Pavones
Pavones, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Sports: Surfing
Best time to go: April–October
Pavones is a remote village near Costa Rica's southern border with Panama, in Puntarenas province, on the eastern shore of the mouth of the Golfo Dulce. Its left-hand point break is famous as one of the longest lefts in the world, with rides that can run for several hundred metres.
Because the point sits inside the gulf, it needs a large, long-period south or south-west swell to wrap in; on those days the waves peel down a cobblestone and rock point near the Río Claro mouth with long walls and fast sections. Swells big enough come mostly from about April to October, and the wave can be flat for long periods in between. Offshore winds from the north and north-east are common in the mornings. It suits intermediate and advanced surfers. Crowds build quickly when a good swell is forecast, so be patient and respect the locals. The rocks are a hazard, the river mouth may have crocodiles, and the village is far from hospitals, so bring a first-aid kit. The water is warm all year (about 27–30°C); boardshorts or a lycra are enough.
Spots near Pavones
- Matapalo – Osa Peninsula (17 km)
- Dominical (124 km)
- Playa Cocles (146 km)
- Puerto Viejo – Salsa Brava (147 km)
- Bocas del Toro – Playa Bluff (149 km)
- Esterillos (196 km)
- Playa Hermosa – Jacó (208 km)
- Jacó (212 km)