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Beginner Surf Lessons In Tamarindo: Learn Paddling, Safety, Etiquette, and More
4.9
131 Ratings
Tamarindo
Ready to ride the waves in Tamarindo? Our beginner surf lessons cover everything from paddling to reading waves. Start your surfing journey today!
Ready to ride the waves in Tamarindo? Our beginner surf lessons cover everything from paddling to reading waves. Start your surfing journey today!
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Tamarindo Beach, Costa Rica - Participants will meet with their instructor and receive a rashguard and surfboard. After practicing the pop-up technique on land, they will learn how to paddle out into the waves. The instructor will provide guidance on standing up on the board. Once participants are comfortable with standing, they will concentrate…
- Tamarindo Beach, Costa Rica - Participants will meet with their instructor and receive a rashguard and surfboard. After practicing the pop-up technique on land, they will learn how to paddle out into the waves. The instructor will provide guidance on standing up on the board. Once participants are comfortable with standing, they will concentrate on improving their stance and balance as they ride the waves.
The Tamarindo surf lesson will be tailored to focus on the following techniques:
- Paddling
- Popping up
- Board Position
- Stance
- Safety
- Etiquette
- Reading Waves
What's Included
- Surfboard Use
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Rashguard Use
- Certified Surf Instructor
- Surfboard Use
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Rashguard Use
- Certified Surf Instructor
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- JW Marriott, Playa Grande, Playa Conchal, Playa Flamingo
- Hotel’s RIU Guanacaste & Palace, Playa Ocotal, Coco, Hermosa, Papagayo
- Gratuities
- JW Marriott, Playa Grande, Playa Conchal, Playa Flamingo
- Hotel’s RIU Guanacaste & Palace, Playa Ocotal, Coco, Hermosa, Papagayo
Additional Information
Your certified surf instructor will coach you step by step on how to stand up on a surfboard and start flying on water! We will customize your Tamarindo surf lesson to focus on basic techniques. We guarantee you to get up on a wave in your lesson or your second lesson is free!
Tamarindo, Costa Rica is a world-renowned surf location, made famous for the…
Your certified surf instructor will coach you step by step on how to stand up on a surfboard and start flying on water! We will customize your Tamarindo surf lesson to focus on basic techniques. We guarantee you to get up on a wave in your lesson or your second lesson is free!
Tamarindo, Costa Rica is a world-renowned surf location, made famous for the movie The Endless Summer. There are almost always great waves, but not too big, perfect for learning to surf. Whether this is your first time on a surfboard or you have some experience and want to work on your technique, our lessons are guaranteed to improve your skills. Our 2-hour lessons are taught by locals that have been surfing in Costa Rica for nearly their entire lives, so you will get the best insight there is in Tamarindo.
- Learn to Surf on Costa Rica’s Best Waves
- Learn Various Basic Skills such as Reading Waves
- Local certified instructor
- Beginner or Intermediate Lessons
- Central Meeting Location
Location
Native's Way Costa Rica - Tours and Transfers
Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled surf lesson time
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(131 Ratings)
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Makayla_v
Apr 2, 2026
5 Stars for Ronaldo - WE LOVE RONALDO !!! Had such an amazing time surfing. It was all of our first times and he was a great instructor who supported yet also challenged us. Would try again and again
Review provided by Viator
Sarah_m
Mar 18, 2026
Annie was our instructor... - Annie was our instructor and was amazing!
After a short walk from the shop to the beach she made she we had our positioning down and felt confident in the water
Review provided by Viator
Marktu7742ob
Feb 27, 2026
Surfing: Fun and exciting for a seasoned citizen - My new wife and I took private beginner surf lessons. The instructors were young and friendly, and knowledgeable. We did dry land practice then surfed. We managed to get up quite a few times! Waves were smaller that day, perfect for beginners. A lot of fun. Oh btw I'm 67 and my first time surfing and with bad knees. If I can do it you can too! Go for it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julie_b
Jan 9, 2026
First surfing experience - Very nice activity, excellent for beginners. The waves are soft, but still allow for easy surfing. Our guide Ronaldo was very friendly and took the time to help all the members of the group (we were 4). Water bottles and rashguard sweaters provided. The beach is large and the water is beautiful, some rocks are to be watched in some places.
Very nice way to maximize a visit to the city of Tamarindo!
Review provided by Viator
Michelle
Jan 4, 2026
Great teachers- you will catch a wave! - This was a great experience. David and Ronaldo were patient and excellent teachers. All five family members were successful in surfing - ages 29-65! Would highly recommend to a friend.
Review provided by Viator
Andrew_w
Jan 1, 2026
So much fun and help! The... - So much fun and help! The instructors were great and provided newer tips as this wasn’t our first time surfing. Water and waves were perfect for beginner and intermediate surfers. A bit busy but that’s the holidays for yah.
Review provided by Viator
Nova357
Dec 30, 2025
Great first experience for the kids - Our kids had a very good experience with Steven, their surf instructor. The kids were complete rookies, never been on a board before. They had two lessons in December, 2025, and they were able to get up on the board and ride it all the way in during the first lesson. He even helped teach them how to switch feet while riding the wave (idk, maybe that's basic, but it seemed cool to me). The first lesson, for some reason, was only 1.5 hours, but (after we mentioned it) Steven made sure we had the full 2 hours on the second day. The beach at Tamarindo seems great for beginners and there were a lot of other lessons going on (Christmas is a very busy season there), but the beach was big enough for everyone. Kids had a great time, would schedule again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kimberly_s
Dec 30, 2025
Whole family loved surfing! - The instructors were amazing. They all fit for each of our family members. Our whole family was up on the waves and they even had us trying some small tricks like flipping. My youngest says surfing is now one of her sports. Thank you very much to the team.
Review provided by Viator
77sachir
Aug 11, 2025
Everyone able to get up and ride the waves - We had a wonderful surf class with Ronaldo, a Tamarindo local. He went over the basic skills with us on land and took our family of 4 out in the water and had all of us up and able to stand and ride waves! We have varying skills, with fit skilled people, active teenagers and mom nursing a sore shoulder. Ronaldo very quickly understood each person's capabilities and sent them on the best waves for them from just giving verbal instructions on timing if needed, to more holding and sending the board off when needed. Highly recommend. Go during mid high tide, the waves are great for beginners.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David_s
Aug 4, 2025
Learn to Surf in Two Hours? - A 51 year old and his two sons (19, 21) took the beginner's two-hour private lesson. They assigned three friendly and capable instructors (Ronaldo, Alex and Steven), all with good English and ample patience. One-on-one instruction definitely made the first hour much more productive. We went from immediately falling to pretty consistently riding small waves to shore. It’s a physical activity and even the young men were ready for a beer and break at the end of the lesson. The 51 year old asked for ibuprofen the following day.
Tamarindo was the perfect place for a first lesson. Good waves, no rocks, in-town. A photographer provided good photos for a few more USD. Easy walk from the tour operator office, which had lockers and a shower.
If you’ve wondered if you could learn to ride a small wave in two hours, this is a great way to answer that question.
Review provided by Viator
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