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Surf Playa Blanca
This break is directly in front of Hotel Iguanazul.
During a strong enough swell, this wave appears far offshore.
When it breaks, it breaks well
and it breaks big – usually at least double overhead. There is a strong
channel current leading out, so it is not that hard to get out into the
lineup, which probably will be sparse since this is a little known and
seldom used surf location. Iguanazul also can arrange for a panga to
transport surfers out to the break if they don’t want to make the swim.
The beachfront immediately north
of the hotel is semi-protected by lava flow finger formations and
provides a great location for boogie and skim-boarding.
Hotel
Iguanazul surf board rentals are $15 per day or $80 per week. Boards
range from 5-feet-6 to 9-feet-6.
Boogie boards and skim boards rent for $10 per day.
Surfing lessons cost $60 per person for two hours.
Here are some other surf spots
within walking distance or a short drive from the hotel:
Playa Junquillal
1.5 kilometers south of Hotel Iguanazul
A 10-minute walk south down the beach from Hotel
Iguanazul, this break can get really fun. During higher tides, there are
many peaks that offer hollow, fast rights and lefts. The waves jack up
off the sand bar very quickly, creating a tough but exciting drop-in. It
breaks very close to shore in shallow water over a sandy bottom.
Playa
Negra
3.5
kilometers north of Hotel Iguanazul
Playa Negra is one of the best
known and most accessible waves on the northwest Pacific Coast of
Costa Rica. With the proper swell, this right can get huge, hollow and
very fast. It is consistent, but it is best in a mid-tide going out.
During low tide, the water can get very shallow on the rocky bottom.
The only problem with Negra is that there is
really only one break point. It does not hold a large crowd well, and
things sometimes get a little testy in the line-up.
Avellanas
10 kilometers north of Hotel Iguanazul
Avellanas is a 3-kilometer
strip of white sand beach with about five good surf spots along it.
Right in front of the parking area and a bit to the north, there are
some good peaks that work in higher tides. Further to the north, at
the river mouth, a powerful right breaks perfectly at mid-low tide.
This spot can get a little crowded, but the waves are consistent
enough and there are enough peaks that a lot of surfers can have fun.
It also is a great place for
non-surfers to watch friends or family members who are out riding the
waves. Lola’s, a large, popular restaurant and bar next to the parking
area, provides good food and drinks at beachside tables and chairs
under palm-thatch ranchos and natural shade areas.
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