SURFING
The Pacific coast around Playa Junquillal boasts some of the best surfing in the world. You can access a multitude of worldclass waves within 5min to 2 hrs from Casa Bella Tortuga.
Playa Grande
A popular area for all levels of surfers, the Playa Grande beach break is about an hour drive from Casa Bella Tortuga. It can get busy and influenced by tide changes but it's a funky surf town worth the visit.
Playa Naranjo/Witch's Rock
The Witch's Rock at Playa Naranjo is one of Costa Rica's best known and beloved surf spots, and it is often surprisingly uncrowded. It's about a 2 hours from the villa. This intense surfing experience for expert surfers only breaks in front of Roca Bruja, a huge volcanic rock.
Playa Tamarindo
A wide sandy bay, Playa Tamarindo is good for beginers and intermediate surfers. The town is very touristy and traffic can be very busy but there are a lot of tourist amenities and beginner surf lessons.
Playa Avallena
A 20-minute drive from the Villa, Playa Avellana's five wave peaks offer great surfing conditions for all levels of surfer. There are a number of good breaks at Avallanas that are consistent throughout the year.
Playa Negra
Arguably Costa Rica's best surf beach, Playa Negra is a 40-minute beach walk from Casa Bella Tortuga or a 10-15 minute drive. It featrures a right-hand beach break with channel features made famous in the Endless Summer 2 movie. This is an adrenaline pulsing fast barreling reef break wave for intermediate and advanced surfers.
Playa Callejones
Playa Callejones is an easy 15-20-minute walk north from Casa Bella Tortuga on the beach or via the road, or a 6-minute drive. The beach is not as popular as neighbouring Playa Negra, but it boasts a great beach break with nice rights and lefts that break over a sandy bottom. The break is good beginners and intermediate surfers looking for fun.
Playa Junquillal
Playa Junquillal's strong left-hand beach break is a 20-minute walk or 5 minute drive from Casa Bella Tortuga. It is best surfed at high tide. Breaks are fast and hollow and for expert surfers. It’s for experienced surfers only.
Playa Lagarto
Playa Lagarto, 30-minutes south of Casa Bella Tortuga, is known for its diverse marine wildlife and its reef break, A frame waves that generate perfect solid tubes when teamed up with offshore winds to create breaks ideal for all levels of surfers. The spot is mostly secluded and waves are super fun to ride.
Playa Marbella
This lesser known and more remote destination is only 12 kilometres south of Playa Junquillal but can take about 45 minutes to drive there. Playa Marbella offers consistent offshore winds and two beach breaks.
Playa Guiones
Playa Guiones (Nosara) , about 1 hr 50 min from Casa Bella Tortuga, is one of the busiest waves in Guanacaste. Its seven kilometres of beach and reef break offer something for every level of surfer.
Lessons, Tours, Trips and Rentals
Playa Negra-Pargos Adventures, Hotel Playa Negra
Playa Avellana-Be Salty, Avellanas Surf School