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Beginner Surf Lessons In Tamarindo: Learn Paddling, Safety, Etiquette, and More
4.9
123 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 - You will meet with your instructor and be given a rashguard and Surfboard. After practicing popping up on the board on land, you will learn to paddle out into the waves! Your instructor will help coach you on standing up on the board. After you get accustomed to getting up on the board, you will focus more on your…
- Tamarindo Beach Costa Rica - You will meet with your instructor and be given a rashguard and Surfboard. After practicing popping up on the board on land, you will learn to paddle out into the waves! Your instructor will help coach you on standing up on the board. After you get accustomed to getting up on the board, you will focus more on your stance and balance on the board as you feel the waves push you through the water.
We will customize your Tamarindo surf lesson will 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
(123 Ratings)
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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
Darci_c
Jul 20, 2025
Loved our lesson! - Ronaldo and I can’t remember the other name (I’m so sorry!) were awesome! They took my 2 sons and I out to surf and my only goal was to just stand up once! They were super patient and got all of us on our boards. We could have rented boards and tried on our own but I wouldn’t have come close to being in the right spot on the board. We loved every minute of the two hours. Highly recommend this lesson!
Review provided by Viator
James_i
Jul 8, 2025
Awesome! - As a fit 60 year old, Ronaldo had me surfing in no time at all. Clear, concise instruction, and focused attention was perfect. It did feel like a two hour cardio/core workout however but if I can do it so can you! Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Tannert735
Jun 6, 2025
Ronaldo was a great instructor for the whole family. Very patient and got everybody up on the surfboard very quickly. - 5 of 5. We had a great time as a family and everybody was able to get up very quickly. Ronaldo was very patient with the kids. I would highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kyle_l
May 26, 2025
Our family of 5, with... - Our family of 5, with zero surf experience, had an amazing time and were all able to surf thanks to the wonderful team of instructors! Our kids are age 15. 14, and 10.
Review provided by Viator
Jim_d
May 20, 2025
Great experience. Luka... - Great experience. Luka was fantastic and made sure we all got up. Luka was absolutely a blast to learn from and would highly recommend this exoerience
Review provided by Viator
Alicia_d
Apr 12, 2025
Gracias Gonzalo - Great instruction from Gonzalo. He really helped us learn and have fun. Lots of help to tell you what to do. Thank you!
Review provided by Viator
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
Karengl6929ig
May 18, 2025
Didn't get the Full 2 Hour Lesson - I think I would give this a 5 star review except after our 7 yr old grandson was successful 1 time staying on the surfboard all the way to shore, 1 hour in to the 2 hour lesson, the instructor quit. I was a bit surprised and didn't ask why because I thought my watch was wrong. But it wasn't. So, the lesson really only goes until 1 successful run
Review provided by Tripadvisor
328brentt
Jul 27, 2025
Shady AF - The surfing was amazing and our instructor was great. We learned a lot and had a lot of fun. The problem came after the session with the total shakedown from some random homeless looking guy who apparently was taking our pictures on the beach.
He offered to transfer the pictures to my phone which he did and then demand that I pay him $60 for like 50 pictures. When I explained I didn’t have cash he marched me down to an ATM. The ATM was out of service so then he proceeded to drag me through town to a bank where I could withdraw money and pay the ridiculous service fee to withdraw money from an international bank.
I should’ve absolutely refused to pay or asked to see a price list or demand only pay by credit card.
That experience honestly stripped away the happiness I had from the surf lesson. And I say it’s a shakedown because the photographer and my surf instructor were communicating so it was basically a way for those two to split a tip, which is unfortunate because I was going to tip my surf instructor Anyway. In fact, that was the only cash that I brought with me.
I just left a really bad taste in my mouth and I’m guessing the owner of the outfit doesn’t realize that that is happening because photography and pictures was never even mentioned as an optional add on for the service.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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