TAO Destinations Luxury Surf Resort

As a long time surfer, and visitor to all parts of Costa Rica, I can attest to the fact that Costa Rica is a world-class surfing destination.

And when I think of some of my personal favorite spots to surf in Costa Rica, Playa Avellana in the North Pacific Coast area of the Guanacaste region quickly finds its way to the top of my list!

The beach offers 6 surf breaks with options for surfers from first timers to advanced level surfers. You can expect swells from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres meaning year-round near perfect surf conditions.

And this beach, seemingly made for surfing, is exactly where you’ll find Tao Destinations Surf Resort!

A Resort and Surf School in One

The boutique hotel offers clean and simple rooms with a relaxing salt-water pool. You’ll also find Yesenia Restaurant on site, a mix of authentic Mexican and American cuisine for breakfast and lunch.

And while the resort is beautiful, the surfing, instruction and time in the waves is what this property is all about! A short walk from the beach, the stay is about recharging in between time at the nearby beach learning to surf or honing your skills.

The surf school runs for one week and includes airport pickup and drop off from Guanacaste Airport (LIR). Breakfast and dinner (with beer included) made from organic ingredients is also part of the all-inclusive packages.

It’s About the Surfing

For me, I fell in love with Costa Rica many years ago. I’m a fan of the National Parks, animals, flora and fauna and of course Costa Rica’s beaches. But whether I’m home in San Diego or on one of my yearly trips to Costa Rica, I always have surfing on my mind.

Now as a father of two awesome growing kids, visiting a surf resort takes me back to an earlier time in life, if just for a week or so where surfing was my life, and that is a ton of fun!

Tao Destination’s All-Inclusive Surf School is customized to all skill levels and includes things like stretching and end of day recaps to see where you are and what you can work on for the next day.

The school offers a full week-long schedule which they will provide you upon arrival but in short I can tell you that it starts with a fantastic breakfast at 10:30am daily and then leads into surfing and daily instruction.

Experienced and Skilled Instruction

A stay at the resort includes more than a room and pool. Tao Destination is a surf school that comes with a staff of skilled instructors who will be there every step of the way making sure you are safe and know what you are doing in the waves.

Safety in the water as well as proper technique and etiquette is where things will start with 5 days of coaching at 3-5 hours per day included. The maximum is 3 guests to one surf coach.

Further instruction includes things like paddling and duck diving as well as standing and riding waves. And if you’re more advanced or master the skills of a beginner, the ISA certified instructors can guide you through more advanced skills like ripping as well.

A Little More About the Local Beach

Playa Avellana is your starting point for a great week of surfing!

Lola's Beach Bar is a comfortable place to hang out with a front row view of the surf. Just north of Lola's is El Parqueo. There you’ll find a beach break with long, smooth waves perfect for new surfers.

At El Palo the beach breaks come from both the left and the right, forming little barrels. Then in front of the river mouth is El Estero de Avellanas. Some say this is one of the best surf spots in Costa Rica!

Little Hawaii located across the river mouth is a favorite of local and experienced surfers, with an awesome name best surfed at low to medium tide.

Why I Think You Should Consider Tao Destinations

Tao Destinations Surf Resort is not your standard hotel.

Included with your stay is all that you’ll need to surf, plus instruction along the way. It’s hours of fun in the warm sun and surf in one of our world’s most beautiful surf locations.

With that, let me tell you a little more about why I think you should consider Tao Destinations Surf Resort for your next trip to Costa Rica.

It’s More Than a Usual Hotel

While Tao Destinations Surf Resort has a pool, a nearby beach and of course year-round warm weather, a stay here means a lot more than your typical Costa Rica vacation.

Tao Destinations is a surf school and that means whether you’re a surfer yourself looking to get better or never touched a surfboard in your life, the team will be there with you during your stay to teach you everything you need to know to catch your first wave, or to improve your skills.

Playa Avellana Features Multiple Breaks

Some beaches you visit will have just a single break. Especially if they are not hard to get to and the weather is good, the water can get quite crowded.

One thing I really love about Playa Avellana is that it features multiple breaks that are a lot of fun. So this means whether you’re looking for a left or a right, or if one of the breaks gets a bit crowded, you can mix it up nicely at this beach!

A Location Near Many Surf Breaks

I love the fact that it’s not just the waves at Playa Avellana you can enjoy with a stay at Tao Destinations, but the breaks at multiple nearby locations that offer the beginner to the expert surfers among us a bit of variety.

You could consider Tamarindo, but I would recommend going early for that one as it can get crazy busy.

Witches Rock in Santa Rosa National Park has a sandy bottom and experiences strong offshore winds from December to March making for long rights and lefts, which can be a lot of fun.

Playa Junquillal is another nearby option with mid-size swells good for surfers of differing skill levels. Just know that parking at this beach is limited. And for big time surfers, you could try Sketchy's there, but let me tell you that it’s not for the faint of heart!

But for me, I really like Playa Negra just to the south! Featured in Endless Summer II you’ll find right-hand barrels crashing on a rocky bottom. The ‘rocky bottom’ part makes this break suitable for a bit of a more advanced surfer, but for those with the skills and experience looking for consistent waves year-round, Playa Negra could be your new spot!

Meeting New Surfing Friends

Another reason I love Tao Destinations Surf Resort and think you should consider it if you’ve ever thought about trying a surf school in Costa Rica is that as a solo traveler, it is incredibly easy to meet people and make new friends.

Everyone is there to surf, so instantly you’ll find a common interest. And unlike some of my other favorites in the area like the Wyndham Tamarindo or say an All-Inclusive option like the Dream Las Mareas Costa Rica or The Westin Reserva Conchal, and All-Inclusive Golf Resort and Hotel where couples or families are more likely to have an itinerary where they keep to themselves, a stay at Tao Destinations provides a more interactive, communal experience.