If you don’t have “Costa Rica surf trip” on your to-do list, I suggest you do yourself a favor and add it, now. With year-round waves, warm water, beautiful beaches and friendly people, Costa Rica is one of our favorite surf trip destinations.
While prices have definitely skyrocketed in Costa Rica over the past 15 years due to an increase in tourism, you can still find really awesome places to stay at reasonable prices. There are lots of great hostels in surf hubs like Guanacaste, and thanks to sites like Airbnb, there’s also a boatload of impressive vacation rentals out there these days for those of you looking for a more homey accommodation.
You can find vacation rentals ranging from basic to luxury, and typically if you have a bigger party, you’ll find bigger nicer places for a lower cost per person. To kick off your rental search, we’ve rounded up 12 epic rentals at some of the best surf breaks in Costa Rica.
Alternatively, if you want to skip the exhaustive surf trip planning and research and you’re looking for a high-end done-for-you kind of experience, join us for a 7-night all-inclusive surf and yoga retreat at an oceanfront villa in Playa Negra where you can surf, explore, and relax at one of the best surf destinations in Costa Rica with a small group of awesome people.
Don’t forget to check out our Guide to Surfing Costa Rica >>
1. Private Hilltop Villa / Mal País
THE LOWDOWN: A hilltop open-air villa in Mal País with views of the ocean, amazing sunsets, Playa Carmen and Santa Teresa. A 10 to 12-minute drive to town, the villa has an infinity pool, jacuzzi, jungle, and those views…
ACCOMMODATES: 4 guests / 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
COST: from $300 per night (~$75 per person)
CLOSEST WAVES: 200 meters to Mal País. Some nearby breaks include Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa, Playa Hermosa.
2. Casa Nomad / Nosara
THE LOWDOWN: Mediterranean-style luxury house in the jungle with a beautiful tropical garden and an infinity pool. Located in a quiet neighborhood, it’s a 15-minute walk to the closest beach, or a 5-minute drive to Guiones.
ACCOMMODATES: 4 guests / 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
COST: from $170-180 per night (~$45 per person)
CLOSEST WAVES: 5 minute drive to Guiones. Some other nearby breaks are Nosara, Playa Pelada and Playa Garza.
3. Casa Colonial / Playa Langosta
THE LOWDOWN: Private luxurious Colonial-style home with the rooms surrounding an interior courtyard and pool. The neighborhood is mostly residential and quiet, with a supermarket and nice restaurants within walking distance.
ACCOMMODATES: 6 guests / 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
COST: from $295 per night (~$50 per person)
CLOSEST WAVES: 2 blocks from Playa Langosta. Some other nearby breaks are Tamarindo, Playa Grande and Playa Avellanas.
4. Bella Vista Mar / Nosara
THE LOWDOWN: Boutique hotel on a hilltop with panoramic views of the ocean, Playa Guiones and Playa Pelada. Breakfast is included, and the kitchen is available for guests to use for lunch and dinner.
ACCOMMODATES: 2 guests / 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
COST: from $70-80 per night (~$40 per person)
CLOSEST WAVES: 10 minute walk to Playa Pelada. Some other nearby breaks are Nosara, Guiones and Playa Garza.
5. Epic 200-Year-Old Bali Style Home / Dominical
THE LOWDOWN: A Balinese-style villa hidden among 20 acres of lush tropical Rain Forest, 10 minutes or so from Dominical on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast.
ACCOMMODATES: 2 guests / 1 bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms
COST: from $200 per night
CLOSEST WAVES: About 10 minutes to Dominical.
6. La Villa Perezoso / Pavones
THE LOWDOWN: Private ocean-view villa within La Ponderosa Resort, a 10-acre oceanfront hotel property that is owned by, operated by and designed for surfers. Daily maid service is included, as well as access to the shared pool, game room, volleyball & basketball courts, and acres of garden & jungle trails.
ACCOMMODATES: 8 guests / 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
COST: from $225-250 per night (~$32 per person)
CLOSEST WAVES: Steps to the nearest beach. The world-famous Pavones break is only a mile and a half away.
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7. Casa Celeste / Mal País
THE LOWDOWN: Two-bedroom beachfront home and property with a spacious outdoor patio and hammocks on the beach.
ACCOMMODATES: 8 guests / 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
COST: from $145-160 per night (~$20 per person!)
CLOSEST WAVES: There’s a right point break steps from the property, and Playa Carmen is 500 meters away. Some other nearby breaks are Mal Pais, Santa Teresa, and Playa Hermosa.
8. Modern Tropical Zen Retreat / Esterillos
THE LOWDOWN: Modern zen-like home with private pool surrounded by 40 acres of tropical forest and less than one kilometer from Bejuco beach.
ACCOMMODATES: 6 guests / 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
COST: from $165 per night (~$32 per person)
CLOSEST WAVES: A short-haul down the hill to Playa Bejuco. Only 15 minutes to the north is Playa Esterillos.
9. Casa Nirvana / Playa Santa Teresa
THE LOWDOWN: Brand new luxury ocean view villa on a hill overlooking Playa Santa Teresa. Large outdoor terrace with private swimming pool, lounge-worthy furniture, and a grill.
ACCOMMODATES: 8 guests / 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
COST: from $204 per night
CLOSEST WAVES: 5 minutes down the hill to Playa Santa Teresa. Other nearby breaks include Playa Carmen, Suck Rock, and Playa Hermosa.
10. Villa Pavones / Pavones
THE LOWDOWN: Located between two world-class breaks, this spacious house has two bedrooms, open-air lanais, and a private swimming pool.
ACCOMMODATES: 7 guests / 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
COST: from $300 per night (~$45 per person)
CLOSEST WAVES: 200 meters from the ocean. Nestled between 2 world-class breaks. One of which is Pavones, commonly known as one of the longest lefts in the world.
11. The Monkey House / Nosara
THE LOWDOWN: Beautiful three-bedroom house nestled in the trees with beautiful ocean views and a private pool.
ACCOMMODATES: 6 guests / 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
COST: from $342 per night
CLOSEST WAVES: A few nearby breaks are Nosara, Guiones and Playa Garza.
12. Topo’s Tree House / Cahuita, Limon
THE LOWDOWN: A unique treehouse built in and around a giant living ficus tree in the jungle on the Caribbean coast.
ACCOMMODATES: 4 guests / 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
COST: from $260-270 per night (~$68 per person)
CLOSEST WAVES: 100 meters to Playa Negra. *Note- This is on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.
Now that you’ve got a few awesome Costa Rica rentals in mind, learn everything else you need to know in our Guide to Surfing Costa Rica. And if you need to brush up on your Costa Rican wave knowledge, study the different surf regions in our lowdown on the surf in Costa Rica.
