Overnight Costa Rica Teen Surf Camp

Accordion – Overview

Come join our Teen Costa Rica Surf & Adventure Camp for the two week surf experience of a lifetime! This adventure is for beginner to advanced surfers ages 14-18 who want to learn how to surf or improve their skills while being immersed in the culture of Costa Rica. Come have the time of your life while surfing several of Costa Rica’s best breaks and exploring the Guanacaste region “Pura Vida” style! We have been offering camps here since 2005 as the tropical climate, year-round waves, and 80 degree water temperatures make it a go-to destination for all levels of surfers.

To provide comfort to both campers and parents, we offer campers the option of flying out of the Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport (ATL) with one of our trip leaders into the Liberia International Airport (LIR). Campers may also fly directly into LIR where they will be met by the rest of the WB Surf Camp Costa Rica team. Campers will have their choice of boards from our full quiver or you may bring up to two of your own.

Costa Rica is one of the safest and easiest international travel destinations in the surfing world. It’s an extremely safe and sustainable country with no standing military. Their focus is on creating greater equality of wealth among citizens and protecting their natural resources with over a quarter of the country set aside for conservation. With a brand new renovated international airport in Liberia and well-maintained highways, Costa Rica is very welcoming to tourists. Most of its people have learned to speak English and they accept the US dollar as currency. Due to its friendly culture and “rich coastal” natural resources, Costa Rica is rated one of the hottest eco-travel destinations in the world!

With a 3:1 camper to instructor ratio, the personalized coaching each participant receives during this camp is unmatched. More advanced surfers will learn new maneuvers and break out of their comfort zones while less experienced surfers will progress to paddling into their own waves and learning about wave dynamics.

Activities include:

• Extensive daily surf instruction at various breaks
• Zip-line tour through the rainforest canopy while seeing monkeys and iguanas
• Whitewater raft down the Colorado River
• Exploring Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park
• Conversational Spanish instruction
• Cultural exploration of Costa Rica’s amazing ecosystems
• Earn 10 community service hours

Tuition includes lodging, meals, 24-hour same gender adult supervision, shuttle to and from Liberia International Airport (LIR), equipment, professional surf instruction (3:1 student to instructor ratio), WB Surf Camp t-shirt, activity fees, WB Surf Camp’s Pre-Surf Stretching Guide, Surfing Etiquette Guide, Sea Turtle/Coastal Conservation Guide, WB Surf Camp Surftificate of Achievement, and 8” x 12” group photo. Each person is responsible for: round-trip airfare to LIR and departure tax. A valid travel passport is required for travel on this adventure. To secure your spot now, please select from the available date(s) listed below. Enrollment limited to 12 students per session.

2016 Teen Costa Rica Surf Camp Dates

[CUSTOM BOX]

Accordion – Itinerary

DAY 1-2: ORIENTATION, INTRO TO SURFING

A WB Surf Camp Trip Leader will be eagerly awaiting your arrival at the Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport (ATL) if you’ve chosen to fly with us to Costa Rica, or the Liberia International Airport (LIR) if you are traveling on your own. We’ll make our way to Playa Grande to unpack and conduct orientation where we’ll discuss our schedule, go over rules, and get to know one another. There is nothing better than waking up to perfect waves! WB Surf Camp Costa Rica is in full swing!

DAY 3-4: SURF INSTRUCTION & EXPLORE LOCAL BREAKS, SPANISH LESSONS

We will be surfing “beach breaks,” which are sand bottom breaks, and Playa Grande provides perfect left and right handers. You will feel both your confidence and skill level increase dramatically. After full days of catching waves with new friends, dreams of surfing will fill your mind as you drift away to the sound of howler monkeys in the distance. A certified Spanish teacher will give us language lessons, teaching us conversational Spanish that we’ll use throughout our stay.

DAY 5-6: VISIT LOCAL FARM, EXPLORE COASTLINE, SURF COACHING & GOAL SETTING

Today we’ll visit an authentic Costa Rican farm to learn firsthand about the Pura Vida lifestyle. We’ll help collect eggs and milk some of the animals, but the best part is watching trainers prepare the bulls for the ring. Your Trip Leaders will assess where the conditions are best, so the surf may take us south to Tamarindo. Beginner surfers will start going down the line while our experienced campers will work on more advanced maneuver. Over mega-huge burritos from our favorite restaurant (trust us, you will EAT during this camp!), we’ll have group discussions and talk about areas each camper wants to work on, highs and lows of the day, and how much FUN we’re having!

DAY 7-8: COMMUNITY SERVICE, SURF SESSIONS, WHITEWATER RAFTING ON COLORADO RIVER

Playa Grande, one of our favorite spots due to the consistent lefts and rights as well as it’s long beach (so crowds are not an issue). We’ll start our ten hours of community service by completing a big beach sweep after a morning dawn patrol where we hoot each other on. You won’t believe how many incredible rides you’re catching! Then it’s time to experience a different type of whitewater as we head to the Colorado River for an action packed whitewater rafting experience. After a full day, we’ll head back to home base to refuel and gear up for tomorrow.

DAY 9-10: SURF SESSIONS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, ADVANCED COACHING & SEMINARS

Every day we awaken to great waves right in front of our hotel, so we’ll surf out front as much as possible in the mornings. Working on our community service hours at El Lianito School, we will help with gardening, cleaning up the grounds, and assisting with some maintenance projects. The service work at the local school is extremely gratifying, and we’ll go back several times to spend time with the students. Making the most of our final days in Costa Rica, we’ll score a session at Langosta, a point break at the mouth of a river near Tamarindo.

DAY 11-12: ZIPLINING ADVENTURE, HOT SPRINGS, SUNSET SURF SESSION

Get ready for a voyage today as we visit Rincon de la Vieja for a day in the rainforest. After getting harnessed up, we’ll take in the sights and sounds of this tropical paradise from above while we zip line between huge Guanacaste trees, over valleys, and a rushing river, taking in the lush vegetation, birds, monkeys, and other native wildlife. You’ll feel your adrenaline coursing through your body as you hike, rappel, zip line, and swing through this majestic canyon which surrounds two volcanoes. After taking in the diverse ecosystems that exist here, we’ll soak our bones in the natural volcanic hot springs filled with thermal waters.

DAY 13-14: SURF SESSIONS, SOCCER GAME, CLOSING CEREMONIES

Our dawn patrol session is followed by our final Spanish lesson, then a fun soccer game with the children at El Lianito School. The children are so excited, and the whole community comes out to watch! The day ends with a sunset surf session and a farewell dinner where we reminisce about the amazing two weeks we’ve just spent together. The past 14 days seem like a dream – the kind you don’t want to wake up from. As we load up our gear and prepare for the trek to Liberia, we say our goodbyes, Costa Rican style… “Pura Vida!”… and start thinking about next year’s WB Surf Camp adventure!

Accordion – Accommodations

The hotel where we’ll be posting up during camp is located in amazing Playa Grande, one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. Situated along the northern coast, a world-renowned surfing destination. It offers easy and fast access to many of the areas best surfing beaches, making them the perfect WB Surf Camp headquarters. Healthy, active lifestyles are well-promoted, balancing the demands of sustainable tourism and the protection of the natural resources and surroundings. This amazing location allow us to enjoy the surf on some of the most protected, untouched, and undeveloped beaches in Costa Rica.

Just outside our doors is a path that leads directly down to the beach. Showcased here are the different landscapes of the region, full of lush flora including ripe mango, papaya, avocado, and coconut trees. You will see many forms of wildlife, such as monkeys, raccoons, anteater bears, iguanas, and an enormous variety of birds, all in their natural habitats.

The wave diversity in Costa Rica is one of the most attractive aspects of this trip, not to mention the tropical warm water they have year round. Depending on where we surf, we will encounter beautiful, clear, blue Pacific water. Playa Avellanas, Playa Grande, and Tamarindo stand out as two of the best surfing locations in Costa Rica with huge stretches of surfable beaches. They are also the most consistent breaks with plenty of variety in left and right-handers. These pristine and protected marine preserves, with their crystal clear waters offer many options for surfers of all levels, assuring an unforgettable surfing experience.

Teen Costa Rica Accommodations 2/23/2013
 
Click on any picture below to enlarge.

Accordion – Reviews

Carol, The Plains, VA – “As I watched other ‘surf school’s’ I became infinitely more grateful that I had found WB Surf Camp. I felt safe all the time, I was told how to protect myself and be safe in the water, on or off my board! We were shown in seminars what we were doing right or wrong and how to correct those things, so teaching went beyond the surf time. The unwavering stoke of our instructors was contagious, so the last wave was just as exciting the first one we caught! It goes by too fast! It’s why I return and its why I take my family to WB to learn. Simply the best out there.”

Remy, Redwood City, CA – “Thank you so much for everything. It was the highlight of my summer, and one of the best experiences in my life.”Oliver, Medford, MA – “WB Surf Camp is always a highlight of my summer. No matter the location I know there’s gonna be good waves, mega stoke about everything on the trip, I will meet cool people, and best of all, enhance my surfing while having the time of my life!”

Joe, Mill Valley, CA – “Costa Rica was by far my best WB Surf Camp trip yet. The level of instruction was fantastic and helped me get to a higher level in my surfing ability. The cultural experience and the friendly local people made the trip even better. Looking forward to the next CR trip.”

Jesse, New York, NY – WB Surf Camp Costa Rica was amazing! I loved it and it really made me a much better surfer. I wish I could go every summer!

Colby, Chapel Hill, NC – “Because of the great instruction my first year, I got up on my first try.  Now that it was my 4th year, I was still able to get tips on the more advanced moves like frontside bottom turns and cutbacks.”

Brianna, Atlanta, GA – “WB Surf Camp was a perfect combination of helpful instructors, good advice, beautiful scenery and new friends; I would definitely recommend this camp to anyone who wants to surf in a fun environment.”

Tim, Philadelphia, PA – “One of the things I like about WB Surf Camp is, not only do you have a fun learning experience surfing, you have fun when you’re not surfing by just hanging with the instructors. When I’m at Surf Camp I feel like I’m a true surfer. Not just from the surf sessions, but also from all the other fun activities we do.”

Rachel, Long Island, NY – “While I was on the plane, I couldn’t help but start to cry knowing it was over. Looking at the pictures of all my new friends, I promised myself I would be going back next summer, even if I had to walk all the way. Only a few more months till I’m back. I don’t know if I will be able to leave again”

Accordion – FAQs

If I have never surfed before, is this camp for me?

• The Costa Rica travel adventure program was developed for the beginner to advanced surfer. There are so many beach breaks that are suited to different levels of surfing that it allows us to accommodate the beginners as well as those looking to improve their skills.

If I have some surf experience will I get to learn more advanced maneuvers?

• Our staff is composed of amazing free surfers as well as competitive surfers, all of whom will be able to coach you to a higher level of wave reading, performance, and creativity in your surfing.

Where will I be surfing?

• We will surf right in front of our hotel in the beautiful, crystal green waters of Playa Grande (Big Beach) as well as Tamarindo. The breaks we surf exhibit various bottom contours, compositions, and optimal tides making Grande of the most diverse beaches in the Guanacaste region. We will have access to several other world class breaks within a 30 minute drive that exhibit similar variations.

I’m nervous about traveling to another country alone. Can I travel with an instructor?

• For campers in programs looking for assistance when navigating customs and immigration, we will have a trip leader available to travel with students. Costa Rica participants can meet their trip leader at the Atlanta airport and travel together on the same flight into Liberia, where you will then be greeted by the rest of the WB Surf Camp Costa Rica staff. Please call our office for flight details to arrange this option.

What kind of non-surfing activities will we be participating in?

• Basic Spanish instruction classes
• Zip-lining through amazing rainforest canopies to see monkeys, iguanas, and exotic frogs
• Whitewater raft down exciting tropical river
• Hiking a volcano at Rincon de la Vieja
• Exploring amazing pristine beaches
• Community service working with a local school and its students

Do you provide equipment or should I bring my own?

• All equipment is provided. We provide a variety of boards. Since this is a beginner to advanced camp, participants with surfing experience are allowed to bring two boards.

Do I need a passport?

• Yes, to travel to Costa Rica you need a valid passport.

Is Costa Rica a safe country to visit?

• Yes, exceptionally so. They abolished the army in 1949 and have focused their efforts on creating greater equality of wealth among citizens and protecting their natural resources. Costa Rica has the highest standard of living in Central America, and over 27% of the country land has been set aside for conservation

What are the ages of your overnight campers?

• This program is for ages 14 – 18.

How old are the campers I will be rooming with?

• Roommates are grouped together by gender and age.

What kind of food will I be eating?

• Campers are provided with three hearty meals every day. Breakfast is served daily at our coastal hotel and consists of eggs, bacon, fruit, and cereal. We go out to eat for lunches and dinners to several authentic Costa Rican restaurants which also serve American-style fare. You will have a wide variety of foods to choose from like burgers, burritos, salads, tacos, and sandwiches. Vegetarian meals are available.

What do I need to bring?

• You will receive a detailed packing list with your registration materials. For the most part, you shouldn’t have to purchase anything that you don’t already have at home. We do, however, recommend that girls bring board shorts, which may need to be purchased from your local surf shop or department store. Campers need to bring a mask, snorkel, and fins.

How much spending money should I bring?

• We recommend campers bring $100 to $150. This is for special food items, snacks, souvenirs, or gifts they wish to purchase while at camp.

Does Costa Rica accept US Currency?

• Almost every store accepts US currency, and for those that do not, you will be able to exchange US dollars for colones.

For other general camp FAQs, please click here.