Surf: General: Often referred to as the most consistent beachbreak in Costa Rica, Playa Hermosa is indeed a classic setup: four miles of scalloped black sand, fairly deep water offshore, and open exposure to just about any swell except NW, though it shows its true face on a solid S - shifting A-frames and a strong side current, so you can generally find an uncrowded peak somewhere on its stretch. The north end has the best sandbanks, and tends to break best on a higher tide and S swell. As you head south toward Tulin, there's a very popular sandbar right at the big tree. It's more open to W swells, and it tends to break better on lower tides. Playa Hermosa at size is a heavy beachbreak -- though it does have an annoying tendency to close out once it's bigger than double-overhead. But snapped boards, long hold-downs, and hell paddles are a small price to pay to see the jungled coastline from within a green, spinning tube. Tides: Mid-high Size: Head high to a few feet overhead Wind: NE Swell: South, South-West, South-Southwest Bottom: Sand Paddling: When it's firing, you can get throttled especially around low tide. Spot Rating: When things align it can get epic. Access: Easy: a two-hour drive from the airport and you're right there. Park at one of the many restaurants, bars or hotels. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Very crowded at the best peaks. Lots of options though. Local Vibe: Sometimes intense. Don't underestimate the local talent. Environment: Water surprisingly clean being near such a populated area. Hazards: Shallow bottom. Season: Rainy season May-Oct