International Camps
Summer 2011 International Surf Camp
Location: Playa Esterillos Oeste, Costa Rica
Dates: July 19-28
Rates: (1 person $2,250) - (2 people – $2,000 per person) (3 + $1,850 per person)
Costa Rica is a surfers dream come true offering beginning to advanced surf breaks, authentic Latin American culture, and a flurry of other amazing activities to explore. We have been bringing surfers down to Playa Esterillos since 2002 and know the ins and outs of the area and have strong connections within the surfing community.
As a way of giving back and sharing our passion for surfing we have hosted a free learn to surf clinic and competition for the local kids each year and are planning the contest for Saturday July 24, 2010.
Location
Playa Esterillos lies a short three hour drive from the capital of San Jose where most flights arrive. A short drive from the more Americanized and crowded town of Playa Jaco, Esterillos maintains an authentic Costa Rican and Pura Vida vibe.
The Waves
Beach Breaks: Playa Esterillos offers a several mile stretch of powerful beach breaks with empty peaks to choose from. The wave offers barrel sections at the higher tides with punchy outside sections, and an inside reform at medium and lower tides perfect for working on aerials, and more technical maneouvers.
Reef: The reef breaks at Esterillos break a quarter of a mile out with a peak in either direction. The left is punchy and a bit shorter before running into the channel, with the right sometimes connecting all the way to the beach break on the inside mimicking a point break. This wave is ideal for long boarding, or focusing on top turn combinations and surfing off the rail. For beginners the inside of the reef is mushy and offers an easy entry.
Advanced Reef Breaks: Less than an hour to the north is a series of reef breaks accessible only by boat. Ferries to the spots leave from the local surfing village each morning and help to limit the amount of other surfers at these locations. Escondida has been described as the kind of wave that you draw on your school books. A perfect hollow peak that tapers off into chanel. La Isla is a left hand reef that peaks up off of a cliff and reef and runs for several hundred yards. The reef has several shallow spots and changes in the bottonThese waves require a fair amount of swell to break but are a must see when the swell jumps up. and a slightly more defined right. The wave Less than an hour away are a string of world class reef breaks that we will explore if the swell gets large enough.
2010 Pura Vida Surf Contest & Beach Clean Up In Costa Rica
On July 24th 2010, Surf Happens teams up with Pura Vida Church to present Playa Esterillos Surf Fiesta & Beach Cleanup! A group of Santa Barbara groms, and local tico kids and adults gathered for an all day beach cleanup and surf contest. Surf Happens provided cash and prizes to the finalists, pura vida!