What To Do

Located directly in front of the hotel is Playa Negra, the break known worldwide and considered by many to be one of the top spots in Costa Rica. Playa Negra has rock bottom with perfect right-hand barrels and well defined channel for paddling out. The break has good exposure to both Northern and Southern Hemisphere swells and is reasonably consistent year-round. During high tide, there’s a sweet little sandy area for swimming in the front.

A white sand beach, called Sandy Beach (creative…), is just 100 yards south and provides reef-free swimming, boogie boarding, and is a great place for surf lessons.

Board rentals & surf lessons are available at the Hotel Playa Negra Surf Shop.

With both beach and river mouth breaks, Playa Avellanas, is just a quick 10 minute drive north from Hotel Playa Negra. Waves break up and down Avellanas, from sandy bottom beach breaks, rivermouth, to the reefs, offering hollow rights and lefts. A great stretch of beach to surf, learn to surf, lounge, or swim. You can either park at Lola’s to do your surf check or at Cabinas las Olas and walk down the beautiful mangrove pathway to the beach. Both spots offer great post-surf food.

For experienced surfers and those who want to lounge luxuriously.

Technically Playa Avellanas, but known locally as “Little Hawaii” is the outside reef right point break at the northern end of the river mouth. Offers a good sized wave and works best on a north or northwest swell. A couple yards south is the Avellanas river mouth with right and left point break that curls off the mouth of the estuary and also some great sea shell hunting.

Perched on the shore of Playa Avellanas and in front of Little Hawaii is the Hacienda Pinilla Beach Club. Sip a cocktail from the TikiBar while you lounge on the beach chairs, take a dip in the infinity pool while watching the surf, or grab lunch at the restaurant. The club also offers a beachfront fitness center and wellness treatment rooms. You must purchase a day pass to enjoy all these fine amenities, but we promise it’s worth it.

A 30-minute drive from Playa Negra brings you to Tamarindo, the sometimes-crowded surfing capital of Guanacaste. A more touristy destination, the city offers shopping and an interesting night life.

There are plenty of good surf spots in Tamarindo Bay. The Tamarindo Rivermouth is a solid right hand wave. Other quality local waves in the area are Pico Pequeno – mellow reef break; Old Man’s – good longboard wave; and Playa Langosta – fun outside reef and inside beach break.

We suggest taking a boat trip to Witch’s Rock and Ollie’s Point, which can be booked at the Hotel Playa Negra Surf Shop.

Witch’s Rock is a two-mile stretch of beach with hollow sand bottom breaks creating long lefts and rights. Ollie’s Point is the right point of the rivermouth with fast, long, hollow, and powerful waves that roll on the beach endlessly breaking over a rocky bottom.

Nosara is about an hour and 15 minutes driving from Playa Negra. It has a great beach break with peaks and shallow reef that barrels with a large south or southwest swell.

While you’re in town, check out the Ostional Nacional Wildlife Refuge and see some cute ass sea turtles, or grab lunch at La Luna before your drive back.

Located between Junquillal and Ostional, Marbella is one of the area’s most consistent breaks offering excellent conditions.

No crowds, great surf, and a long beautiful stretch of black sand beach. Marbella is a bit more off the beaten path and is about a 35-minute drive from Playa Negra.

Junquillal has a beach break and a left reef break that works better on higher tides. There are many peaks with hollow, fast rights and lefts. On a large enough swell, check out Playa Blanca directly in front of the Iguana Azul which can offer double overhead lefts.