Tamarindo Surf Experience: Local Expertise & Fun

Discover Tamarindo with Shaka Surf School. Expert local surfers ensure unforgettable memories and smiles. Perfect for all skill levels. Join us for an ocean adventure.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Beach Parking - Learn to surf from zero to hero! We provide rash guards, leashes, boards, and have sunscreen on hand.
    We give 2 hours of instruction, with 30 minutes on land going over positioning, safety, and tips to help you gain comfortability and confidence. We go over rules of surfing and how to stay safe in the ocean and on the board. We then…
What's Included
  • Boards
  • Rashguards
  • Leashes
  • Sunscreen
Additional Information

We are local Costa Rican surfers who love the ocean and love giving back. We want you to leave here with the biggest smile and the best stories to take back home. We love our job and we want you to feel how special Tamarindo really is! Our 20+ years of experience gives us an understanding of how to approach the different levels of skill and confidence….

Location
Beach Parking
We are located right on the beach, next to the Lifeguard Tower & Pico Bistro (restaurant). We have a large Yellow flag that says Surf Lessons. Ask for Gustavo! We can meet you anywhere in Tamarindo or Flamingo and guide you to our location.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(36 Ratings)
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Liftlaglounge
Feb 13, 2025
Recommended for athletic 6yo + - Fun and instructive! My husband did better than any of us expected him to, thanks in large part to our instructor, Johnny. Our daughters had their own instructor at the same time, which was great, but I would not recommend this activity for a 4yo. We got a little less than 2 hours of surfing instruction and opportunities, as each child wanted to go back to shore, but our time was topped off with a nice, cold smoothie.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katharina
Feb 13, 2025
Surf Lesson - I really enjoyed the Surf lesson, the instructions were very good so I stood up several times even though it was my first lesson. Highly recommend, really cool staff.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tamaratm194oc
Feb 12, 2025
Awsome - The instructors were so professionell and we did have an absolut perfect time of our first surf lesson. We all manage to stand stand up even tho it was our first time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Livss5773yk
Feb 12, 2025
best surf school! - It was perfect we all were standing on the board after just a couple tries! perfect instructions and very friendly! would highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Madison_c
Feb 3, 2025
Great value and so much fun!! - We were a group of 6 who had no prior surfing experience and all of us were doing great by the end! Gustavo was super friendly and gave us constructive tips that helped us improve quickly. 2 hours was ample time to learn the basics and get out on the water to practice. Waves were great - not too big not too small. After the lesson, we all got complimentary fresh smoothies too! Great value and you actually learn a lot! Would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to try surfing!
Review provided by Viator
Josefing380
Jan 16, 2025
Great first surflesson - Had a great private lesson with Gustavo. He was very patient and encouraging, a lot of the time was spent in the water practicing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rebecca_c
Nov 19, 2024
Good beginner’s surfing lesson - We enjoyed our surfing lesson experience. There was a little bit of practice on land and then quickly learning on the water. Gustavo was helpful with constructive feedback to help with the surfing. We even had some coconut waters at the end of the experience!
Review provided by Viator
Meghan_h
Nov 14, 2024
Absolutely Must ado - I had an absolutely great time. Having no experience prior to this, and being nearly 40, I was really surprised when I actually “got it” and stood up on my third attempt. My instructor was truly fantastic. He was encouraging, patient, kind. He made conversation while waiting for waves. I went surfing in the pouring rain - this experience actually saved me from a completely indoors day on my vacation. Highly recommend! Don’t be shy. No one is watching you wipe out!
Review provided by Viator
Cheetahliciousss
Feb 2, 2025
Not worth it. - I wouldn’t book this lesson again it felt like I wasted my money. The instructor reeked of alcohol and the lesson didn’t feel beginner friendly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Siddhesh
Nov 23, 2024
Not a good Experience. - My purpose was to learn surfing and I was assigned a person who only spoke Spanish. He only said 3 words throughout ( Paddle paddle paddle). He didn't even say what I was doing right or wrong because he didn't speak a word. He looked like he is not liking to be in waters with me and looked very unhappy. He looked like he either hate his job or was not in mood to teach me. The total session was suppose to be for 2hrs and he asked me to get out of waters in only 1.25hrs saying that time was up. Later when I checked my phone I realized my time was not up and went up to Gustavo to say that time is not up and then he said Il give a stable board to surf. I was like why the he** didn't you give me the stable board to begin with. The person teaching me found out that he have to spend more time with me and the look he had was like (oh fuc** not again) I also heard him using the spanish word "Pinche something". Its a disgrace to a business whose purpose is to teach. But the experience I had with the person was not good at all. I hope this helps to new learners willing to learn surfing. My $50 were wasted for sure.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
March 2025
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