Surfing in Montezuma:

A practical guide to learning (and leveling up) on the Nicoya Peninsula

Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is built for easy surf days: beach-break options for learners, more powerful setups a short drive away, and warm water year-round. Montezuma makes a relaxed base if you want mornings in the ocean, unhurried meals, and a simple rhythm—one session, one good meal, one new place—without turning your trip into a logistics puzzle.

At Hotel nYa, you’re in the forest about 50 meters from the ocean, with early coffee on your terrace, a pool for the cool-down, and Restaurante Agrá for the refuel. Our team can line up lessons, point you to the right tide window, and help you choose a spot that fits your level.

Where learners and improvers fit best

Montezuma itself isn’t a high-performance break, which is exactly why it’s friendly for first sessions and easy practice. Nearby beaches on the peninsula give you choices, from mellow white water to faster peaks when the swell is right. We’ll match you to a surf school or guide based on your level, the day’s conditions, and how much you want to push.

Local instructor Mauricio, owner of High Tide Surf School, often brings beginners and families to Playa Grande. The wide beach, calm atmosphere, and forgiving waves make it an ideal place to slow things down and focus on fundamentals. Lessons usually begin on the sand, with a clear introduction to safety, positioning, and technique before entering the water. The pace is personal and unrushed, with close guidance in the lineup and short pauses between attempts—sometimes with fresh fruit—to help surfers reset and build confidence naturally.

First lessons & confidence days. Look for soft, rolling waves on a medium tide with minimal wind. You’ll practice paddling, pop-ups, and trimming in the foam, then graduate to small green waves as your timing improves. Small groups allow instructors to stay close and adapt each session to the surfer’s comfort level.
Progression days. Once you’re standing consistently, a nearby sandbar with a bit more push helps you practice angle takeoffs, turning, and reading sections. For intermediate to
advanced surfers, conditions may open up sessions at breaks like Cedros or Reyes en Rio
Lajas. —more exposed spots that offer additional power and shape while still feeling remote and uncrowded.

While destinations like Santa Teresa are known for consistency, they can also feel crowded. Surfing in Montezuma tends to feel different. The beaches are quieter, the surroundings feel
wild and intact, and sessions often remain personal. The natural beauty of the area—forest meeting sea, open horizons, and calm energy—adds to the experience, whether you’re
learning your first pop-up or refining turns in more advanced conditions

Safety and etiquette that make sessions better

Keep it simple and respectful and you’ll fit right in. Warm up on shore. Watch a set before
paddling out. Give priority to the surfer closest to the peak. Communicate. If you’re unsure,
ask—a little humility keeps the lineup friendly.

For ocean safety beyond the lineup, review rip-current awareness before you go. Knowing
how to spot and exit a rip is essential anywhere with breaking waves: https://www.weather.gov/safety/ripcurrent

Warm-water gear that actually helps

You don’t need much. A rash guard (or thin top) saves skin and sunscreen. Reef-safe
sunscreen is key. If you’re renting, we’ll make sure you get the right board for your height,
fitness, and the day’s conditions.

To keep packing light, see our What to Pack for Montezuma guide.

Build a day that feels good (not rushed)

Surfers tend to connect best with one solid session and a clean routine around it. Here’s a simple flow that works well here:

Dawn: Coffee on your balcony or terrace. Check wind and tide, then head out for your window.
Mid-morning: Back to Hotel nYa for a shower and something nourishing. A dip in the pool cools legs and shoulders.
Afternoon: Stretch or book a recovery massage; if flags are down and conditions line up, sneak in a short second session.
Evening: Unhurried dinner at Restaurante Agrá. Dessert and an early night if you want another morning.

Learn the basics of reading a forecast

You don’t need to obsess over models to make good calls. Focus on four things:

1. Swell height (how big)
2. Swell period (how powerful and organized)
3. Swell direction (how it angles into your beach)
4. Local wind (clean vs. choppy)

Helpful overviews:

https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/how-to-read-a-surf-forecast/3901
https://riseupsurfretreats.com/how-to-read-a-surf-forecast/

Stretch, reset, repeat

Surfing taxes shoulders, hips, and lower back. A short warm-up before paddling—arm circles, hip openers, a few squats—pays off. After your session, gentle mobility and breath work help you feel human again for dinner and sleep.

If you want structure, our team can arrange a private stretch or yoga session in our yoga shala and connect you with local practitioners for focused recovery work.

A few things locals do that visitors can copy

• Pick windows, not full days. A two-hour window can be better than fighting wind all day.
• Read the beach. Identify channels before paddling. If you can’t see an easy route out, waitor ask.
• Leave it cleaner. Pack up trash and skip heavy aerosol sunscreens.
• Respect the learning curve. Skills built in smaller surf make bigger days safer and more fun.

What to expect at Hotel nYa around your sessions

Rooms are quiet and comfortable, with solar-heated showers, good mattresses, and space to
dry gear between sessions. Mornings often come with wildlife in view—howler monkeys
roaring, motmots moving through the foliage—making pre-surf coffee easy to enjoy outdoors.

The pool is there for cool-downs; shaded hammocks help shoulders and necks release. Dinner
at Restaurante Agrá focuses on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, with clean, balanced
plates that make early mornings feel doable again.