Best time to surf Playa Camaronal

The best time to surf at Playa Camaronal is April–October.

Sámara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Sports: Surfing

Best time to go: April–October

Playa Camaronal is an undeveloped beach on the Pacific coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, about 20 minutes beyond Sámara by car or boat, past Carrillo on the way to Punta Islita. It lies in the Camaronal Wildlife Refuge, created in 1994 to protect the mangroves and the four species of sea turtle that nest on the beach: leatherback, olive ridley, hawksbill and green. The road past Carrillo crosses a river, best at low tide; in the rainy season the river and the roads can be too high to pass, so a 4x4 is recommended, and boats also run from Sámara.

The beach picks up more swell than Sámara and Carrillo. It is a sandy beach break with lefts and rights and a defined right by the river mouth that can break bigger than the beaches nearby, with hollow, fast and powerful waves on good days. South and south-west swells work best, and they are biggest from about April to October; even in the dry season it is rarely completely flat. Morning winds from the north and north-east blow offshore, while strong wind can spoil it. It is usually best from mid tide on the rising tide up to high tide.

Camaronal suits confident surfers: the waves are fast and can close out, the rip currents and undertow are strong on big south swells, and river mouths in Costa Rica can have crocodiles, especially after heavy rain. There are no services, lifeguards or shade on the beach, so bring water, sun protection and, if you can, a spare board; restaurants and lodging are in Sámara and Carrillo. Keep clear of turtle nests and follow the refuge rangers' instructions. The water is warm all year, about 27 to 30 °C, so boardshorts or a lycra are enough.

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