cost is about $250-$350 for the day . You can ask around in playa grande where to book a boat or just drive to Playa de Coco where lots of pangas heading to Ollies and Witches everyday. Have a safe trip! Michael Brooks, Costa Rica Travel Planner   QUESTION: Mike, My name is Tony and I will be in the Tamarindo area form April 17 thru April 23. I keep checking the surf and it seems to be bigger in Playa Grande compared to Tamarindo. I realize that this is dictated from swell direction, but I am having a hard time committing to a stay inTamarindo or Playa Grande Any help with this would be great. I have reservations at Best Western in Tamarindo, but I am also interested in a stay at Los Tortugas in Playa Grande. Just looking for some advice from someone who knows. It's a long way from Costa to south Alabama. ANSWER: Hey Toni you are right the surf is usually a little bigger in Playa Grande and more powerful and maybe even a little less crowded the advantage to Tamarindo is you are close to town and a little closer to some other spots by car like Negra, Avellanes, and Langosta tough choice I see your predicament... if you don't mind walking about 20 minutes and a paddle across a river you could stay in Tamarindo and walk to Grande at High tide when it is good if you are going with a chick yo may have an advantage to Tamarindo because there is more for her to do but if you are going by yourself and you main concern is surf Grande definitely has the better wave. Regards Michael Brooks, Costa Rica Travel Planner   QUESTION: Mike, I will be staying at the Marriott Los Suenos from 4/24-29. I am traveling with 3 other non-surfers and I was wondering if you have any suggestions for surf lessons or even a surf guide. I am an intermediate surfer who surfs mainly beach breaks but I am looking for anything in the 3-5 foot range and good form. What are some key breaks around the Marriott and how accessible are they? Thanks. Catherine ANSWER: Hello Catherine, there are a couple of breaks that you can take a boat out to from the Marriott Los Sueños area but on the most part there are pretty advanced breaks very hollow with reef bottom. But there are a couple of other spots 10-15 minutes away in Playa Jaco and Playa Hermosa area that would fit the bill they are pretty easy to find if you ask around. If you would like to have a surfguide come by and take you surfing the group rate is $95 per person for a ½ day If you wanted your own personal surfguide to take you to different breaks in the area the cost is $500 for the day. Michael Brooks, Costa Rica Travel Planner   QUESTION: Hi mike I wrote you earlier this week I wanted to know how big the surf was in Playa Grande in may and how are the crowds are. How far is the drive to Negra and Nosara from Playa Grande? Are there any good spots in between? I have been to Hermosa and Jaco and like them alot. Is there a similar break (like Hermosa ) close to Playa Grande? I already have reservations in Playa Grande so going too far south is not a option. Thanks John ANSWER: Q: How big the surf was in Playa Grande in May A: Usually chest to head high Q How are the crowds are. A: May should not be to bad most kids start coming in June and July Q: How far is the drive to Negra and Nosara from Playa Grande? A: About 45 to Negra and maybe 2 hr or less to Nosara Q: Are there any good spots in between? A: Avellanes Q: I have been to Hermosa and Jaco and like them alot. Is there a similar break (like Hermosa ) close to Playa Grande? A: Not really with the same power of Hermosa in that area Michael Brooks, Costa Rica Travel Planner   QUESTION: Mike, I want to take my son to CR on a surf trip in June for his high school graduation. He has been surfing about 5 years and I have been surfing 35+ years. I am looking for a quality trip good food good accommodations. I have heard bad things about CR getting crowded. Looking for left point breaks where I won’t have to scrap too much for waves. Any thoughts? Thanks! ANSWER: Hi, The cool thing about Costa Rica is that it is so consistent and there are tons of different surf breaks. And like most places people tend to congregate to certain breaks and peaks and you can always find a peak to yourself if you look around a little. Most of the point breaks in Costa Rica are pretty well know and can be a little crowded at times especially in the Summer but noting like the crowds we see in most spots in the U.S. and the crowds tend to be very mellow because there are always lot more tourist than local and the locals are very friendly anyways. You really cant go wrong in the Central Pacific area of Costa Rica (Playa Jaco /Hermosa) there are lots of breaks within easy driving distance and some very nice places to stay. Or You could stay in Tamarindo as a base Camp in the NW pacific area and than drive to some of the local spots to get away form the Tamarindo  crowds. The third option is Mal Pais it is probably the least crowded with lots of beach break up and down the coast. Check out our Costa Rica Hotel section at http://www.ticotravel.com/index/hotelsmain.htm to see what we offer in those areas and get back with me and I will be happy to give you more details and book whatever you need. Michael Brooks, Costa Rica Travel Planner   QUESTION: HI have heard that Jaco beach is very crowded and that it is hard to just get a couple of rides there. Is that true?. What about playa hermosa is it crowded, and does it break on the shore or set up like a sandbar a liite offshore. One other question, the season we are going in is the wet season, does this mean constant rain or what. Thanks Pat! ANSWER: Hey Pat! There are usually quite a few people surfing in Jaco but it is about a 2 mile stretch of beach and it breaks all up and down the beach so it really spreads people out and behind the Jaco beach Hotel is usually not bad because most people don’t want to walk way down the beach to get there Playa Hermosa is also popular but it is about 4 miles along so people are even more spaced out you can usually find a peak by yourself at either spot. Jaco usually breaks closer to the beach on High Tide and out a little further on the sand bar at low tide there is a huge difference in how it breaks depending on the tide because there is such a big fluxuation between high and low tide. Rainy season usually means it will rain everyday at some point in the day or night but usually only for about 30 minutes but pretty hard. So it usually will not effect your trip too much. Get back with me when you can, Michael Brooks, Costa Rica Travel Planner   QUESTION: Hi Mike, A female co-worker and I are planning to trip to Costa Rica around February 9th til the 14th. I'm comfortable in most situations, but she wants a mellow trip, like 6 foot waves or less. Are there any places, maybe Nicoya, that you would suggest? We are not looking to break the bank on accommodation but would love a 2 room situation (we're just co workers and want to remain that way!), like a bungalow or suite. Plus we would need to rent a car, and preferably boards down there too. I'd rather not have to travel with boards and pay $100 each way on American Airlines : ) Thanks! ANSWER: Hello Sanjay, It will be my pleasure to assist you. We do have some accommodations in the Nicoya area in Mal Pais and in the Nosara check out our hotel section under the North Pacific hotel section at the Tropico Latino in Mal Pais and the Harmony House in Nosara. Also Playa Jaco would be a really mellow place to surf that time of the year and a lot closer and it is a nice sand bottom and seeing that you guys are not looking for a lot of alone time together the Playa Jaco has a lot more going on for night life and restaurants. The Jaco Beach Best Western you can check it out in the Central Pacific area of our Hotel section or if you want something even cheaper in that area you could stay at the Cabañas Las Arenas in Playa Hermosa. FYI: if you purchase American Airline tickets we maybe able to get you a free voucher for surf boards? I will have to double check I know we can get free vouchers for our clients out of Florida but not 100% sure out of JFK but I will check it out and get back with you. If not there are toms of surf shops in Jaco that you can rent boards from. But at $20 per day you will end up spending about $100 anyway. After you have checked out the accommodations let me know what you think I can also set up private transfers form the airport to the hotel if you like. Talk to you soon, Michael Brooks, Costa Rica Travel Planner More Costa Rica Surf Questions>> TICO TRAVEL™ 161 East Commercial Blvd, Ft Lauderdale, Florida 33334 Office Hours: * Monday thru Friday 9am to 6pm * Saturday 10am to 2pm E.S.T. 1-800-493-8426 Copyright © 2008 Tico Travel™ - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Tico Travel™ is prohibited. Prices and information are subject to change without notice.