Pavones
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Point breakAdvanced
One of the world's longest left-hand point breaks, on a good swell, Pavones in the Osa Peninsula can produce rides of over 1km along a jungle-fringed rocky point on Costa Rica's remote southern Pacific coast.
Typical Conditions
The Surf Window
Swell Window
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)
Wind
Offshore winds
Tide
Varies
LowMidHigh
Season
Varies
The Wave
Type
Left
Bottom
Rock and sand
Shape
Long, peeling left, multiple sections linking to produce marathon rides on quality south swells
Length
200m to 1km+
Skill Level
- •Who it's for: Advanced
- •Why: The wave is powerful on bigger swells, the rocky point requires careful navigation, and the remoteness means self-sufficiency.
Hazards
- •Rocky point entry and exit, ankle and foot injuries common
- •Crocodiles in the Río Claro river mouth (do not enter the river)
- •Very remote, nearest hospital is hours away
- •Localism in the small expat surf community
Local Tips
- •Pavones is 6+ hours from San José, fly to Golfito or take the ferry across the Golfo Dulce.
- •The surrounding Osa Peninsula has the highest biodiversity on Earth, combine the surf trip with wildlife watching in Corcovado National Park.
Location
8.4244, -83.1497