10 Days in Costa Rica!

For the longest time, I had wanted to try surfing. However, it seemed so intimidating. These surfers with their chiseled abs and long limbs seem to embody the combination of strength and grace.

One thing the pandemic has really made me realize is that you never know where life may take you. Opportunities that you thought may always be there sometimes won’t. So with an open mind and heart I booked my vacation to Costa Rica. I set my itinerary to spend three days exploring a National Park (Arenal National Park in La Fortuna) and a week in Santa Theresa; a beach town that was highly recommended by surfing enthusiasts.

My three days in La Fortuna were absolutely magical. Located northwest of the capital, San Jose, it is known as the gateway to Arenal National Park which comprises of two active volcanoes. At the foot of the volcanoes, the Tabacon river is famous for sourcing several of the numerous hot springs in the area. The main downtown area has a ton of different restaurants, cafes, shops, and travel companies. To score the best deal on tours I recommend walking into town and doing some comparison shopping. If you opt to stay away from downtown and do not have a rental car there are taxis but also Uber is widely available. 

Here are my recommendations on top things to do in La Fortuna:

• Visit La Fortuna’s Waterfalls
• Walking to the hanging bridges at Arenal National Park
• Hike to the base of Arenal Volcano/go there by horseback
• White water raft/rapelling
• Spend an afternoon at one of the many hot-springs

From La Fortuna I booked a shuttle to Santa Theresa. It was a very long journey that consisted of a bus, ferry, and then another bus. It’s not the easiest place to get to compared to popular surf spots such as Jaco or Tamorindo. However, I chose this town due it being smaller and less touristy. Also, for complete honestly I was hoping to learn in a smaller group given I’m not the most athletic person so had set my expectations low from the start.

During my stay in Santa Theresa I was at El Gato Rojas Surf Hostel. This is a very small family run property and the amenities are very basic. However, I was here for the surfing which was absolutely fantastic. I booked five lessons for approximately $45 USD each. The lessons ran for one hour and typically the teacher to student ratio was 1:3. This hostel is situation right across the street parallel to the beach so for those who are looking to practice, the location is absolute perfection.

So how did I fare after one week? Not bad, I’m able to catch a wave approximately 75% of the time and can steer left with ease. Steering right… well…. will continue to practice!

• My take aways on surfing though are as follows:
• You should be a moderately strong swimmer as a lot of time is spent paddling out
• You do not need to be particularly athletic though having a strong core and legs do certainly help
• It’s all about the balance so ensuring that you keep the knees soft and arms in proper position is fundamental

My absolutely favourite thing about this trip was the wonderful people I had the opportunity to meet! As a traveler, being able to connect with others and share our love of discovering new cultures is unparalleled. Santa Theresa has numerous restaurants, a vibrant nightlife and the most magical sunsets I’ve ever seen.

The downside of this beach town is that compared to other areas it is on the expensive side. In addition, transportation is not the best. Public buses do not run frequently and taxis are very expensive. While Uber is available in many other cities it is not here.

Following is a list of things that I think are important to consider when booking lessons at a surf school:

• Qualifications & experience of surf instructors
• Are videos/photos included as part of the review/feedback?
• What is your current level and where do you want to be?
• Reviews from other students
• Beach conditions: sand, crowd, how the waves break, aggressiveness of tides
• The time of year you are going at and conditions to expect

I had the most amazing time and would highly recommend anyone who is interested to give it a try. Afterall, if you fall down, you just get back up and paddle out again. Surf’s up!

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