10 Day Costa Rica Surfari

NEXT DATES:
22nd to 31st January 2011

Pura Vida! Our new destination for 2011 is our favourite place to surf .. Costa Rica! Amazing waves, beautiful beaches, tropical wildlife, good food .. we know this is going to be the trip of a lifetime.

Our 10 day Surfari is an old school surf road trip taking us from Tamarindo in Northern Guanacaste on the Pacific Coast, down to Nosara on the Nicoya Peninsula, and then further South to Santa Teresa. Its an adventurous journey with rugged and beautiful scenery, beach driving, river crossings and great surfing. With our team of experienced guides and coaches we will ensure you are are surfing the right waves for you every day.

The Surfari
After a 4 hr transfer from San Jose we will reach our first destination, Tamarindo, home for 3 nights. We will be surfing the breaks right on our doorstep as well as driving to nearby beaches such as Playa Avellanas or Playa Negra. Other activities in Tamarindo include yoga, giant leatherback turtle watching in Las Baulas National Park, day spas, horse riding and of course sunset watching!

On Day 4 we will head South 4 hrs to the tranquil beach community of Nosara on the Nicoya Peninsula. Here we will spend two days surfing the local breaks .. keen yogis might want to visit the Nosara Yoga Institute.

Day 6 will take us on an adventurous and scenic drive even further south to Santa Teresa. River crossings a plenty and lots of opportunities to stop and check different breaks. Its another 4 hr drive and we expect to make it to Santa Teresa in time for a sunset surf!

Our last 4 days in Santa Teresa will be packed full of surfing and if you need a break from the waves for a day or an afternoon we can take a hike to the waterfalls, take a canopy tour of the rainforest , or you can choose to chill out by the pool at the lodge, have a massage, do some yoga..

Surf tuition/guiding
Our BSA qualified team led by English team coach Rob Barber will take us to experience different breaks each day according to the conditions and your ability level. From dawn to dusk you can surf as little or as much as you wish!

If you are a beginner this is the perfect place to learn with warm water and sandy beach breaks for a soft landing!

From dawn to dusk you can surf as much or as little as you wish! A team of local guides will be on hand to help you to get the very best from the island's conditions each day.

Surfboards are available to rent for 10 days for US$ 100, just let us know what you need at the time of booking. If you are a beginner Rob will help you to select a suitable board.

Accommodation
We have hand picked our three accommodations to provide us with great surf base in each location, always within a short walk of the waves!

In Tamarindo we will be staying in some great condos in the heart of the beach town, in Nosara we are 3 minutes walk from Playa Guiones in a lovely surf hotel with a pool and open air rancho style cafe lounge area. Our final destination in Santa Teresa is a fantastic lodge nestled in the jungle a few minutes stroll from the beach. Here we can enjoy a pool, bar, restaurant and lounge areas.

Extend your stay
We are happy to help with details of other places to visit in Costa Rica and accommodation suggestions if you are staying extra days either side of the Surfari, just ask us when you book.

Flights
The trip includes arrival and departure meetings to/from San Jose. You will need to book your own flights, however we can advise you on flights that others are taking, the latest deals that we have discovered, and recommended booking agents.

Your flights should ensure that you are in San Jose, Costa Rica on the morning of 22nd January and flying out at the earliest on the evening of 31st January, 2011.

Please check your baggage, size, number and weight allowance with your airline . Remember to check your airlines’ procedure for carrying surfboards and book yours in advance if you are bringing one.

Trip includes:
- Airport meeting and departures (San Jose, Costa Rica) At specific times please ask when you book
- 9 nights accommodation (3 nights in Tamarindo, 2 nights in Nosara, 4 nights in Santa Teresa)
- Daily surf tuition and guiding tailored to your ability
- Daily transportation
- Video analysis of your surfing
- All breakfasts
- 2 evening meals (first night and last night)
- Amazing Oakley goody bags (everyone will receive Oakley sunglasses, tees, and more!)

Price and Booking:
£899 per person

If you have any questions about the trip or you would like to book please email lu@bigfriday.com or call 020 8 960 2471 / 07779099770

Once you confirm that you would like to book we will email you a booking confirmation letter with all the information you need about the trip, what to bring and how to pay. Please click here to view our terms and conditions.


Useful Information:

Currency:
Bring US Dollars or the local currency Colones. Many bars and restaurants take international credit cards. We recommend taking at least 2 bank cards in case one becomes lost or damaged.

Documents:
UK Citizens do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica but you must have a valid passport with an expiration date greater than 30 days. You must also have a pre-paid airline ticket to exit Costa Rica.

It is a good idea to carry photocopies of your important documents (packed separately) and note that it is also easier to carry photocopies of relevant pages from heavy guidebooks etc. We also suggest that you scan copies of your important documents and email them to yourself.

Packing:
Our brainstorm of packing essentials to get you started..

- A couple of well fitting board shorts/bikini/swimming costume
- Rash vests (long and/OR short sleeved)
- Surfboard (suggest wrap in bubble wrap, use pipe cladding to protect rails, wrap towels around for added protection, for boards that don’t have fixed fins, remove them, write fragile and topload on bag)
- Shortie wetsuit (optional but protects from sun and rub)
- Beach towel
- Warm water wax
- Credit debit card
- Travel itinerary
- Flight tickets
- Any medication required
- Our contact numbers
- Travel insurance documents
- Passport!
- Sun Cream (high factor or block)
- Toiletries (inc Vaseline for wetsuit/board/boardies rub) and talcum powder. Place liquids in a separate sealed carrier in case of leakage.
- blue tac/ear plugs if required.
- Bottle to carry water
- Sun hat
- flip flops

Medical
Please inform us of any medical complaints/conditions prior to the trip. We will carry a first aid kit at all times but we advise that you also bring your own containing: scissors, bandages, plasters, antiseptic, sting cream, burn cream, steri-strips, Betadine, pain killers, rehydration sachets.

A radical change in temperature and diet affects people differently. Maintain a good water intake and a healthy diet. Carry immodium or similar in your medical kit alongside your rehydration sachets.

Travel Insurance
It is essential that you take out a comprehensive personal travel insurance policy. Please check with your insurer that you are covered to surf each day.

Heath, Safety, Inoculations
As you travel at your own risk it is your responsibility to be up to date on Foreign Office advisories concerning travel to the region. You can check these here:
www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/costa-rica

Online medical advice for travellers can be found here:
www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/central_america/costa_rica.shtml
and
http://www.doh.gov.uk

If there are any questions we have not answered just drop us a line!

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