Costa Rica is the warm-water, board-shorts-only classroom of the Americas — two coasts, year-round waves, and an easy-going pura-vida travel scene. The Pacific coast is the workhorse; the Caribbean side near Puerto Viejo fires its heavy reef in the northern winter. Fly into Liberia (LIR) or San José (SJO).
May – November (Pacific rainy season = biggest, most consistent swell).
Beginners learn on the long, mellow beach breaks of Tamarindo, Sámara, and Jacó; advanced surfers want the hollow Pacific barrels of Playa Hermosa, Pavones, and Witch's Rock.
The Pacific coast is biggest and most consistent during the May-to-November green (rainy) season, when southern-hemisphere groundswell arrives daily and mornings are clean. The Caribbean side near Puerto Viejo peaks December to March.
It is one of the best beginner destinations anywhere. Tamarindo, Sámara, Nosara, and Jacó offer warm water, sandy bottoms, gentle waves, and dense surf-school coverage.
Liberia (LIR) is closest to the Guanacaste breaks; San José (SJO) is better for the central and southern Pacific (Jacó, Dominical, Pavones). Beaukiez prices flights from your home airport into both.