Playa Grande Surf Lessons: 2-Hour Classes for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.98 (249 reviews) 99% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellation

1/13

Duration2h 15m

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Catch your own waves in a 2-hour lesson on a beach without the crowds.

Playa Grande surf lessons run 2 hours with a land safety briefing, 45 minutes to an hour in the water with your instructor, and a break with fresh pineapple and ice water before a final hour of practice. Maximum 4 students per instructor; children from age 5 are welcome. The beach is a sand walk-out with no rocks, and you'll leave with 150–250 professional photos of your session included.

The Experience

The lesson starts on the sand with a 10-minute land briefing where you learn the basics and practice the pop-up motion before entering the water. Your instructor stays with you for the next 45 minutes to an hour, positioning you on the board and guiding you into waves until you're catching them on your own. The water time is timed around high tide, when Playa Grande's waves work best for beginners and intermediate surfers. After that first stretch, you get a 10-minute break on the beach with fresh pineapple and ice water.

The final hour takes you back out for more practice, and by then most people are already riding waves without help. Playa Grande itself is the real advantage here—it's a sand beach with no rocks, and because it's secluded, you won't be jostling for space or waves the way you would in the crowded lineup at Tamarindo, which sits directly across the water. The instructors are trained to work with everyone from 4-year-olds to people in their seventies, and class sizes max out at 4 students per instructor, so the attention stays focused. Boards and rash guards are provided, and you'll get 150 to 250 professional photos and video of your session—the only surf company in Costa Rica that offers that as standard.

Pickup is included from your hotel in Tamarindo; if you're staying in Brasilito, Flamingo, Potrero, or the Coco/Hermosa area, transportation can be arranged (ask for pricing when you book). The lesson works for all fitness levels, and semi-private and private options are available if you want fewer people in the water.

What’s included

A 2-hour lesson with a maximum of 4 students per instructor.
surf board and rash guard.
10-minute land briefing and safety talk.
45 minutes to an hour in the water with your instructor.
a 10-minute break with fresh pineapple and ice water.
150–250 professional photos of your session.
hotel pickup from Tamarindo.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Mojo Surf Adventures

Is this one for you?The 2-hour length gives you a full morning or afternoon without eating your whole day, and the high-tide timing means the waves are best for learning. If you're staying in Tamarindo and want to avoid the crowded beach breaks, Playa Grande's secluded sand beach across the water is where the smaller class sizes and calmer conditions make the difference.