Boca Barranca
Boca Barranca
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Surf Spot: Boca Barranca
Break Type: Point break
Difficulty Level: All Surfers
Best Swell Direction: South
Ride Direction: Left
Tides: Low and mid tide
Description
Located just north of Puerto Caldera, about 100 kilometers from San Jose, Boca Barranca is a left point break with world class waves. Boca Barranca is regarded as one of the best long-boarding waves in the world. After Pavones, it is the second longest left in Costa Rica making it a third longest wave in the world. Long boarders who desire to pick up and ride a long left should visit the tapering estuary of Boca Barranca located in El Roble. Surfers can easily reach the rivermouth by taking a new highway from San Jose to Caldera. Boca Barranca gets very crowded during the weekends. In the morning and early afternoon, the beach is uncrowded and great onshore winds blow throughout the beach. If you wish to avoid crowds and catch big waves, the best time to go surfing would be early afternoon. The rivermouth is full of many shifting sandbars so the water at Boca Barranca can be extremely dirty, particularly during the rainy season. Whenever you go surfing at Boca Barranca, don’t forget to take a nice bath afterwards. Every year a contest is held on the beach called Rabbit Kekai Longboard Contest in which hundreds of seasoned long-boarders participate. Even though the waves are excellent for long boarders, they won’t disappoint other surfers as well.
Boca Barranca provides a long, strong and fun ride in front of a rivermouth breaking over sandy bottom. The long left point break gathers big swells from the south and southwest that come into the Gulf of Nicoya. The wind is directed from North, East and Northeast. The waves are fast, fun and of excellent quality. Sometimes when the waves are long but slow, long boarders can try a few cutbacks and turns as they approach the shore. Considered as one of the longest waves in the world, the waves have an exceptional range of height. The rides normally last from about 300-500 meters but sometimes they can last for up to 600 meters. Surfers can easily find waves here that are up to eight meters in height. Best waves are generated at low to mid tide. Caldrea, a good left break, is located 3 km south of Boca Barranca. It is not as popular as other surf points, but it has gained some popularity for its wedging barrels and pounding closeouts. The area is usually crowded with body boarders and locals.
Surf Camps
There are not many surf camps and accommodations in Boca Barranca and most tourists prefer to stay in Jaco which is located nearby and is more developed.
