One of our favorite surf days at Anamaya begins without a surfboard under your arm.
Playa Grande is north of Montezuma, and there is no normal road that delivers you to the beach. You get there on foot, following the coastline and jungle trails for roughly half an hour. That means the surf lesson begins with a small Costa Rica adventure before anyone has even touched the water.
For most beginners, it is also exactly the kind of beach you hope to find at the end of the trail: broad sand, plenty of room, a sandy bottom, jungle behind you, and waves that are often smaller and friendlier than the more powerful breaks of Santa Teresa.
The Walk to Playa Grande
The path leaves Montezuma heading north and alternates between beach, rock, and jungle. Some sections are completely exposed to the ocean and others disappear beneath trees and palms. This is not a manicured resort walkway, which is precisely what makes it fun.
Keep your eyes open. Monkeys, birds, iguanas, butterflies, and other wildlife are common in this part of the Nicoya Peninsula. Depending on the season and sheer luck, you may also see signs of sea turtles along the beach.
Anamaya can arrange boards at the surf area, so beginners using large soft-top boards do not necessarily need to carry them the entire distance.
Piedra Colorada
Partway along the route is Piedra Colorada, a beautiful little cove with a freshwater stream and pool. It is one of those places people sometimes discover by accident and then decide to stay for an hour.
On a hot day, the freshwater can be a perfect stop on the way back from surfing. You have been sitting in salt water, rolling around in sand, and paddling under tropical sun. Then suddenly there is a cool freshwater pool tucked into the coastline.
This stretch of shore is also one of the reasons we tell people that the Playa Grande outing is more than a surf lesson. Even a non-surfer can enjoy the hike.
Arriving at Playa Grande
When the trees finally open up, Playa Grande feels huge. The beach is undeveloped, with forested hills behind it and a wide sweep of sand in front.
This is Playa Grande of Montezuma. Costa Rica has more than one well-known beach with the same name, including another famous surfing Playa Grande near Tamarindo. If you are looking at online surf forecasts or travel guides, make sure you have the right one.
The waves here are typically smaller than Santa Teresa and break over sand, which makes the beach well suited to beginner lessons when conditions cooperate.
Your First Surf Lesson
The first part happens on dry land. You learn the basic stance, how to position your body on the board, how to paddle, and how to pop up. A large beginner board is intentionally easy to paddle and stable under your feet.
Then everyone walks into the water and discovers the difference between practicing a pop-up on sand and trying to do it while the board is accelerating beneath you.
This is where a good instructor becomes invaluable. They can help choose the right wave, position the board, give you a push, and tell you exactly why the last attempt ended with you falling sideways into the Pacific.
For more preparation, read Surfing for Beginners. Surfline’s Learn to Surf guide is also one of the more useful technical introductions online.
Turtles and Wildlife
The undeveloped beaches north of Montezuma have long been important sea turtle habitat. Conservation work in this area has included protecting nests and helping hatchlings reach the ocean.
If you happen to see hatchlings, treat it as wildlife observation, not entertainment. Give them space and follow the instructions of local conservation workers if any are present.
The First Ride
Almost every beginner remembers the first real ride. Not the half-second wobble where you almost stood up. The one where your feet land correctly, the board keeps moving, and for a few seconds you are actually surfing.
That small success can create a very large problem: you immediately want another wave.
If Playa Grande gets you hooked, read our Montezuma Surfing guide for other nearby breaks and our guide to Santa Teresa for the much larger surf scene across the peninsula. The official Visit Costa Rica surfing guide is also useful if you want to build a longer surf trip around the country.
At Anamaya, Playa Grande remains special because it combines so many things we love about living here: jungle, wildlife, warm ocean, a beautiful walk, and the possibility that someone who has never surfed before comes back to the resort grinning like a ten-year-old.
Part of Anamaya’s complete Costa Rica surf guide.
