Author Topic: Costa Rica Craze  (Read 7548 times)

burchas

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Costa Rica Craze
« on: February 26, 2017, 12:12:53 PM »
Just got back from a month in Costa Rica, this time Pavones to be exact.
I saw some good trip reports here in the zone but none from this area so
I thought it would be a nice addition.

My last encounter with my local NYC beach break left me battered with a
dislocated shoulder in a 40F water and a retreat in a warm water friendlier
point break was much needed to sharpen my SUS skills.

Pavones is a very remote rural area in CR and doesn't get too much traffic.
This time of the year when the 4/5 stars swells are very few and far in between
guys like me can enjoy this nice long left breaks all day long without having their
asses handed to them. Usually 2-4ft waves with the occasional head high.
My wave count here is insane that usually after 2 hour session I'm comfortable
leaving the beach.

In the afternoon the wind picks up like a clockwork and that means a nice sunset
downbreezer (10-12knots) to finish the day (3 miles upwind first).

I wanted to bring my surf board ( I brought my 2017 Red Elite 14x25 with)
but still dragging my shoulder decided to forgo and just rent a board from my buddy
Shawn (Agua Vida Surf) who's a true waterman and shaping his own boards.

I alternated between a 10' and an 8'6" Sunova speed inspired boards, both very
accommodating and easy to turn boards.

I've attached some shots of myself on these waist to shoulder high day.
and some of Shawn's from that same day on his new 7' board.

Here is a vid of my buddy Shawn doing his thing on this beautiful wave:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srSTPVS2ibY

and another vid of a typical afternoon downbreezer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjjKzMOkWko

Last vid is of Robby Naish a looooong ride on this break when it gets bigger
and it does get a lot bigger:

https://youtu.be/HgPOuULcxpw

That was a fun injury free winter retreat. Only highs and no lows other than
on a one certain day when a local big ass turtle kept poping-out blocking
my waves.
« Last Edit: February 26, 2017, 12:36:24 PM by burchas »
in progress...

surfafrica

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2017, 12:56:41 PM »
Great post.  Thanks.

Ya, looks like that wave can get pretty juicy (my god).
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Night Wing

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2017, 01:03:23 PM »
Costa Rica looks like a great place for sup surfing. I know you had a fabulous time there.

Thanks for posting all three videos and all of the action shot photos.
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surfcowboy

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2017, 07:47:08 PM »
Oh man, a left in warm water... I needed that.

Can you give us some info on local accommodations and how's the internet down there? I'm looking for cheap, warm places I can surf and work for a while.

This looks pretty sweet man.

burchas

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2017, 09:46:50 PM »
Oh man, a left in warm water... I needed that.

Can you give us some info on local accommodations and how's the internet down there? I'm looking for cheap, warm places I can surf and work for a while.

This looks pretty sweet man.

As you can imagine, internet down there is sub standard. That said, I managed to
pull-off the very thing you're thinking about for an entire month so it's doable if you're
willing to lower you're heart beat and adapt to that slow pace.

3 Places comes to mind:

1. Cafe de la suerte. They have 4 units in various price points and you can include meals
in your deal. they have great food and all units are spit distance from the break. The
owners are a lovely gringos couple.

You can email Hadas or Ran at ranbarkan@hotmail.com for details.

2. Surf house pavones. also managed by a lovely gringos couple, different vibe, not as private
as the first one. You could include dinner in the deal. Mostly youngsters but they do have
at least one upgraded unit. it's more like a hostel but sometimes it's dead and you could end
up alone there or sometime you can fall into a commune, either way, very laid back and friendly. Look for @pavonesrooms on Facebook. Contact Carmel, she'll set you up.

3. Agua Vida Surf. Also owned by a cool gringos couple who are also very much
water people. They also shape and rent their boards (and occasionally fix dings as a curtesy
but they hate it). They have 2 units within their land. it's not as close to the break as the other
units so you'll need a vehicle to move around.

Go to http://www.aguavidasurf.com and contact Natalie or Shawn for more details.

These are people I know personally and either stayed with them or used their services
in certain capacities so I feel comfortable recommending.

This place is all about the water (and yoga to some extent). other than that there is nothing
to do outside of finding all sorts of characters to hang-out with if that's your thing.

There are few other interesting breaks close by that definitely worth a shot while you're there.
Look for Punta Banco and Matapalo.
in progress...

surfercook

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2017, 10:12:37 PM »
Sweet synopsis on the scene down at Pavones. That place always looks  so perfect!
One could go into a mall in Kansas and ask a teenager "What is a surfer looking for?, and the answer will always be, "The perfect wave"
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burchas

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2017, 06:34:01 AM »
Sweet synopsis on the scene down at Pavones. That place always looks  so perfect!

Thx surfcook! I could have used your extensive visual touch, would do a lot more justice to
this place.
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mrbig

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2017, 07:54:07 AM »
Burchas, Thanks so much. Brought back memories of a great trip there in 92. One long, long ride on a 6'4" Hamish
Graham Byrning Spear. Second point to the left, past the cove, past the river, past the cabina, turn right into the cove with kids on mats.

A month, JEALOUS! GuD on ya mate!


« Last Edit: February 27, 2017, 08:03:45 AM by mrbig »
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Caribsurf

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2017, 07:57:59 AM »
Hey Burchas by any chance did you cross paths with 5'6" American transplant surfer John Haas?  He's 55 and lives in Pavones where he owns a farm and used to own a spa. He's a good surfer and a great guy and has been trying to get me down there for years.  Thanks for the photos and videos, they just might work getting me down there.
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burchas

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2017, 08:50:13 AM »
Hey Burchas by any chance did you cross paths with 5'6" American transplant surfer John Haas?  He's 55 and lives in Pavones where he owns a farm and used to own a spa. He's a good surfer and a great guy and has been trying to get me down there for years.  Thanks for the photos and videos, they just might work getting me down there.

The name doesn't ring a bell. It would explain it if he is a prone surfer as I tried to stay clear
of them due to my limited skills. I only hung out with the SUS crowd which is a small there.
Hope you go down there, it's worth it. I'll look him up next time I'm there.
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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2017, 05:54:22 PM »
He'd be a nice guy in tHe line up surf or SUP, but totally understand your decision to stay clear of the proners. As a surfer for over 40 years , Pavones is a legendary wave, and I would do the same.
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surfcowboy

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2017, 10:15:15 PM »
Thanks man, great info. These days I'm doing more writing and presentations so I'm not as tied to super fast internet so that opens things up a bit.

Great info and kudos to you for doing some longer term travel man.

Paddle On

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #12 on: May 22, 2017, 06:55:45 PM »
how did you get there? fly to san jose and rent a car?

looks like i can fly to san jose and take the puddle jumper to Golfito, then a 2 hour transfer. one hitch says 40lbs max, so one sup, paddle should work.

any info greatly appreciated.
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burchas

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #13 on: May 23, 2017, 05:06:44 AM »
how did you get there? fly to san jose and rent a car?

looks like i can fly to san jose and take the puddle jumper to Golfito, then a 2 hour transfer. one hitch says 40lbs max, so one sup, paddle should work.

any info greatly appreciated.

Yes. I did San Jose and then a car from there. It a 6 hours drive, most of it is nice, the last
hour and a half is on dirt, gravel road all the way to the village.

If you do that try to stick to the coastal road and avoid the mountain road as it could take 2
more hours.

The Car rental for the month was about $650. Managed to get that price by going through the
airline (Budget/American Airlines). Also very important to note that the car rental agent will
try to trick to take their insurance which will double the price!

If you're paying with American credit card you can avoid the insurance (due to coverage of
your CC company). Just make sure that's the case with your card. They will still try to push
you for the insurance so you'll have to stick your script.

I did ask local friend about bringing the SUS board on the plane. He thought it would be
a good idea to check what is the max board length they'll take. He remembered 9' as
the max, so that's one thing to consider outside the weight. These are small planes.

Never took the plane to Golfito though,as I like to drive and have a car with me to explore
other opportunities around.

Hope that helps. Good luck
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pguidry

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Re: Costa Rica Craze
« Reply #14 on: June 29, 2017, 07:23:30 PM »
I'll second the recommendation for Shawn and Nathalie. We stayed about a week and a half at aquavida a couple of years ago. We had a blast. Very low key down there but the surfing, pipas, and coffee were all we needed. Got to watch a local soccer game one afternoon.

Here's a pic of Shawn taking off on one and another of my son. I was thinking of going back again. Love the relaxed vibe down there.
« Last Edit: June 29, 2017, 07:26:50 PM by pguidry »

 


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