Surf Adventure in Playa Esterillos
Surf Adventure in Playa Esterillos
Playa Esterillos is a large golden-sand beach located south to Playa Hermosa, a short drive away from town of Jaco, in the Central Pacific region of Costa Rica. The beach is divided into three parts, Esterillos Este in the east, Centro in the middle and Esterillos Oeste in the west which is known as Bejuco among the locals. On the northern end of the beach, there is a small fishing community while on the far South end, there is a river estuary. The beautiful beach is largely underdeveloped and is a perfect destination for quiet family getaways and intimate holidays for couples. The turquoise colored ocean and a scenic jungle encircle the beach are brimming with amazing wildlife and various options for superb activities. On the Oeste side, you will find a few great surf spots which is why the west side of the beach is very popular among the surfers.
Where to Stay in Playa Esterillos
Playa Esterillos features a large number of vacation rentals, hotels, budget friendly lodges and luxury villas. Some of the staff at these accommodations can even arrange the whole trip for you. From tickets and car rentals to nature trips, they will plan the whole vacation for you upon your request. Some of the luxury places are Encantada Ocean Cottage, La Dolce Vita and the ocean front Pelican Hotel. For backpackers and students on vacations, there are many fairly inexpensive hotels to in Esterillos.
Where to Surf in Playa Esterillos
The beach has got plenty of surfing action. The waves are very powerful and shallow, and frequently get as tall as 7 feet off the coast. 
The banana shaped beach is very long and its all parts have something good to offer to the surfer. Esterillos is separated into three beaches, Oeste (West), Central, and Este (East). Esterillos Oeste is regarded as a great platform for beginners and novices while the central portion of the beach, Centro, is perfect for veterans. The beach break waves have rights and lefts between 50 to 150 meters in length which can go up to 300 meters on a good day. The best time to surf is when the tide is mid range. Esterillos Centro and Este have strong, powerful waves similar to breaks at Hermosa while Oeste’s beach breaks feature hollow and barrel waves. A large number of surfers arrive from Jaco and Hermosa during the months of June to August and from January to March. On the northern end, there is a ‘secret’ surf point, a reef break with epic swells popular among the locals.
Other Activities in Playa Esterillos
For non-surfers, there is a wide range of activities to do. The long beach is awesome for jogging, horseback riding and picnicking. The water and forest bordering the beach are flourishing with unique wildlife so wildlife watching is very popular. Vacationers can try out snorkeling and scuba diving in the crystal clear water of the ocean. Other ventures include sportfishing, sea kayaking, ATV tours, paragliding, hiking and the list goes on.
