Costa Rica Surf Trip

Malpais / Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

February 13-19, 2010

Learn to surf, or improve your skills in the scenic village of Malpais / Santa Teresa on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. If you are new to surfing you'll have a full week in the water with great instruction. If you're already a competent surfer you can get some great coaching and improve your surfing skills.

Expansive beaches, warm water and a tropical rainforest surround Malpais, creating fascinating landscapes and stunning views. This region is a haven for all levels of surfers. The main beaches, Playa Carmen and Santa Teresa, provide easy, fun waves in which to learn. While the surrounding area has it all... point, reef and beach breaks.

Our week-long surf adventure starts when you arrive at the Luz de Vida, our hotel for the OAC surf camp. The Luz de Vida is right on the beach, with a pool, bar and restaurant. The small hotel is really a series of rooms and bungalows scattered amid tree lined paths.

Our private or shared accommodations include either one or two comfortable beds with air conditioning, complete bathroom amenities and daily maid service.

After an incredible surf session, you can enjoy the freshwater pool, walk through town, or simply take siesta in a hammock on the beach. Your week-long surf adventure is designed to fit your desires. Many activities can be scheduled throughout the week, but remember, this is your vacation!!!

We have designed a set of activities to get you into the "pura vida" spirit:
• surfing lessons to teach you how to surf or improve your surfing skills
• yoga sessions each day
• a one-hour private massage to relax body and soul
• three delicious meals per day to keep the energy flowing
• and daily outings that will introduce you to the local beauty and culture.

Surfing:

For this week, we will offer surf lessons at several levels so that everyone is challenged or pampered enough. We offer 3 to 1 student to instructor ratio with some 1 on 1 time also. We are going to split the surfers up in groups depending on their level. The different levels are generally:

Beginners: guests who have never surfed or have surfed only a few times and haven't really ridden a wave.

Advanced Beginners: guests who have surfed and know how to stand-up and possibly go down the line, but don't know how to maneuver.

Intermediate: guests who have surfed and know how to maneuver, but are looking to be more aggressive. This group will probably surf with the instructors for "dawn patrol" and the sunset surf session.

Our daily surf lessons include all the equipment you'll need. We have all styles of boards: soft tops, long boards, and short boards. For beginners, we will teach you proper surfing etiquette, water safety, wave riding skills, and paddling techniques.
For the more advanced surfers, our instructors will fine tune your skills, work with you to extend your ability, and be your guide to the different surf spots in the area. Our main surf instructor has been living and surfing in the area for the past 7 years. She and the rest of our instructors are very familar with the local breaks and are great instructors. Depending on swell conditions and your level of experience, our expert instructors will work with you to decide which break best fits your ability.

One more word about the surfing in Malpais: Because we are dealing with mother nature, there is no guarantee on wave size or conditions. Usually during this time of the year, the waves can be anywhere from 2 to 8 feet, with the average being 3 to 4 feet. One really good thing about Malpais is it's almost always breaking. The main beach break is about 2-miles long. On the south end of the beach the waves are much gentler and the north end is a more steep hollow wave. There are also reef and point breaks in the area. For beginner surfers there are miles of whitewater and "ankle biter" waves to learn on.
Here's the description of the north end of Malpais from the Surfer's Guide to Costa Rica: Hollow beach break that picks up lots of swell. Good rights and lefts that break best at lower tides.

Yoga:

Daily yoga instruction is offered all week. These are classes focus on flexibility, stretching, and strength techniques that will improve your agility and overall surfing ability.

Local Culture:

Gaining the complete "pura vida" experience also involves daily engagement with the local culture and lifestyle. Several activities are scheduled for days when you'd like to take a break from the surf and for evenings when you want to check out the local nightlife. Between surf sessions we'll take a road trip to a nearby town and hike to a waterfall, and we'll be eating dinner at a different restaurant each night to get a real feel for the area.

Relaxation:

Your one-hour massage is just the beginning. You'll definitely want to take advantage of the peace and tranquility of this side of Santa Teresa. Grab a book, swing in a hammock, take a swim in the freshwater pool, soak up the Costa Rica sun on the gorgeous beach, or spend a quiet moment with the sun as it melts into the ocean every night.

Our 6-night/7-day surf adventures include:

• Comfortable, clean, air conditioned accommodations
• Daily surf instruction (equipment provided)
• Daily yoga sessions
• 3 delicious meals each day
• One 1-hour private massage

Other fun activities that are available in the area(but not included in the trip):

• Spanish lessons
• Horseback rides
• Zip line canopy tours
• Side trips to Montezuma

Getting to the Outdoor Adventure Club Surf Camp in Malpais / Santa Teresa:

Your trip officially begins when you arrive in Malpais/ Santa Teresa. Airfare to San Jose, Costa Rica is not included in package. After you arrive in San Jose, a scenic trip out to the Pacific Coast gets you to Malpais. There are three options for getting to Malpais from San Jose:

• Flying: Closest airport to Malpais is Tambor (about 30-minutes from Malpais). The flight costs approximately $70 each way, and is a 30-minute flight. From Tambor it is a 30 minute taxi ride to Malpais. The taxi is approximately $40 and can be split among all the passengers.
• Shuttle Bus (public shuttle with prearranged times): Costs $40 each way and will take you directly to the hotel. It is an approximate 5-hour drive through Costa Rica’s picturesque countryside including a 90-minute ferry ride on the Golfo de Nicoya.
• Driving: Approximately a 5-hour drive including 90-minute ferry ride.

OAC will be happy to help you choose a transportation option that works best with your flight schedule. With early enough reservations, we can arrange a group shuttle on a private shuttle bus (minimum 3 persons) and everyone can split the cost. The trip is limited to just 10 people, so early reservation is advised! We recommend that you reserve before Jan. 1 to secure a spot on this trip, and have enough time to reserve flights.

Please do not book airline tickets for this trip until you have been confirmed on the trip!

Pricing:
OAC Member: $1899/person in shared accommodations Your trip must be paid in full 60 days in advance to obtain the OAC member rate.
Non-member: $1975* /person in shared accommodations

*Pricing Notes: $400 non-refundable deposit is required.
* Balance is due Dec 31, 2009.
** private bungalows are available, for an additional $450 (if you sign up solo, we will assign you a room mate unless you want to pay the single supplement), and is limited in availability.

Let us know if you have any questions about this trip. Please send inquiries to Richard@OutdoorAdventureClub.com

Ready to sign up for the Learn to Surf in Costa Rica trip? Download our registration form and either scan and email it to us at info@OutdoorAdventureClub.com, or fax it to 415 771 1891 ATTN: Richard