Surf Lessons
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Jaco, Costa Rica
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
If you’ve always wanted to learn to surf, Jaco is a great place to finally do it. During the two-hour lesson you’ll learn to paddle, stand up, drop into waves, and ride. By the end of the lesson you should be ready to stand and ride your first wave. Receive personalized attention in a small-group lesson that will be tailored to your experience level.
- Hotel pick-ups from within a one-kilometer radius of Jaco are provided
- Surf boards and rash guards are included
- Relax on the provided shaded beach chairs after the lesson
- A great way to have fun while learning a new skill
What's Included
- Board rental for the day when you do a lesson with us.
- Rash guard, 2 beach chairs and umbrella.
- 2 hours surf lesson
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
- 12/27/2019 - 04/07/2027
Monday - Sunday : 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Shayenne_F
The surf lesson was amazing! The instructor has such a cool style, explains everything clearly, and makes the whole experience really enjoyable. I felt comfortable right away and learned a lot, highly recommended! 🌊🏄♂️
Reviews
4.8
based on 136 reviews
Kathy_M, Mar 2026
Staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. I feel like I can now rent a board and surf'! Would highly recommend!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Kathy, thank you for your comments. I'm glad you thought the staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and you are now able to surf. I hope you choose to do a lesson with jaco surf school again in the future.
Aharon_C, Feb 2026
Legendary guide. Full of energy. And I was able to catch waves within a few minutes. Would love to be back one day again. Mastul mastul!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Aharon, thank you for your comments. I'm glad the instructor did a good job with your lesson, and you were able to catch waves. I hope you choose to do a lesson with jaco surf school again in the future.
Jenny_B, Jan 2026
My teenage daughters, husband, and I had a fantastic time surfing with Tony and Steven. They started off teaching us the basics on land and then supported us well out in the water as we learned. We were all able to eventually stand up on the board and surf! They let us use chairs/umbrella on the beach for the rest of the day, which was a nice perk. Javier owns the company and treated us really well when we visited the beach throughout the rest of the week. Two lounges/umbrella were about $20/day while we were there (I'm assuming this changes based on the season and availability). There is a bin to leave a personal bag under their tent. We tipped in US$ and they were very appreciative. 5 Stars for Jaco Surf School!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Jenny, thank you for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the surf lesson, and Tony and Steven did a good job teaching. I'm glad you enjoyed using the chairs and umbrella while at the beach. I hope you choose to do a lesson with jaco surf school again in the future.
Elena_R, Dec 2025
Great experience! The instructor was patient, encouraging and knowledgeable, making the lesson perfect for beginners.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Elena, thank you for your comments. I'm glad the instructor was patient, encouraging, and knowledgeable, and you enjoyed the lesson. I hope you choose to do a lesson with jaco surf school again in the future.
Susan_A, Nov 2025
As a first time surfer, Javier was a great instructor and got my son surfing in no time! I highly recommend Jaco Surf School to learn how to surf.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Susan, thank you for your comments. I'm glad Javier did a good job as your son's instructor, and he enjoyed surfing. I hope you choose to do a lesson with jaco surf school again in the future.
Shayenne_F, Sep 2025
The surf lesson was amazing! The instructor has such a cool style, explains everything clearly, and makes the whole experience really enjoyable. I felt comfortable right away and learned a lot, highly recommended! 🌊🏄♂️
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Shayenne, thank you for your comments. I'm glad the instructor did a good job, and you were able to learn about surfing during the lesson. I hope you choose to do a lesson with jaco surf school again in the future.
Jermo_v, Sep 2025
We had such a good time learning how to surf. Our instructor made sure we were comfortable all around. We learned a lot of things and we were able to catch a lot of waves, even though we never surfed before.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Jermo, thank you for your comments. I'm glad you had a good time surfing and were able to catch waves. I hope you choose to do a lesson with jaco surf school again in the future.
Shay_M, Jul 2025
My sister and I had the best time! Javier got us both up on the board every single time with short, clear instructions. He was super supportive (literally behind us the whole time, lol) and made it feel like one big dance party. The whole experience was fun, positive, and full of great energy. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Shay, thank you for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the lesson and that Javier did a good job instructing you and your sister. I'm glad you were able to get up on the board several times, and you thought it was fun. I hope you choose to do a lesson with jaco surf school again in the future.
Tammy_F, Jul 2025
My 3 kids had an amazing day learning to surf! All of them were beginners and they were able to catch some waves with the help of their two surf instructors. They had a great morning surfing and had so much fun! I would highly recommend and you will not be disappointed! Pura Vita 🇨🇷!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Tommy, thank you for your comments. I'm glad your kids enjoyed the lesson and were able to surf some waves. I hope you choose to do a lesson with jaco surf school again in the future.
Joanna_T, May 2025
We started with some instruction on the beach at the surf school and then found an area where the waves were best for a beginner. After a few tries, I was able to stand up and ride a few small waves which felt amazing! My instructor, Javier, was so friendly and helpful. He was in the water with me the whole time so I felt really safe. Great first surf experience!
Response from Host, May 2025
Joanna, thank you for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the lesson and that Javier was friendly and helped you get up on some waves. We hope you choose to do a lesson with jaco surf school again in the future.
TJ_S, May 2025
Great instructor my whole family was riding in minutes entering the water would highly recommend ages 49 47 17 and 10
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you for your comments. I'm glad the instructor did a good job. I hope you choose to do a lesson with jaco surf school again in the future.
Cherie_I, Jan 2025
This was a great experience all around! Small groups and very helpful trainers! They were very patient and gave helpful feedback with each of our attempts. Good value for the price.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the lesson. I'm glad you thought the instructors did a good job and were patient in helping you learn how to surf. I hope you choose to do a lesson with jaco surf school in the future.
Cari_L, Jul 2024
My family and I loved this experience. Our teachers were patient, knowledgeable and just awesome, caring guys. You could tell they loved surfing, the ocean and Costa Rica in general. Beyond surfing, they were inspiring!
My husband has surfed before, and he said that he is so much better after a lesson with Jaco Surf school. All 4 of us were able to get up and ride multiple waves. Thank you Jaco surf school! Pura Vida!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Cari, thank you for your comments. I'm glad the instructors did a good job and that you enjoyed the lesson. I hope you choose to do a surf lesson with jaco surf school in the future.
Chelsea_T, Jun 2024
We had a great time. The instructors were very patient and we were all able to get up on the board and surf at least once, including my 6 year old.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the lesson and the instructors did a good job. I hope you choose to take a surf lesson with Jaco Surf School in the future.
Ryan_A, Mar 2024
Fabricio was a fantastic teacher. Gave great advice and I was up and riding in no time. Definetly a memorable experience.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Ryan, thank you for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the lesson, and the instructor did a good job. I hope you choose to take a surf lesson with Jaco Surf School in the future.
Robyn_S, Feb 2024
Francisco was very patient and encouraging! I felt safe and confident with his instruction, as a first time surfer. This was SO FUN!!
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thank you for your comments. I'm glad you thought the instructor did well teaching and helping you feel safe in the water. I'm glad you had fun and hope you choose to surf with Jaco Surf School in the future.
Britney_C, Jan 2024
My sister and I had such a fun time learning to surf! Our instructor was super informative and made us feel right at home. Highly recommend :)
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Britney, Thank you for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the lesson and the instructor did a good job. We hope you choose to do a surf lesson with Jaco Surf School in the future.
Elaine_A, Dec 2023
Our teacher was awesome, I felt at ease and he got us lined up on the board in the waves with simple instruction and we got up every time until we were exhausted. Highly recommend you try surfing. They make it easy for you! And if you're lucky he may even climb a coconut tree abd get you some coconuts for drinking!
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Thank you for your comments. I'm glad that you enjoyed the lesson and the instructor, and you were able to stand up on the board.
Kenyondra_C, Nov 2023
The surf guide was very patient and knowledgeable with it being our first time. Although we did not catch the waves at first, they were very encouraging and helpful until we finally were able to stand up on board and surf like a pro. I would use their services again...Pura Vida !
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Kenyondra, thank you for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the lesson and thought the instructor did a good job. We hope you choose to take a surf lesson with Jaco Surf School in the future.
Tuan_P, Oct 2023
The lesson was amazing. With the help of great instructor, I was be able to stand on the board after 15 minutes of inland training. After that, riding the first wave of my life was something words can’t express. You gotta try and feel it yourself.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Tuan, thank you for your comments. I'm glad you thought the instructor did a good job, and you enjoyed the lesson. I hope you choose to take a surf lesson with Jaco Surf School the next time you visit Jaco, Costa Rica.
Rochelle_K, Sep 2023
Francisco was a patient and excellent instructor! I would recommend to wear a one-piece swim suit for comfort.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Rochelle, thank you for your comments. We're glad you thought the instructor did a good job and although we do provide rash guard shirts, that is good advice about the swimsuit. We hope you choose to do a surf lesson with us in the future.
Summer_M, Aug 2023
My kids had a fantastic time learning to surf with guys at Jaco Surf School! They went through all the steps, and assisted them in the water the entire time. They were all so encouraging through the whole experience.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Summer, thank you for your comments. We're glad your children had a good experience in the surf lesson and the instructors did a good job helping throughout the entire lesson. We hope you choose to take a surf lesson with Jaco Surf School again in the future.
Dustin_M, Jul 2023
They tried their best given the rainy weather and were concerned about overall safety which I appreciated
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Dustin, thank you for your comments. We are glad you enjoyed your lesson and that you thought the instructor was taking care of your safety in order to have a good experience surfing. We hope you reserve a surf lesson with us again on a future visit to Jaco.
pauline_s, Jan 2023
Javier was an amazing instructor. Knowledge, skilled, patient and friendly! It was my time surfing and I was a lot more successful than expected. Thank you!! I would definitely recommend.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Dear Pauline_s,
Thank you for giving us the chance to teach you with the love and experience we have to offer. We welcome you back anytime.
In the meantime feel free to follow us on Instagram at Jaco Surf School.
Pascal_E, Jul 2022
I had the best time. They took care of we and were able to accommodate to my time. Farlen in particular is a great teacher. He had great energy and was very professional making sure I learned and felt safe.I had no prior experience to surfing and by the end of the lesson i was confident and catching the waves.
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Dear Pascal_E, Thank you for taking the time to write us this review and for giving us the opportunity to share our passion. As you could see, it shows in our work.
We look forward to the opportunity to serve you in the future and we welcome you to follow us on instagram at jacosurfschool
Karen_D, Apr 2022
We booked this online prior to our travel. I wish we would have waited until we were there to book a surf lesson. There were several "surf schools" right on the beach you could walk up to and book a lesson. I will say that the guys who were working with us were all nice and everyone in our family was able to stand up and surf. However, the boards were so busted and water logged. If you've never surfed before you might not know better but having surfed quite a bit in the past these were literally the worst boards I have ever seen. Find a surf school without busted up boards!
Response from Host, Apr 2022
Dear Karen,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
At Jaco you can find many school, however most come and go and very few are customer centric and have little emphasis on safety. At Jaco Surf School we are part of the international surfing association for lifeguard and teaching surfing. Also we have been in business since 1989 and we take pride in our teaching methodology, water safety and the image our school portraits, so our equipment is very important to us. The equipment does get used frequently as they are surfboards used to teach, so at times they may get dinged but we fix them right away to prevent further damage to the equipment.
Evelyn_V, Apr 2022
Super nice staff and overall wonderful lesson! Great for beginners. :)
Lesson did start a couple hours later than planned, (surf conditions wasn’t there which was unfortunate but had a nice time waiting it out on the beach). Would recommend having a bit more flexible timing on the day you book just in case.
Response from Host, Apr 2022
Dear Evelyn, thank you for allowing us to be part of your experience and for putting your trust in us. We welcome you to follow us on IG st JacoSurfSchool
Philip_S, Jan 2022
Excellent instructors! Great time! We highly recommend this adventure while you’re visiting Jaco! Pura Vida!
Response from Host, Jan 2022
Dear Philip,
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to improve your surfing and for writing this review.
We love surfing and it shows in our work.
We welcome the opportunity to have you follow us on Instagram at JacoSurfSchool.
Until next time, pura vida..
None, Jan 2022
Great instructor! Right on the beach and includes lounge chairs and beach umbrella for the day. Pura Vida
Response from Host, Jan 2022
Dear customer,
Thank you for sharing your great experience with us. We are truly fortunate to have you as valuable customer.
We welcome the opportunity to follow our Instagram at JacoSurfSchool
See you soon and pura vida.
Pierre_H, Nov 2021
Good introduction, great help out in the water, lots of fun. I have always wanted to try surfing and I so happy I did and managed to stand up the first time and almost every time and stay on and catch tiny waves. I am almost 50 and not a small person so if I can, you can! It's worth it for the experience. My 11 year old was of course a master straight away and jumped up and surfed every way perfectly. Our instructor was helpful and patient with us.
Response from Host, Dec 2021
Dear Pierre_H,
Thank you for taking the time to review us and for allowing us the opportunity to be part of your experience in Costa Rica.
We love what we do and our passion shows in our work. Feel free to support us on Instagram at Jaco Surf School.
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per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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