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Costa Rica Women's Surf + Yoga Camp

Experience a seven-night women-only surf trip in a jungle paradise. With tropical retreat accommodation right by the beach, you can stay in a surfers delight of beauty and sunshine with epic waves everyday.

Costa Rica surf camp ladies on beach

Why choose to go surfing in Costa Rica?

Unlike other surf camps, Women + Waves surf trips are tailored to suit your needs and abilities. With an amazing 1 instructor to a maximum of 3 guests coaching ratio, you’ll receive personalised guidance and plenty of one-on-one attention to help you progress with confidence. Your surf instructors will choose the best surf spots and waves for you, and with their first-hand experience of the beginner and progressor breaks around Costa Rica, they can guide you to take the next step on your surfing journey.

Womens Surf Group Costa Rica

What to expect

With Women + Waves everything is organised for you; from airport transfers, to amazing activities and a stunning beachside apartment, all you have to do is show up and enjoy the sunny vibes and good times. These trips are fully insured and have received over 350 5-star reviews from customers so you can be sure of being in safe hands.

Who’s this course for?

This girls-only surf trip is perfect for all levels of surfers. You’ll receive as much support as you need to overcome any barriers. Everyone is welcome, 90% of participants arrive solo and over 40% are over forty; so there’s nothing to stop you becoming the surfer you always dreamed of.

What level am I?

Cultural Secrets

You’ll stay in the secluded Nicoya Peninsula, cherished for its tranquillity and superb surfing, encounter stunning landscapes, diverse waves, and savour delicious food amidst mesmerising sunsets- all with the safety and security of a local team.

When to go

During the dry season, Santa Teresa boasts one of the country's driest climates. Unlike other tropical locations you’ll experience constant sunshine and the waves here are uncrowded so there’s no pressure and good vibes only.

Quick facts

Water Temp

28°C

Climate

29 - 32°C

Wave Types

Beach and Points

Language

Spanish

What people say

"Costa Rica Feb 2025 was the most magical trip. Everything was amazing from the waves, coaching, food, wildlife, accommodation, yoga, breathwork etc. The group of girls were amazing, all ages and abilities having a blast together. I got such second hand froth from them all! Chelsea the head coach is the most supportive, kind human ever <3 She gave incredibly helpful advice to help progress my surfing. I was able to swap between short and Longboard, which was great to make the most of the conditions on each day. We had some rad local female coaches too, who were our biggest cheerleaders in the water!"

Itinerary

Please note, sometimes we need to be flexible as some activities will be weather and condition dependent – but don’t worry, we’ll always do our very best to ensure you get the very best out of the trip! All our surf days and suggested activities are completely optional – you can enjoy as much or as little as you desire. This is not a boot camp!

Costa Rica beach

Day 1 - Arrival In Costa Rica

Land at Cobano Airport and meet your private driver for the journey to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica’s iconic surf town.  Check into your boutique bungalow and meet Chelsea, your Women and Waves trip leader, over welcome smoothies and a goal-setting session.  End the day with a sunset swim and an optional group dinner at a favourite local spot.

Highlights

  • Private transfer and boutique surf accommodation
  • Welcome smoothies and goal-setting with Chelsea
  • Sunset swim and optional group dinner

What’s included

Airport pick-ups and drop-offs are included in your package.

  • Group pick-up – 13:30 from Cobano Airport (40 mins to Santa Teresa)
  • Outside this time – local taxi approx. $40 USD (details provided by email)
  • Other airports – guests must arrange their own transfer to Santa Teresa
  • Final day – trip ends 10:00 with transfer back to Cobano Airport

Recommended: late afternoon flight on departure from San José (SJO) for smooth connection.

Your trip includes 7 nights in a handpicked tropical retreat on the Nicoya Peninsula, just a short stroll from the Pacific Ocean. Expect a friendly, intimate setting with a mix of guesthouses and wooden bungalows nestled among the palms, the perfect place to relax between surf sessions.

Room Options

  • Standard: Quad room (shared with 3 others)
  • Twin: Share with one other guest
  • Triple: Share with two others
  • Private: Limited availability, request in advance

Accomodation Facilities

  • Swimming pool, yoga deck, spa & wellness area
  • Hammocks, chill-out areas & pool table
  • Surfboard storage & rinse showers
  • Onsite bar & restaurant
  • Filtered water refills provided

Jungle Setting

  • Garden views from the bungalows
  • Families of monkeys in the trees above
  • Howler monkeys as your morning chorus

Private Studio Upgrade

Upgrade to your own private studio apartment, just 150 yards from the beach and a short walk to the main camp.  Each studio includes:

  • Air conditioning & high-speed internet
  • Daily breakfast at the group accommodation
  • Fully equipped kitchen
  • Comfortable bed
  • A peaceful, self-contained base close to surf shops, cafés, gyms & restaurants

Santa Teresa is packed with fresh, colourful, and flavour-filled dishes, the perfect fuel for your surf sessions. Daily breakfast is included in your stay, while all other meals are at your own cost, giving you the freedom to explore the amazing cafés and restaurants nearby.

What’s Included

  • Daily breakfast at your accommodation
  • Complimentary filtered water throughout your stay

What’s Nearby

  • A huge choice of cafés, beach bars, and restaurants
  • Local favourites like Gallo Pinto (rice & beans), fried plantains, tropical fruit, and Costa Rican pancakes
  • International options, from smoothie bowls to wood-fired pizzas

Extra Options

  • Supermarkets and local markets for snacks and supplies
  • Self-catering facilities available at your accommodation if you’d like to cook

Enjoy 5 days of professional surf coaching in warm Costa Rican waters, with an incredible 3:1 guest-to-instructor ratio for maximum personalised attention. Our local instructors and trip leader will guide you in and out of the water, helping you build confidence, refine technique, and reach your surf goals.

What’s Included

  • 5 days of professional surf coaching (water + land-based)
  • Small group ratio (1 instructor : 3 guests)
  • Daily photo and video analysis with footage to take home
  • Pre-trip video call to discuss your objectives
  • Surfboard and leash (soft and hard boards available)
  • Women + Waves surf log book to track goals and progress

How We Coach

  • Groups split by ability to ensure the right level of challenge
  • Supportive coaching that builds confidence at every step
  • Beginners benefit from a fun, hassle-free introduction to surfing in warm water
  • Intermediate surfers get targeted feedback to push their skills further

Extra Options

  • Bring your own surfboard if you prefer
  • Not sure of your level?  Take our Women + Waves surf level quiz HERE before you go!

One of the most powerful tools for surf progression is seeing yourself in action. That’s why we provide daily video analysis, giving you move-by-move breakdowns of your sessions and tailored feedback to help you progress faster.

What’s Included

  • Daily video analysis with detailed coaching feedback
  • Footage captured from both the beach and in the water
  • GoPro-trained instructors filming your sessions
  • A complete photo & video package uploaded to an online gallery to take home

Why It Matters

  • Identify key areas to improve with professional insights
  • Track your progression day by day
  • Relive your surf adventure long after the trip
  • Share unforgettable moments with friends, family, and social media

This isn’t just coaching, it’s a game-changer for your surf journey!

This trip includes two tailored yoga sessions designed specifically for surfers. Each class blends mindful movement, strength-building postures, and breathing techniques to complement your time in the water.

What to Expect

  • Yoga designed to enhance flexibility, strength, and surf endurance
  • Breathing practices to calm the mind and body
  • Optional meditation elements to boost focus and relaxation
  • Sessions that reduce stress and support your surfing progression

By integrating movement, breath, and mindfulness, these sessions empower you to overcome both physical and mental challenges, leaving you more balanced, relaxed, and surf-ready.

As part of your retreat, you’ll step away from the waves and into the wild heart of Costa Rica. This included adventure takes you along tropical forest trails alive with the sounds of nature, leading to the breathtaking waterfalls of Montezuma. Cool off in sparkling plunge pools and soak up the magic of the jungle, the perfect complement to your surf-filled days.

What to Expect

  • Included guided jungle hike
  • Lush tropical forest trails
  • Stunning Montezuma waterfalls
  • Natural plunge pools for swimming and cooling off
  • A chance to experience Costa Rica’s wild beauty beyond the beach

When you’re not surfing, there’s a whole world of adventure waiting in Santa Teresa. These optional activities are at your own cost and leisure, giving you the freedom to shape your trip exactly how you’d like.

What You Can Do

  • Glide across glowing waters on a bioluminescent SUP tour with Monkey Adventures, where each stroke of your paddle lights up the ocean with sparkling plankton.  An unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
  • Snorkel in turquoise tidal pools and spot colourful marine life
  • Stroll along Santa Teresa’s postcard-perfect beaches (featured in Forbes Top 10)
  • Swing in a hammock beneath the palms and switch off completely
  • Watch monkeys leap through the jungle canopy and listen to the howler chorus
  • Explore vibrant cafés, beach bars, and the buzzing Santa Teresa nightlife
  • Indulge in spa treatments, or a soothing jungle massage
  • Toast the day with sunset drinks as the sky turns gold and pink
  • Embrace the Pura Vida lifestyle, Costa Rica’s famous way of living with joy, gratitude, and simplicity

Please Note – These experiences are not included in your retreat package and some may incur additional charges.

Travel

This piece of paradise is an adventure away from the hustle and bustle of Costa Rica’s capital city San Jose, but it’s so worth it!

You will need to arrange your own flights to Cobano Airport (Aeropuerto de Cobano). This will usually mean flying into Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) and connecting from there.

The flight is only 22 minutes, and you will have the team waiting for you with a taxi transfer to take you to Santa Teresa!

This is an amazing experience, and makes the journey as stress free as possible – all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the views as you land in paradise. When you land, look out for your transport representatives, they’ll have a clipboard with “Women + Waves” on it. You’ll then head to the accommodation to get you checked in.

Please arrange your flights to coincide with the following pick up times:

  • Airport pick ups and transfers are included in your package price. The pick up time is 13:30 pm, when your trip officially begins. If you arrive outside of these times we will email you local taxi details so that you can make your own way to the hotel – it is roughly a 40 minute car ride, this will roughly be $40 USD for the transfer.

However, please be aware that if you arrive at an airport other than Cobano, you will need to find your own way to Santa Teresa.

  • The trip will officially end at 10am on the last day where you will be dropped back at Cobano airport nice and early to catch your flight back to San Jose for your flight. We recommend a late afternoon flight from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) on the last day of the trip for a no rush transfer.

If you want to arrive earlier or leave later, that’s totally fine. Lots of our guests do this as they want to experience more of this wonderful location. We’ll let you know where and when to meet us on the first day at your accommodation.

We highly recommend that you read our ‘How to book a flight’ blog post to help you organise the best flights for your holiday.

If you’re worried about booking your flight and you’re based in the UK, give our good friend Lee at Dial A Flight a call on 020 7295 1556. Lee’s been booking our flights for the last 15 years and will find you the best deal and connection time. He can even book the whole trip for you, so you can relax and just rock up to the airport!

At time of writing the flight from San Jose Airport to Cobano has two options:

Green Airways or Sansa, return flights, are $2-300 USD.

Boards that are under 7ft are allowed on the flight. If you ride a board longer than this or prefer not to travel with a board, surfboard hire is included in your trip price.

The baggage allowance on the flight is 18kg, which is fine as you only need to pack light for this trip – bikinis and shorts for the win! No wetsuits, no problem!

Once you’ve booked you will receive further information on how everything works upon your arrival. The arrival team will be tracking your flight and keeping you informed over our per-organised WhatsApp group, so there’s open communication the whole way to keep you relaxed and to help with any problems or worries.

If you are travelling from the UK, it’s more than likely that your flight will get in late into San Jose Airport. We recommend flying into San Jose airport the day before the trip start date and staying in a local airport hotel. You can then take the short flight to Cobano the next day. Please see below for a few local hotels you can book within 5-10 minutes from the airport with a shuttle bus.

We will be offering airport pick-ups from Cobano between 13:30 pm on the first day of the trip but if you arrive outside of this time, you can pay approx $40 USD for the short taxi ride to our accommodation. We can help you to organise the taxi, it is very straightforward. Our aim is to go for a sunset swim when you arrive in Santa Teresa. It’s an awesome, stress-free way to start the trip.

San Jose Airport Hotel Recommendations (all available via Booking.com or Lee at Dial A Flight can help book these for you)

-Holiday Inn Express

-Farnfield or The Courtyard by Marriot San Jose Airport

-Hampton by Hilton San Jose Airport

For your return, you need to arrange your flight out of Cobano on the final morning, you need to sync this up with your departing flight out of San Jose. Alternatively, you can book another night in the San Jose Airport hotel for your last night of the trip so that you are fresh for your early flight home. You will receive airport transport from your accommodation to Cobano airport. You will arrive at the airport by 11 am. So we recommend booking a flight to leave after 12 pm. If you want to arrive at Cobano at a different time, then again, we can help you to organise a taxi to the airport which will cost you around $40 USD per person.

Take a closer look

Dates and prices

Date Fully Booked
9th - 16th February 2026
From £2,600
Date
16th - 23rd February 2026
From £2,600
Date
5th - 12th February 2027
From £2,739
Date
13th - 20th February 2027
From £2,739

FAQs

We offer 4 easy ways to pay!

1. Pay In Full – Pay the full amount in one, that’s it your done! (Available online)

2. 50/50 – Pay a 50% deposit and the remaining 50% 12 weeks before the trip starts. (Available online)

3. Payment Plan – Pay an initial deposit and the rest in instalments! (Contact us using our online chat, WhatsApp or email us for this option)

4. Marketing Badge Shop now. Pay over time with Klarna (Contact us using our online chat, WhatsApp or email us for this option)

We can’t guarantee your place until we receive payment (in full or a deposit). Once you have made a payment, you’ll then be sent a trip confirmation email.

Klarna’s Pay in 3 / Pay in 30 days are unregulated credit agreements. Borrowing more than you can afford or paying late may negatively impact your financial status and ability to obtain credit. 18+, UK residents only. Subject to status. Ts&Cs and late fees apply.

Due to this trip being in high demand and having limited spaces, we can only hold your space for 24 hours without payment.

Yes definitely! We pride ourselves on being super welcoming and friendly. Most of our guests arrive solo and leave with friends for life.

Please follow the instructions on the ‘Travel’ tab above. Then for further help please read our helpful blog post about booking flights.

If you wish to bring a non-surfing partner with you please get in touch.

Partners are welcome to join our evening meals, excursions etc.

You’ll be asked to fill in an enrolment form as part of the booking process. You’ll signify which level of surfer you are. You may be in different groups suited to your ability. However, there will be plenty of time to see each other back at camp and during our social times.

We choose the time of year and location for our events based on local knowledge and historical swell data. Costa Rica is incredibly consistent with a fantastic variety of beaches available to us. In the very unlikely event of flat waves or stormy conditions, we will offer alternative activities and day trips to help you get the most out of your holiday.

We may adjust the format of the trip. For example, choosing to run more surf sessions on the days that the waves are at their best.

Please visit our T&Cs for more information.

With decades of experience and knowledge within our team, we pick the best dates that the surf conditions are most suitable for the group. We’ll send you a brief predicted forecast in the pre-trip email. We choose Costa Rica at this time of year due to the fun waves and gorgeous weather. Expect waves that are waist to chest height. The beautiful long sandy beaches offer peaks for all abilities, the skill is to know which is best on the tide and wind conditions that are on offer. That’s where our local guides are worth their weight in gold. We pride ourselves in having you in the right place for the best waves for your ability each trip.

Before booking please take a look at our surfing level in the boxes above. If during the trip you would benefit from changing groups your instructor will organise for you to move, no problem! Please be aware, we pride ourselves on coaching everybody as an individual, so you will always receive individual feedback throughout each session.

Our Women + Waves trip leaders will be accompanied by local Costa Rican members of our coaching team. While our coaching team is predominantly made up of female instructors we also use male guides and instructors from time to time.

We do not offer a discount for bringing your own equipment.

Remember to check the baggage size and weight allowance with your airline. Read their guidance for carrying surfboards. Baggage handlers can be unforgiving so you need a tough travel bag and pack it well.

Firstly, pack your board(s) in a protective, padded board bag, and write FRAGILE and TOP LOAD ONLY on it with the largest, most permanent marker you can find. Make sure you wrap your towel and clothes around your board inside the bag for added protection.

Place your shampoo and other wet toiletries in a separate sealed bag in case of leakage. We also recommend locking your bag zips with a padlock.

Please check with your citizenship requirements in advance.

Please check international travel requirements for your nationality. When you leave Costa Rica you must pay a departure tax of $28 USD (correct at the time of writing).

If you’re travelling through America, you need to complete a Visa Waiver form. There’s a $14 USD application fee.

Please contact your travel agent or airline if you have any further questions. It’s a good idea to carry copies of your important documents and guide books. Pack them separately. We also suggest scanning copies and emailing them to yourself for extra reassurance.

If you are under 18 we will need to chat to you on the phone and you will need to be accompanied on the trip by a parent or guardian throughout the weekend (they don’t have to participate). If you are 65 or over we’d love to chat to you about the weekend before you book. Please email us to arrange a time and we’ll contact you. Or you can call us on +44 (0) 1637 226017

On the day you travel please keep your mobile phone handy so that we can stay in touch in case of delays and flight changes. Please inform us if you’re early or delayed for any reason. You will be added to our Whatsapp group so that we can share updates and stay in touch.

If you need help booking your flight then just drop us a line.

If you can’t find our representative at the airport, stay there and wait, they won’t be far away having tracked your arrival time. However, if you’re having difficulties finding them, please call +44 (0) 1637 226017 or follow the instructions in your pre-flight email. One of us will locate you.

Please inform our coaching staff of any medical complaints or conditions prior to your trip.

We’ll ask for travel insurance details when you book, so please organise this as soon as possible. Travel insurance needs to cover you for medical issues, cancellations and baggage. We’ll also ask you to fill out an enrolment form with these details before the holiday. Please read our helpful blog post about travel insurance.

Visit the Travel Health Pro website for medical advice for Costa Rica.

Please contact your doctor if you’re unsure about vaccinations. We advise you to take mosquito repellent to avoid getting bitten, though we’ve never been aware of any malaria or dengue fever cases in the areas that we visit.

The Costa Rican colon and US dollar are both accepted in Costa Rica. It’s useful to be aware of both exchange rates, as you will undoubtedly use both at some point on the trip. We take a small amount of dollars and the rest in colones.

We suggest that you bring all the currency you plan to spend, as you may not have the chance to visit an ATM. Please organise your currency needs before you arrive. Don’t worry, you’ll have access to a safe in your room for valuables and cash.

If you need to visit the bank while in Santa Teresa (if you run out of cash for example), you can withdraw money using your credit or debit card via the ATM. You may find the machines empty at the weekend plus there are often large queues. We recommend planning your spending wisely to avoid any unnecessary trips to the bank or ATM – it’s valuable time spent away from the surf!

You can also use your card and passport to take money out over the counter at the bank. Many bars and restaurants take credit cards too. We recommend you bring at least two cards in case one gets blocked by the bank, lost or damaged.

We are a UK based company that deliver trips all over the world welcoming travellers of all nationalities.

If you’re based outside the UK and want to chat through the trip details, you can contact us on our online chat.

If your circumstances change and you can’t join the trip, please let us know as soon as possible via email. Your cancellation notice will start from the date we receive it.

Cancellation terms:

We hold part or full costs, depending on when you cancel:

If you cancel 12 weeks or more before the trip we retain 50% of the total cost
If you cancel with less than 12 weeks before the trip then its 100% of the total cost
Cancellation may fall under the terms and conditions of your holiday insurance policy and you may be able to claim.

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