There’s a good reason why Tamarindo is known as a top surf destination for beginners. In just one lesson, you can pop up on your board and ride a wave when you take a private or group lesson. Or, even upgrade to a 3-day mini-surf camp—the choice is yours when you book. No matter what you choose, hang easy knowing that all equipment and a qualified instructor are included with all packages.

Beginner surf lesson in Tamarindo
Learn surfing basics like popping up and paddling
Choose a private, group, or surf camp option
All equipment with board and rash guard included

What's Included

All taxes, fees and handling charges
Certified Surf Instructor
Rashguard Use
Surfboard Use

Gratuities
JW Marriott, Playa Grande, Playa Conchal, Playa Flamingo ($70 extra)
Hotel's RIU Guanacaste & Palace, Playa Ocotal, Coco, Hermosa, Papagayo ($160 extra)

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Native's Way Costa Rica - Tours and Transfers
200 meteres south of Diria, Guanacaste Province, Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled surf lesson time

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not recommended for pregnant travellers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Not recommended for travellers with back problems

Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Most travellers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Q:What is the policy on sanitisation during Beginner Surf Lessons In Tamarindo - Shared or Private?

A:The policies on sanitisation are:

Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised

Q:What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Beginner Surf Lessons In Tamarindo - Shared or Private?

A:The policy on staff health & safety is:

Guides required to regularly wash hands

Traveller Photos

Reviews

5.0

50 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 50 reviews

Our two instructors were...

paul_a, Nov 2022

Our two instructors were fantastic. We had a group of 8 for 2 hours and we were all wiped out by the end because we caught so many waves

Highly recommend

Cindy_D, Nov 2022

Patsy was a fantastic surf instructor She was so thorough with her instructions as a 59 year old- I got up my first try!!!! Highly recommend. They have showers that were very clean and I’m extremely picky. Can’t go wrong

Pura Surfing

Gillian_A, Sept 2022

Our instructor was Oscar and he was very professional and fun!! He made sure to give us the ins and outs of our lesson and really guided us on picking the right waves! We were so surprised to see we were actually catching waves and surfing on our own, with his help of course. My husband and I are here for our honeymoon and this was our first excursion booked, so far it’s been a great experience and Oscar was the best!

Bucket List Worthy

Maggie_K, Sept 2022

Oscar did a great job! This was on my husband’s bucket list and it did not disappoint. Oscar did a good job of instructing us in English and both of us stood up on the board. Surfing was challenging for us Midwesterners, but we both walked away with only a few cuts and bruises.

Response from Host, Sept 2022

Hola Maggie! Thank you very much for choosing Native's Way Costa Rica and for leave us your Feedback on our TripAdvisor page, we are happy that you GUYS DID IT is Impossible to come to Tamarindo a Surf town and not try surfing, we are so glad that Oscar our ISA Certified Instructor helps you to checked mark the surfing in your bucket list 🏄 Thank you very much again, hope to see you again in other time that you Visit Costa Rica Gracias y Pura Vida Native’s Way Costa Rica Tours & Packages

Oscar, not a grouch

David_G, Aug 2022

Oscar is a wonderful teacher and a good guy! He was very patient with us and helped us to all learn in a relaxed reassuring way.

Great surf school! Worth the money!

Marla_D, Aug 2022

Surf instructor was helpful, smart and patient. He even picked us up when we got lost. Outfit was prompt, helpful and had good communication and coordination skills.

Surfs Up

Charles_G, Aug 2022

Rollo was our instructor and he is amazing! It was my wife’s first time surfing and see was surfing like a pro! Had a great time and the staff is fantastic!

Great surf lessons!

Andrew_H, Aug 2022

Instructors were excellent with children and provided lots of helpful advice resulting in success for first time surfers!

Steffi is the best! Great time learning how to surf

Twinkie026, July 2022

My kids and I had a great time with Steffi. She was great instructor and was very encouraging. She stayed in the water the entire time and watched us try to get up and pointed out what we need to improve. With her instructions, the boys were able to get up and steer the board in the limited time that we had with her. Steffi knew how to watch the waves and knew where the rocks are so we do not fall in the areas with rocks. Safety is #1. Unsure how instructors are chosen when you book the lessons but cross your fingers you will get Steffi (might not be the correct spelling of her name) The meeting point is at a tour company and easy to find in Tamarindo. They had shelves for your belongings and gave you rashguard to use (used by other guests and not washed in between so if you have your own wear it), there’s a small bathroom and a shower to rinse salt water after you are done.

Awesome surf instructor

Carrie_D, July 2022

Our surf lessons in Tamarindo were awesome! Our guide, a lady who's name I forgot 😞 was so patient with us and watched our four year old on the surf board whine helping us. She did awesome and we all got up and made it to shore a couple times. Highly recommend. Parking was tedious but the lessons were memorable for a life time

Fun!

Sheila_L, June 2022

Our instructor (I can't remember her name) was encouraging and patient with my family of 4. I had the hardest time standing up, but she always cheered me on. I highly recommend surf lessons from here!

Super hands on—Anybody can learn!

Anthony_P, May 2022

Came with 4 other friends—most of us have never touched a surf board. Our instructor was SUPER helpful and she was with us the entire time!

Great for kids!

Christie_A, Apr 2022

Bought these lessons for our children (ages 7 and 8). Cristian from the iguana surf school was awesome with my kids and got them standing on the boards! They had a blast

Fun and overall great experience

Bill_L, Apr 2022

Our instructor, Stephie, provided very good surf instructions and tips which made for a very fun and overall great learning experience.

Amazing lesson, Tamarindo is beautiful.

Vanessa_B, Jan 2022

We had an amazing surfing experience. For a couple who has never done it before the instructor was amazing. He made sure that we both stood up on our boards by the end of the lesson. He was very patient. He also made us laugh by picking things up off of the ocean floor with his feet including telling us that he picked up a fish once and even a cell phone. He was very nice and it was a great education. Our transportation was also amazing. We had left our GoPro charging in the car I forgot to take it out and he promptly returned it to us on our ride home. We have both said to each other that it was gone for sure but he was an honest person. My only advice is that I wish we had some photos especially since we left our GoPro in the car you can’t really bring a cell phone or camera to the beach or it will get stolen. Definitely recommend a gopro with a mount. People that don’t have GoPro‘s maybe the instructor could snap a picture or two for an extra charge. Just a suggestion. I would also recommend leaving yourself some extra time after the lesson to walk around Tamarindo beach. There are so many cute little shops and cafés and restaurants to go see and experience that we did not get to. If I could go back I would want to spend a lot more time in Tamarindo.

Pura vidaaa ;)

Milana_V, Aug 2021

Riding my first wave from my first time it was just pura vida! Strongly recommend surf classes with Augustin our instructor for the day!

Great instructor

MICHAEL_L, Mar 2020

The communication leading up to the event was great and the instructor was wonderful. The only issue is the walk from shop to the beach about a 10-15 walk. There are other shops located on the beach.

Took Our Money - Awful Experience

philytaggart, Feb 2020

I got quite ill the evening before my Surf Lesson with these guys. When i woke up in the morning i could hardly got out of bed. We emailed them an hour before the lesson letting them know that we couldn't attend and asked for a refund or to move the lesson to another day. The manager promised to phone us back, she never did. The assistant promised to email us, she never did. These guys basically stole our money and didn't reply to us so beware!

Pura Vida

rebecdifranc, Jan 2020

Pura Vida! My instructor was laid back, as you’d expect of a surfer in Tamarindo, he was also incredibly knowledgeable. He taught me the basics of surfing, and did it with true feeling for the ocean. I trusted him completely in the pounding waves and felt safe the entire time- the water was awesome for experts for a little too much for this newb! Highly recommend Alejandro and Natives Way!

Sin duda volvería A repetirlo genial

monica_p, Oct 2022

tengo que mencionar la excelente atención de las chicas que me recibieron como así también la Instructora Kitti un ser que transmite su amor por el surf … encantadora y tenaz para lograr pararme en la tabla .., una genia y yo feliz de lograrlo … gracias

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