It’s like you’re Bill Murray in Groundhog’s Day, but instead of a cold February day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, you’re in a Costa Rican paradise with sunshine, clear water, and perfect surf. Granted, every day here at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp is not exactly the same, but we have a tried and true system that’s the ideal balance between surf, social, and relaxation.
If you’re participating in one of our surf programs, then your day will go something like this:
You’ll wake up in either our beachfront hotel, Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, or our sister location, Pueblo Dorado Surf Hotel about a 4 minute walk down the street. After coming to terms that you’ve got another blessed day in Costa Rica, you’ll make your way to Eat at Joe’s for a complimentary breakfast. You can pick anything from the breakfast menu including Gallo Pinto con huevos (typical Costa Rican breakfast), pancakes, breakfast burritos, yogurt parfaits, and much more.. Oh, and most importantly, the bottomless cup of Costa Rican coffee served all day.
Depending on the tide cycle, your lesson or tour will come before or after breakfast. We serve breakfast all day so no worries if your early morning surf session runs a little longer. The beginner surfers have a 2-hour lesson right out front in Tamarindo while the Intermediate and Advanced groups will head to a World Class Wave chosen by our guides depending on the conditions. All our instructors and guides, have our coastline dialed so you’re guaranteed to score fun surf. All the surf programs surf at roughly the same time, the incoming to high tide, which advances 50 minutes each day.
After surfing, you have all-day board rental to enjoy a novelty surf session in Tamarindo. There are several different surf spots in Tamarindo, all walking distance from camp. Keep an eye on the water all day and run out there for a spur-of-the-moment surf session whenever you get the urge. If you’re surfed out for the day, you can book a non-surfing activity from the front desk or just explore Tamarindo and do what the locals do.
After surfing, you have all-day board rental to enjoy a novelty surf session in Tamarindo. There are several different surf spots in Tamarindo, all walking distance from camp. Keep an eye on the water all day and run out there for a spur-of-the-moment surf session whenever you get the urge. If you’re surfed out for the day, you can book a non-surfing activity from the front desk or just explore Tamarindo and do what the locals do.
For sunset, which happens around 5:30pm each evening, everyone in Tamarindo migrates to their favorite beach bar for happy hour and to enjoy a sunset that illuminates the sky in spectacular fashion. El Vaquero is a popular local spot and the most convenient for our guests, especially those with a taste for craft beer.
After sunset around 6:00pm , we have surf seminars planned that are great opportunities to socialize and learn something new. We have a range of topics including video analysis, surf safety, surf etiquette, surf science, History of Surf with Robert August, and the highly recommended Tuesday night viewing of The Endless Summer narrated by Robert August himself. The seminars are very casual and many guest show up with a beverage in hand. You’re on vacation, why not?
We have a few special events throughout the week that you don’t want to miss.
On Fridays, the beginner surfers head to Playa Grande to test their skills on some bigger, more powerful surf. The whole beginner class loads onto a bus with the instructors and media team for a graduation field trip that is documented and premiered during Friday night’s graduation ceremony. Sure, the graduation ceremony is a little corny, but it’s suppose to be! It’s usually the last chance for the guests to be together before parting ways the following day. Many of our guests and instructors follow the graduation ceremony with a final hoorah at the Crazy Monkey Bar right across the street.
If you’re an advanced surfer staying 5 nights or more, you don’t get a graduation ceremony, but instead, a full day boat tour to Witch’s Rock and Ollie’s Point which is generally the highlight of your trip where you’ll surely return to camp looking like an overly excited lobster.
We hope this overview has given you a better idea on what to expect during your stay at WRSC. We’ve been on the beach in Tamarindo for 15 years and our formula for success hasn’t changed much. Contact us her or just call us at 1-888-318-7873 if you’d like to start planning your next trip. Pura Vida!