| The Pacific coast of Costa Rica is fast becoming one | | | | - a perfect setting for the laid-back surfers and the |
| of the hippest spots on the backpack | | | | ever-growing community of young visitors. For those |
| merry-go-round. It's a surfer's paradise in Central | | | | just wishing to hang out then there a numerous |
| America's most laid-back holiday spot. Areas such as | | | | beach restaurants and beer shacks where laid back |
| the Nicoya peninsula and Dominical further to the | | | | tunes and chilled cerveza set the tone for the after |
| south are the real hotspots where the beaches are | | | | hours entertainment. |
| sublime and trees and rocks tumble down to meet | | | | Further to the South lies Dominical, probably Costa |
| the fine, white sand - Costa Rica has a reputation for | | | | Rica's most famous surfing grounds. It's slightly less |
| its magnificent flora and fauna and there's nothing to | | | | isolated than the Nicoya region offering easy access |
| be disappointed about on that score here. Pelicans | | | | to the surrounding national parks and also the nation's |
| and frigate birds wheel overhead as the booming calls | | | | capital, San José. The area is famed for its |
| of howler monkeys resound from the nearby | | | | "surf camps" where surfing, accommodation food and |
| rainforests. For those not satisfied by the ocean | | | | activities are all included in the package and is a great |
| alone there are also numerous hikes in the region and | | | | way for beginners to get into the sport and even for |
| due to Costa Rica's relatively small size you are never | | | | experienced surfers who get the chance for tips |
| far away from the eco-tourism centres further inland. | | | | from local instructors. The region has begun to |
| Sticking out like a spare limb into the temperate | | | | develop but by no means to the extent that we are |
| waters of the Pacific, Nicoya has a myriad of | | | | used to in big European resorts, eco-lodges are the |
| unspoiled beaches where the breakers roll in | | | | typical accommodation here and the focus is on |
| consistently offering great surfing for all levels of | | | | preserving an area of immense natural beauty. |
| ability whether you're a pale rookie paddling out for | | | | Whether surfing Dominical's famous breaks or just |
| the first time or a sun-gnarled veteran. It is this | | | | chilling on the beach you'll find the area is as close to |
| variety that makes the area perfect for one of the | | | | paradise as you're likely to get in Costa Rica. It's also |
| world's fastest growing sports and the region has | | | | worth noting that it's not just surfing that's on the |
| had a fantastic reputation in the worldwide surfing | | | | activities list on Costa Rica's pacific coast, the whole |
| community. A few years ago villages such as Santa | | | | area is a huge aquatic playground; waters teeming |
| Teresa were no more than a few fishing huts | | | | with fish and other life mean great scuba diving and |
| clustered together but with the boom of tourism in | | | | yes, you guessed it, great fishing with many local |
| the area numerous services are now provided by | | | | boats taking tourists out on the hunt for tuna, |
| locals offering the dusty streets a ramshackle charm | | | | wahoo, marlin and other big game. |