Surf Lessons in Santa Teresa: What to Expect
Santa Teresa is one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to learn to surf: a long sand-bottom beach break, warm water year round, and waves that show up almost every day. Here is how a lesson with us actually runs, so nothing about your first session is a surprise.
Why Santa Teresa suits beginners
The beach is sand from end to end — no reef, no rocks to worry about while you are still learning where to put your feet. That means you can fall, and you will fall, without much consequence.
Water sits around 27°C, so no wetsuit. Waves break along several kilometres of beach, which means there is almost always a mellower corner to learn in, even when the main peak is busy.
The three ways to learn with us
Group lesson
Small groups with a coach who keeps eyes on everyone. Good if you like company and a bit of shared nervous laughter on day one.
Semi-private
One coach, two people. The sweet spot for couples and friends — you get most of the attention of a private lesson and someone to celebrate with.
Private
One coach, you. Fastest progress, most feedback, and the session bends entirely around what you want to work on.
How long a lesson lasts
Between 1.5 and 2.5 hours, depending on the conditions and how you are going. We do not clock-watch. If the tide is doing something good we stay in; if you are cooked after ninety minutes, we come in and talk it through on the sand.
Most people surf best in the morning here — the wind is usually lighter and the water is quieter — so we lean towards early sessions when the forecast allows.
Where we meet
You meet us at whichever beach is working that day. We pick the spot the morning of, based on swell, wind and tide, and send you the location. Transport is available where it is needed.
Boards and rash guards come with the lesson. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, water, and something to change into afterwards.
What a first session looks like
Fifteen minutes on the sand: how to lie on the board, where to put your hands, how to stand up, and how to read where the waves are breaking. Then straight into the water, because that is where you actually learn.
Most people ride whitewater standing up in their first lesson. The second and third sessions are where it starts feeling less like luck and more like something you can repeat.
Beyond beginner
We coach beginners through to intermediates working on turns and green waves, and we guide more experienced surfers who want someone who knows which sandbank is working this week. Video review is available if you want to see what you are actually doing out there.
Frequently asked
Do I need to be fit or know how to swim?
You need to be comfortable in the water and able to swim. Beyond that, surfing rewards patience more than fitness — plenty of first-timers stand up on day one.
How long is a surf lesson?
Between 1.5 and 2.5 hours, depending on conditions and how you are feeling in the water.
What is the difference between semi-private and private?
Semi-private is one coach with two people. Private is one coach with you alone.
How do I book?
Message us on WhatsApp at +506 6321 8894 or on Instagram. We confirm the beach and time the day before.
Ready when you are
Come surf with us in Santa Teresa.
Small groups, local coaches, and Surf + Stay weeks at The Baya House.
