Im trying to travel light. I saw long boards BUT I WOULD NEED WHAT YOU CALL A BIG GUY SHORT BOARD. Thanks

Yeah, like anyone in Pavones would even talk to you, much less rent you something to get you in the line up. The last time I was there, we didn't get a warm welcome. Unless stink eye is their way of a greeting. I camped on the S side of the river for a couple of days and THEY hada feces seizure over that. Of course the Ticos had no problem with us.

Who is THEY?

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I was right.

The expats that think they are locals now Cole. Started in the late 90's.

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QOP = Terrorists
FK = Gay

I'm possibly heading to pavones in July. I've been there a bunch of times and share the sentiment that the expats are the worse. I've also camped on the south side of the river and got the stink eye and talked to. I just waved and was friendly as possible. Bring your own board. You don't want to get stuck looking at perfect surf and trying to rent a board at the same time. That's a horrible feeling. And, then to need a big-guy shortboard. Near impossible to find. See you there!

Apparently some of the expat a-holes are from CFL.

If you're driving the coastal route to Pavones from San Jose, you should be able to rent something decent along the way (Jaco or Dominical). Harder to exchange than a local rental at Pavones, but you can probably rent 2 or 3 for less than the cost of flying one board bag.

On a different note, I saw the biggest snake ever when I drove from my camp site to find a phone to call the wife. It was as thick as my arm and was across the the whole "road". It had a diamond pattern an its back. I later talked to a biologist in Carate who said it was a bush master, or, as the locals call it, Mata Buey, Ox Killer. He said that the fangs are so long they don't have to envenomate.

Earth quake today....

Edited: 06/26/2019 at 12:48 PM by tingo

I hate paying the airlines as much as anybody, and I also like to travel light, but considering the hassle of renting a board and the possibility of not finding something I like, I personally would pony up the extra cash to bring my own board. When you're tearing down a 300 yd wall you want to have the confidence of having your favorite shred sled under your feet.

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"If I say it's safe to surf this beach, captain, then it's safe to surf this beach!"

I concur! One year I had a board made specifically for my trip to CR. Gave the guy plenty of time so I could at least paddle around some if there wasn't a swell before the trip. I got it a week before I left and I got my azz handed to me by a triple overhead sneaker set my first time at Matapalo.

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Specializing in sarcasm and condescending rhetoric since 1971.

June 27th update from a obscure website, all I could find:

Following an earthquake of magnitude 6.2 in western Chiriquí Province (eastern Panama) on 26 June at 5.23 UTC, the regional hospital of David City was temporarily evacuated. In Costa Rica, across southern Puntarena Province, some left their homes, two houses were damaged and power cuts were reported. Over the next 24 hours, moderate rainfall is forecast over most of Panama and Costa Rica, while locally heavy rainfall is expected over northern Costa Rica and central-eastern Panama.

You can find boards to rent right across from the soccer field at Sea Kings Surf Shop. They rent NSP Expoxy Boards, as well as Super Fish 7S. Their boards range in size from 6'4? to 9'2? longboards. They rent 6'4?, 6'6?, 6'8?, 7'2?, 7'6?, 7'10", 8'6?, and 9'2?. Boards rent for $15/day and major credit card for deposit. However there is not a huge selection, so I tell many of my clients who want to rent a board to get one in Jaco.


As for the earthquake, near Dominical it shook my bed and lasted about 20 seconds. It was strong enough that I got up to go outside, just in case, but in the end nothing was knocked over or off the wall.

And regarding localism in the Pavones lineup, they are plenty of spots near there that don't have that vibe, but if you are sitting on the main peak - that's where the other 'alpha' surfers sit, so there will be some jockeying for position and if you miss a good one, then you may get snaked on the next one you paddle for.

If you want to avoid the negative vibes, take a guided trip down with me. I know where to go and when depending on your skill level and the board you want to ride. Just send me a message.

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http://www.crsurf.com ~ CR Surf Travel Company

http://www.vacationsbygreg.com
Instagram - @crsurf

I love Dominical. There was a restaurant there right when you get down of the "hiway", I think it was San Clemente, owned by a gringo (Spicy Mike) and his tico wife. We always started our trip in Jaco, to see our friends, Los Monges, then head out to parts unknown. We were eating at a restaurant in Jaco, and I notice that their ice cubes were not fully formed. I fixed it for them and we got free drinks the rest of the night. We went to Dominical and ate there. I noticed that his ice maker was making small cubes. So I checked it, and fabricated a part to get it going. At the end of the night we left thinking that the food would be our payment. The next day we came in for the breakfast and the wife handed me a bill from the night before. 8080 colones. I wrote on the back, "para reparando machina de hielo", she didn't like that. Years later I returned and the owner recognized my face and came to chat. He went to get me some mota and I saw his wife whisper in his ear. That was the last of that

Edited: 06/27/2019 at 02:03 PM by SlimyBritches

I bought some Spicy Mikes in the past. It was good. Probably going rent a board in jaco, you gotta drive by it on the way there and back right??? unless you take the highway of death ???

Happier than a 6 year old at Disney! Leaving tomorrow for two weeks- Pacific - Friday and Saturday have smaller surf in the chest to head range, but Sunday a new SSW swell arrives 4.1 feet at 11 seconds which brings 1-2 foot overhead sets through Tuesday. Then it drops a foot, but stays consistent as a stronger SW begins to fill in and maxes on the 9th with waves reaching double overhead (4.3 feet at 18 seconds from 218 degrees).

Edited: 06/28/2019 at 08:51 AM by tingo

I know that forecast!

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http://www.crsurf.com ~ CR Surf Travel Company

http://www.vacationsbygreg.com
Instagram - @crsurf

Go to The Back Yard and ask for "Fat Boy" Mike price. He shapes there and may have rentals. He's got a house in Krypt Rd. Tell him the guy who put his ceiling fan in suggested you find him. If he's dead, don't tell me.

That's a tee shirt from the only surf shop there back then.

Nice forecast. Perfect timing for me also!

LoL on the above post. Reads like a "In Search of Captain Zero" book.

Never made it to Pavones last week. But the surf was fairly big where I surfed. Costa Rica is still a surf destination. Go!

I didn't go either. my buddy told me about Pan Dulce, which would be perfect for the kids. he was right. Both my kids caught waves so long they were out of sight. The Matapalo side was awesome, really , really in the jungle.

The OSA is pretty incredible. I stayed in Dominical. A certain point break there was working when it got big. Didn't feel like making the drive. I did see photos/vid from last week and it looked great on the southern points.

Ironically my best surf session was at jaco beach the morning before I flew out. Early morning, the swell had dropped so Jaco was only 4 foot'ish, but oh so fun. Glassy and holding up pretty good. Plus, super easy short paddle out, unlike dominical that was hellish' paddle and drift mania.

There used to be a hotel just north of Esterios, and south of Jaco. One had to know the turn off through a field to get to it. It had a giant wall of hardened lava jutting out a hundred yards or more and lefts just pealed for too long, considering the walk back. What's the name of the left North of Jaco and South of puntarenas?

There are a few of them. Boca Barranca is the most popular, Guacalillo is big but dirty water, and some other harder to reach spots.

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http://www.crsurf.com ~ CR Surf Travel Company

http://www.vacationsbygreg.com
Instagram - @crsurf

That's the one. I was heading to Mal Pais and saw 1 guy out there, once. I thought I had time for a wave there before the ferry left. Getting out and catching the wave took a few minutes. I caught it across the cove and had a long walk back through sketchy vegetation. I miss the boat but was well worth it.

giant wall of hardened lava jutting out a hundred yards or more = Esterillos Este


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"Most people would die sooner than think; in fact, they do." - Bertrand Russell


"Morality is doing what is right, regardless of what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told, regardless of what is right.


If I do not answer you .... nothing personal, I just have you on ignore.

I talking about the north side of that wall.