Surfing in the Nicoya Peninsula and Costa Rica Car Rental

The Nicoya Peninsula is a peninsula on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and lies in the Guanacaste Province in the north, and the Puntarenas Province in the south. The Nicoya Peninsula forms the largest peninsula in the country. Known for its beaches and a popular tourist destination this is a great place to take a vacation when you travel with your Costa Rica car rental. The main transport and commercial centre in the region is Nicoya, one of the oldest settlements in Costa Rica. Costa Ricans sometimes refer to the Nicoya surf beaches as the "Hawaii of Latin America". Seasoned surfers love the consistent, mellow waves, the fact that there's a beach somewhere on the peninsula for every level, and the range of reef, point and beach breaks. Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime when you travel to the Nicoya Peninsula.

A little about paradise

The southern Nicoya Peninsula has long been one of Costa Rica's most secluded gems. From the hilly interior the mountains sweep down to the Pacific Ocean, creating some of the most beautiful and solitary beaches of Costa Rica. When you visit Nicoya Peninsula with your Costa Rica car rental you will find that most hotels and businesses on the southern peninsula are small and privately owned and the atmosphere still feels relaxed and laid-back. While Guanacaste is known for its dry climate, the southern Nicoya Peninsula receives more rain, making it a transitional zone between dry forest climate and tropical rain forest.

The best beaches

Among the most popular beach villages are the off-beat enclave of Montezuma which is surrounded by scenic waterfalls and rivers, the laid-back village of Tambor set in a huge half-moon bay, and Malpais along with Santa Teresa on an endless expanse of beautiful wild beach offering best surf conditions. You will also definitely want to check out around the area when you travel with your Costa Rica car rental. Rivers and waterfalls form part of the scenery and wildlife is preserved in various reserves with a biological corridor connecting to the mountainous interior. You will be also able to witness many different species of animals that are seasonal commuters who migrate from place to place.

Best time to surf

Waves are most consistent in the Nicoya Peninsula and on Costa Rica’s North Pacific Coast from December through April. Dominant offshore winds and ideal swell direction combine to make this the best time of year for surfing in this region. Standout breaks like Playa Negra, Witch’s Rock, and Playa Grande go off consistently during these months so you will want to make sure you plan accordingly when you travel with your Costa Rica car rentals to Nicoya Peninsula. May to November marks the rain season which turns the Nicoya Peninsula into a lush rain forest, which is both beautiful, but also a more difficult environment to travel with your Costa Rica car rental. You will want to be careful for washed out roads and constant storms.

Where to stay

Traveling with your Costa Rica car rental to Nicoya Peninsula is easy! Part of the charm in the Nicoya Peninsula is that package tourism and big chain hotels aren't yet common to the area. You still will be able to find several elegant small hotels (some of the best in Costa Rica) but the majority of lodging options on the southern peninsula range from low key hostels with outdoor showers to more luxury stays.

Before you go...

For more information when you are surfing in the Nicoya Peninsula with your Costa Rica car rental check out Nicoya Peninsula’s official website at http://www.nicoyapeninsula.com/