Mal Pais

Riding the magnificent waves – if surfing would be a religion, Costa Rica would be its sanctum sanctorum hands down. Dotted with so very many beaches (more than 50 on either coast) from easy to high waves to ride on, it is very common to spot travellers at the airport or in the city with a surfboard in tow. Every beach has a surf school, to at least teach you basics of riding the waves. There is no best spot as such to surf. It is a choice between rocks and coral reefs, and your efficiency levels in surfing from beginner to expert. The most famous ones from roughly a choice of 50 beaches where you can surf besides Mal Pais are Playa Escondida, Matapalo and Dominical, Playa Nosara, and Playa Longosta. There are more than 200 drownings reported in one year. So be aware that you are into rough waters.