The Beach Boys · Santa Teresa · Costa Rica
Learn tosurf withThe Beach Boys
Local coaches who have surfed this coast their whole lives. Come for your first wave or your first proper green-wave week — then stay for the rest of it: jungle day trips, waterfalls, family kitchens, and small-group Surf & Stay weeks that feel like living here, not visiting.
Playa Santa Teresa · 9°38'N 85°10'W
Nine kilometers of empty sand, warm water, and a jungle that runs right up to the tide line.
Find your flow in the wild
Whether you're touching a board for the first time or hunting secret reef breaks, we've got you.
Daily Lessons
For beginners and intermediates. All gear included. Just show up and smile.
From $85 →
Day Trips
We plan the day around you — surf, waterfalls, Cabo Blanco, local lunch, and whatever else you're stoked on.
Learn more →
Surf & Stay
A week inside our life here — surf, jungle, local food, and time to explore at your own rhythm. Three departures, limited rooms at The Baya House.
Next trip 12–18 December 2026 →
The one you'll remember
First green wave. You'll never
shut up about it.
Not a franchise.
Your neighbors in the line-up.
We're not a shop, a brand deck, or a foreign operator running surf lessons from a spreadsheet. The Beach Boys is a small, locally owned crew that meets you where the waves are — no fixed storefront, no franchise script, just the same Santa Teresa surfers Isaac grew up with. We keep groups tiny, change beaches with the tide, and treat the lineup like a neighborhood, not a waiting room.
Run by Isaac, a local who grew up surfing the Pacific and months at sea fishing with his grandfather. He started The Beach Boys to share his home through the ocean, and as your coach, guide, and local friend, he'll have you catching the best waves and falling in love with surfing and Pura Vida life.
About Santa Teresa
The most alive stretch of the Pacific coast.
Santa Teresa sits at the southern tip of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula — one of the world's five Blue Zones, where people famously live longer, slower, happier lives. Nine kilometres of golden sand. Jungle right up to the tide line. No high-rises. One sandy main road.
The town grew from a fishing village into a global surf destination without losing its pura vida rhythm. Mornings are for the ocean. Afternoons for hammocks, howler monkeys, and mango juice down your wrist. Sunsets are a communal event — the whole beach turns to face west without needing to be told.
Surfing Santa Teresa
Warm water, consistent waves, a break for every level.
Playa Carmen and the inside of Playa Santa Teresa — mellow, forgiving sandbottom waves, waist to chest high most mornings.
Best all year. Learn on soft-tops.
The outer peaks and Playa Hermosa's punchier A-frames. Faster take-offs, more shoulder to work with, occasional barrels on the right swell.
Best March–May & Oct–Nov.
Hidden reef breaks we'll drive you to — head-high on the small days, double overhead when the south swell fires.
Best May–October.
What people say
5-star reviews
Real reviews from Google for The Beach Boys — Isaac's surf school in Santa Teresa.
Read all reviews on Google★★★★★5 out of 5 stars"The Beach Boys were absolutely incredible to work with. Isaac was the best to work with. I learned pro tips and gained confidence to surf on my own. He even got my nervous brother out there for a lesson. Can't wait for more lessons with Isaac."
★★★★★5 out of 5 stars"Would give 10 stars if it was an option. I'm super beginner but the instruction from Isaac and Sasha was incredibly helpful and helped me progress with each session. Super friendly, fun, great dudes all around. I won't go anywhere else when I come back to Santa Teresa."
★★★★★5 out of 5 stars"They're amazing. I've surfed with Daniel and Isaac on two trips now. Super patient, great energy, and they adapt classes daily based on the waves and how I felt. I've had both group and private classes and progressed so much on each trip. Would love to go back soon."
★★★★★5 out of 5 stars"AWESOME surf coach. Did a surf camp with him a year ago and came back for a private lesson and all my friends got one too. He's professional, fun, motivating, and taught me a lot about progressing my green wave catching. He took my friends from whitewash to green waves with confidence."
★★★★★5 out of 5 stars"The Beach Boys gave us such an incredible surfing experience in Costa Rica! They were patient, encouraging, and amazing instructors who took the time to teach us the essential techniques and safety skills we needed to feel confident in the water. They made every lesson exciting, fun, and full of positive energy. What made the experience even more special was how they shared a piece of their culture with us. After surfing, we enjoyed fresh coconuts together, which was the perfect way to end the day and made us feel so welcomed. Their kindness, passion for surfing, and genuine hospitality created memories we'll never forget. If you're looking for the best surf instructors in Costa Rica, I couldn't recommend them more!"
★★★★★5 out of 5 stars"Highly recommend to anyone wanting a fun, energetic, authentic experience learning to surf. The instructors are so knowledgeable, and will always make you feel safe. Most importantly they will cheer you on and make the whole experience worth it!"
★★★★★5 out of 5 stars"Such a great experience, we went surfing 5 times and each time they chose the best spot and time of day based on our skill levels. I learned a lot more about form and felt like I improved in the short time I was surfing 🫶🏽 Issac is a gem, full of life and loves sharing his home and experiences with others!"
★★★★★5 out of 5 stars"Had an amazing experience!! Our instructor, Isaac, is an incredible teacher. He learns to adjust to the level of his students and always made sure we felt comfortable and confident. Highly recommend if you're a beginner :)"
From the water
Days with us
Frequently asked
The stuff everyone asks first.
Where is The Beach Boys based?+
We're a mobile surf school. We don't have a fixed shop — we meet you where the waves are, anywhere from Playa Carmen and Santa Teresa to Playa Hermosa, Cabuya, and the other breaks along the southern Nicoya Peninsula.
Is Santa Teresa good for beginner surfers?+
Yes. Santa Teresa's long sandy beach breaks have gentle inside waves perfect for learning, plus punchier outer peaks for intermediates and advanced surfers. Water is warm year-round (26–29°C / 79–84°F), so no wetsuit needed.
When is the best time to surf in Santa Teresa?+
December to April is the dry season with offshore winds and clean waves — great for all levels. May to November brings bigger south swells, warm rain, greener jungle, and emptier line-ups — ideal for intermediates chasing size.
What's included in a Surf & Stay trip?+
Every Surf & Stay week includes 6 or 7 nights at The Baya House (a boutique jungle stay two minutes from the sand), coached surf lessons, video analysis, daily breakfast, beachfront movement classes led by Sarah, a full ATV jungle day with the ATV yours for 24 hours, a snorkelling trip to secret spots along the coast, transport to every included activity and concierge support. Signature weeks (women only) add more surf and movement sessions, most dinners under the stars, drone and in-water photos, and set-time airport transfers. Essentials weeks (mixed group) keep evenings free and don't include airport transfers. Exact inclusions vary by departure date.
Do I need to know how to surf to book a lesson or a Surf & Stay trip?+
No. Most of our guests are first-timers or returning intermediates. Every session is grouped by ability with a max of 2 guests per coach in the lineup and 3 in the whitewater.
Who runs The Beach Boys?+
The Beach Boys is founded and run by Isaac, a Costa Rican who grew up surfing the Pacific and spending months at sea fishing with his grandfather. He started The Beach Boys to share his home through authentic local experiences and surfing. As your surf coach, guide, and local friend, Isaac will have you catching the best waves and falling in love — with surfing, of course.