Playa Cocles
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica
Sports: Surfing
Best time to go: January–March, June–July, December
Playa Cocles is a long, palm-lined beach about 2 km south-east of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, in Limón province on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast. It is the main beach break of the area and a friendlier alternative to the reef at Salsa Brava.
The waves come from short-period wind swell generated in the Caribbean Sea, mainly from about December to March, with a second, smaller window around June and July; outside these months it is often flat. Several peaks break over sand with some reef patches, giving punchy lefts and rights; on small days the inside is used for lessons, but bigger swells make it powerful and it suits intermediate and advanced surfers best. Offshore winds from the south-west, south and west blow mostly in the early morning, and the trade winds can make it choppy later. Rip currents at Cocles are very strong and have caused many drownings, so swim and surf only where it is safe and ask about the day's conditions. The water is warm all year (about 27–30°C); boardshorts or a lycra are enough.
Spots near Playa Cocles
- Puerto Viejo – Salsa Brava (3 km)
- Bocas del Toro – Playa Bluff (60 km)
- Dominical (132 km)
- Pavones (146 km)
- Matapalo – Osa Peninsula (154 km)
- Esterillos (194 km)
- Playa Hermosa – Jacó (205 km)
- Jacó (208 km)