Avellana surf guide

Avellanas is a surf spot located about 30 minutes south of Langosta. It's known for its range of breaks, with a combination of rocky reef breaks, beach breaks, and a rivermouth. The beach stretches for about 2 kilometers and can often deliver waves that are even better than what you’ll find at Langosta. Since Avellanas typically picks up more swell than Tamarindo, it’s worth checking out when Tamarindo is looking flat. The vibe here is a mix of expats and tourists, although there are a few locals around as well. Just keep in mind, it's not the most beginner-friendly spot.

The surf at Avellanas is pretty diverse. There are six named breaks, starting with Little Hawaii at the northern point, which does well with bigger SW swells and tends to have smaller crowds. El Estero is the rivermouth break that often gets bigger and peaks right at a notable rock. Then you've got El Palo and the Right, which are classic beach breaks, better at mid to high tide and work well with both SW and NW swells. The Left, located right in front of the parking lot, can get tricky as it zooms over some unfriendly lava. For more experienced surfers, there’s an outside bommie peak that can provide challenging waves. The swell here can handle sizes from about 4ft (1.2m) to 10ft (3m) and the preferable wind direction is from the east. The waves can break both left and right over a combination of uneven reef and sand.

Access to the beach is through one unguarded parking lot that fits about 50 vehicles, plus extra parking along the dirt road. There are wooden walkways through the mangroves leading down to the beach from Cabinas Las Olas. The crowds can be manageable since the variety of peak options helps to spread things out, making it feel less crowded. Although the locals can be a bit unfriendly at times, overall, the environment is relatively clean and there’s a decent surf scene here with options for different skill levels, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfers.