Private Surf Lesson in Tamarindo
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Tamarindo, Costa Rica
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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OverviewAuto-translated
What's Included
- Surf board.
- Leash.
- Rashguard.
- Bottled waterThe customer can choose between bottled water, coconut water or a smoothie.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 8536+94J, Guanacaste Province, Tamarindo, Costa Rica
The meeting point is in the parking lot of "El Flaco".
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Lori_L
Took my 5 year old grandson for a surfing lesson. It was amazing. So kind and patient with an apprehensive little guy. He did great, got up on his first try. Was a great area to learn. I’d highly recommend.
Reviews
5.0
based on 47 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Jennifer_A, Aug 2026
This was our favorite outing while in Costa Rica! 6 of us, Sergio was our lead instructor and he was awesome! All of us were able to surf by the end of the lesson! 🏄♂️ Definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We're honored to hear this was your favorite activity in Costa Rica. It was a pleasure teaching your group, and we're thrilled that everyone was riding waves by the end of the lesson. We'll make sure Sergio hears your kind words. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again in Tamarindo. Pura Vida!
Haley_D, Jul 2026
We booked last minute through Viator because on a whim my kids decided they wanted to surf. They had a blast and did so good! Sergio was awesome and had the kids up and riding the waves immediately. My kids were between 11 and 17 years old.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for choosing us and for your wonderful review! We're so happy your kids decided to give surfing a try and had such a great time. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Sergio—he'll be thrilled to hear them. We hope to welcome your family back for another fun surf session in Tamarindo. Pura Vida!
Christine_A, Jul 2026
We found Liam and his team to be competent surf instructors who prioritized safety and the students' learning progress. We—a group of four adults and two children (aged 6 and 9)—can highly recommend Liam and his team. They catered wonderfully to everyone's needs. We are taking home a positive surfing experience—thank you very much!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words and recommendation! It was a pleasure teaching your family, and we're thrilled to hear that everyone had a safe, fun, and positive surfing experience. Our goal is always to provide personalized instruction for every student, so we're happy to know you felt well taken care of. We hope to see you all again for more waves in Tamarindo. Pura Vida!
jpreciado001, Jul 2026
Our guy never showed up.
So Juan Carlos from La Muda surf school took over and he was AMAZING. Was our first time and he was very patient with us and we appreciated that. We were very successful on surfing many waves thanks to him. Pura Vida!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're really happy to hear you had such a great first surfing experience and caught so many waves. We always do our best to make sure our guests are taken care of, and we're glad everything worked out. We hope to see you again in Tamarindo. Pura Vida!
Nicole_S, Jul 2026
We had a great experience with a private lesson for just the two of us. Aaron was a great teacher and had 2 first time surfers up on the board within the first few tries. He was kind, patient, encouraging, and fun. We had so much fun and were exhausted by the end. The smoothies at the end were very refreshing and a great way to cap off the lesson.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're so happy you both had such a great first surfing experience. Aaron will be thrilled to hear your kind words. We're glad you enjoyed the lesson, caught your first waves, and finished it off with a refreshing smoothie. We hope to welcome you back to Surf Safe next time you're in Tamarindo. Pura Vida!
Channel_C, May 2026
Eric was the best surf instructor. He made sure to explain everything to me perfectly and was very encouraging. They even went above and beyond. I forgot my shoes with them and I was leaving the area super early the next day. They had already went home, but made sure to come back and give me the shoes that they kept safe
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so happy to hear you had a great experience with Eric and that his instruction helped you feel confident in the water. We're also glad we could help reunite you with your shoes! Thanks for surfing with us, and we hope to see you again soon.
NgocDongNhi_V, May 2026
The course was very good. We both stood on the board at the end of the course. Leon and Sergio did a fantastic job! Definitely recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your kind review! We're thrilled to hear you both got up on the board and had a great experience. Leon and Sergio will be happy to hear your feedback. Thanks for the recommendation, and we hope to see you back in the waves soon!
Jacinda_E, May 2026
It was fun and our second lesson this week. Our instructor Liam was very nice, but a little quiet and we wish we would’ve gotten more tips and information about surfing in general.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review and for coming back for a second lesson! We're glad you had fun and enjoyed your time with Liam. We also appreciate your feedback and will keep working to provide even more tips and surfing knowledge during our lessons. Hope to see you in the water again soon!
Joel_S, May 2026
We had an incredible experience surfing with Sergio in Tamarindo! My wife had never surfed before, and by the end of the lesson she was catching wave after wave and having an absolute blast. Sergio was patient, encouraging, and made everything easy to understand, which gave her so much confidence in the water.
I’ve surfed before myself, and I was honestly impressed with how much I still learned from him. He gave great tips on positioning, timing, and technique that immediately improved my surfing. Beyond being a fantastic instructor, Sergio made the whole experience fun, relaxed, and memorable.
If you’re in Tamarindo and thinking about taking a surf lesson, whether you’re a complete beginner or already experienced, Sergio is the guy to go with. Easily a 5-star experience and one of the highlights of our trip to Tamarindo!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing review!
It was truly a pleasure surfing with you both. Seeing your wife catching waves and enjoying the ocean with confidence made the session really special, and I’m very happy you also found the coaching helpful for improving your own surfing.
I always try to make every lesson fun, relaxed, and focused on helping each surfer progress at their own pace, so your words mean a lot.
Thank you again for choosing to surf with us in Tamarindo — hope to see you back in the water on your next visit!
Dilan_V, Apr 2026
We came into this surf lesson with zero experience and very little confidence. By the end, every single person in our group was catching waves with the help of Sergio! He was so kind and a master motivator!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words! It was awesome having your group out there with us. We’re so happy everyone was able to catch waves and enjoy the experience, especially on their first time surfing.
Sergio always brings the best energy and motivation to the lessons, so he’ll be stoked to hear this. Hope to surf with you all again someday in Tamarindo 🤙
Katie_W, Apr 2026
I was nervous about learning to surf for the first time, and booked a private lesson with Liam. As soon as I met him and his colleagues I knew I'd enjoy myself. They were so kind, easy going and supportive!
Maybe it was a fantastic instructor (Liam!), or maybe I'm a natural (haha), but my anxiety disappeared and I had so much fun!! Liam made me feel completely at ease. Now I'm sold on surfing and want to do it again and again.
Probably equal to my experience learning, was the smoothie and conversation with Liam and his friends at the end of the lesson. So many laughs and the best of vibes. These guys are great and I cannot recommend them enough.
Next time I'm in Tamarindo, I know who I'll be contacting 😊
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for the amazing review! It was a pleasure being part of your first surfing experience, and we’re so happy you felt comfortable and had such a fun time in the water.
You did great out there — maybe you really are a natural 😄
For us, surfing is all about good waves, good vibes, and great people, so it means a lot to hear that you enjoyed the whole experience. We’ll be waiting for you next time you’re back in Tamarindo 🤙
Amanda_S, Apr 2026
My son has never tried surfing, and after this trip, he does in fact want to try again. With that being said, I thought I was paying for a private lesson but another couple joined the excursioin.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your feedback. We’re happy to hear your son enjoyed his first surfing experience.
We would like to clarify that this is indeed a private lesson, as advertised. We apologize for any confusion that may have occurred on the day, and we will review this with our team to ensure the experience consistently matches our standards.
We appreciate your comments and hope to welcome you again soon.
Madison_S, Mar 2026
Very fun, great teachers! We all really enjoyed ourselves in the water and got plenty of chances to catch waves.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your review! 🌊
We’re really happy to hear you had such a fun time in the water and got plenty of chances to catch waves — that’s exactly what we aim for! Our instructors will be stoked to know you enjoyed the experience.
Hope to see you back out there with us again soon! 🤙
Victoria, Mar 2026
Everything about this activity was awesome. My surf instructor Gal was very professional and well spoken. He knew exactly when the wave would break in order for me to enjoy the best waves for a beginner. I then enjoyed a smoothie under the shade with the owners Sergio and Liam who were extremely kind. This booking was quite the vibe and I recommend to anyone who wants to try surfing in Tamarindo ! 🤙🏼
- Victoria
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing review! 🌊
We’re thrilled to hear that you had such an awesome experience with Gal. He’ll be stoked to know his timing and coaching helped you catch the best waves as a beginner — that’s what we love to hear! 🤙
It was also a pleasure having you hang out with us after the session. Sharing a smoothie and good vibes in the shade is always part of the experience!
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you back in Tamarindo for another surf session soon!
Giuliana_O, Mar 2026
Our instructors were really nice and friendly! I had so much fun and learned a lot! would definitely recommend and return for another lesson!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review! 🌊
We’re really happy to hear you had so much fun and learned a lot during your lesson. Our instructors love creating a friendly and supportive environment, so it means a lot to hear that reflected in your experience.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and would love to have you back for another session anytime! 🤙
William_W, Mar 2026
We were all brand new to surfing, ranging in age from 6 - 50, and Junior and Liam did an amazing job. They were patient, encouraging, and made the experience fun for everyone. All six of us had a great time and will likely book with them again. Such a fantastic experience. I highly recommend surfing with them! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your amazing review! 🌊
It was such a pleasure having your group with us. We love introducing people of all ages to surfing, and it makes us so happy to hear that everyone — from 6 to 50 — had a great time! Junior and Liam will be thrilled to know their patience and encouragement made the experience special for you all.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and can’t wait to surf with you again soon! 🤙
Daniel_T, Feb 2026
The surfing lessons were great! Sergio took the time to teach us the basics and made sure we felt comfortable with the techniques. We then spent lots of time in the water practicing and catching waves, where Sergio was pushing our boards to help us catch the best waves! Capped off the experience taking a couple of photos to commemorate the experience. Thank you Sergio!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! 🌊
We’re so happy to hear you had a great time during your lesson. Sergio is truly passionate about teaching, and he’ll be stoked to know you appreciated the time he took to explain the basics and help you feel comfortable in the water. Pushing you into those waves is all part of the fun! 🤙
We love finishing the experience with a few photos to capture the memories — so glad you enjoyed that too.
Hope to see you back in the water with us again soon!
CindyUldrich, Feb 2026
Sergio was amazing- I took a lesson a few years ago and could not stand up but Sergio was so patient and I was able to stand and surf as did the two others in our group. We had so much fun and we are all in our 60’s and all of us got up on our feet- Sergio gave great instructions and continued to coach us through until we stood up - thank you
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 🌊
We’re so happy to hear that you had such a great experience with Sergio. His patience and dedication to helping everyone succeed in the water is something we’re really proud of. It’s amazing to hear that all of you were able to stand up and enjoy surfing — especially after your previous experience. That makes it even more special!
Surfing has no age limit, and it’s awesome that all of you in your 60s got up on your feet and had so much fun. Sergio will be thrilled to hear your kind words.
We hope to see you back in the water with us again soon! 🤙
David_B, Feb 2026
Junior was my instructor and was amazing! I was able to stand up on the second try with no previous experience thanks to him. Such a great experience.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your fantastic review!
We’re thrilled to hear you were standing up on your second try — that’s amazing! Junior will be very happy to know he made your first surf experience such a great one.
Hope to see you again soon for more waves! 🌊🤙
Nisreen_S, Feb 2026
So great! I was a little nervous as it was my first time surfing. Turns out, there was nothing to be nervous about, it was awesome. Junior is a great teacher and very friendly. I managed to stand up many times. Absolutely recommended. I wasn't totally sure where the meeting point was, so some help there: follow the coordinates, walk onto the beach and there's a flag that says "surf school", the guys are under a pop up tent. Someone will watch your stuff while you're in the water.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your great review!
We’re really happy your first surf experience was such a positive one and that Junior helped you feel confident in the water. We’ll pass your kind words on to him!
Hope to see you again soon for more waves!
Alea_S, Feb 2026
It was great! The instructor was very kind and helpful. Such a fun experience, definitely recommend :)
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for your lovely review!
We’re really happy to hear that you had such a great time and that you felt supported by your instructor. Creating a fun, safe and welcoming environment is very important to us, so it means a lot to know you enjoyed the experience.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon for another surf session in Viator! 🌊🤙
Helen_B, Jan 2026
A fantastic experience! You start with a lesson on the beach, but then quickly get in the water. Josh knew the waves and when to best have us try and surf. My friends and I were both able to get up over 15 times during our lesson. Best thing we did in Tamarindo!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the balance between beach instruction and time in the water. Josh’s wave knowledge and timing really help make the difference, and we’re stoked that you all got up over 15 times.
So glad it was the highlight of your time in Tamarindo — hope to surf with you again soon! 🌊🤙
Brian_t, Jan 2026
Great day surfing with Josh and Lorenzo. Friendly, patient, safe instructors. Got my 53 yo beginner up and riding almost immediately. These young guys are really excited about their new business and provide a great value. Give them your business and a nice tip if you enjoy your lesson! Gracias amigos! FYI Meet up location off the man parking lot in a blue pop up tent.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re happy to hear Josh and Lorenzo made the lesson fun, safe, and effective—especially getting a first-time surfer up and riding so quickly. We truly appreciate your support of our local team and the recommendation.
¡Gracias amigos! Hope to surf with you again soon 🌊🤙
Jaclynn_H, Jan 2026
This was my boyfriend and I’s first time ever surfing. Josh was a great instructor and we were standing up after just a few attempts! We got the hang of it pretty quickly and he taught us to paddle and time waves on our own instead of just pushing us with the wave to get a true experience. They even took pictures of us on our phone and had a friend take professional pictures with a camera. 11/10 and this place is a must if you’re looking to catch some waves!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re stoked that you and your boyfriend had such a great first surf lesson and were standing up so quickly. Josh always focuses on teaching real technique so you can truly surf on your own, not just be pushed into waves.
We’re glad you also got some great photos to remember the moment. Thanks for the 11/10 recommendation, and we hope to surf with you again soon! 🌊🤙
Lori_L, Jan 2026
Took my 5 year old grandson for a surfing lesson. It was amazing. So kind and patient with an apprehensive little guy. He did great, got up on his first try. Was a great area to learn. I’d highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for your review! We’re delighted to hear your grandson had such a positive first surfing experience. Making kids feel safe, confident, and comfortable is very important to us, and we’re glad he got up on his first try.
We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome your family back to the waves soon! 🌊🤙
Logan_C, Jan 2026
We had so much fun at our surf lesson! We followed the directions to the coordinates listed & the instructors grabbed surf boards out of the back of their truck & started our lesson! They were young, fun tamarindo locals & we enjoyed chatting with them & shared lots of laughs :) We started on the sand with some basics, then hit the water! They had someone to watch our belongings which provided an extra sense of security. By the end of the lesson, all 3 of us who had never surfed before had caught 10+ waves! Instructors were supportive, patient, encouraging, & so much fun. Could not recommend this experience more! We will remember our first surf forever! There was also a photographer (not affiliated) that captured some pictures of us on the beach!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for this amazing and detailed review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fun and memorable first surf experience with our local Tamarindo instructors. Starting on the sand, feeling safe with someone watching your belongings, and catching 10+ waves on your first day is exactly what we aim for.
We’re especially happy to know the laughs, encouragement, and good vibes made it unforgettable. Thank you for the strong recommendation — we’ll be stoked to surf with you again anytime! 🌊🤙
Camarin_N, Jan 2026
Joshua is the best surfing coach. Kind, patient, and a lot of fun to learn from! Would highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your review! We’re happy to hear you had such a great time learning with Joshua. His patience, kindness, and fun approach make every lesson enjoyable.
We really appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you back in the waves soon! 🌊🤙
Gabrielle_T, Jan 2026
Joshua is super nice, the drinks tasted great, he’s very funny and helpful, 10/10 would recommend. -Gabby
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for your review, Gabby! We’re happy to hear you had such a great experience with Joshua. His friendly attitude and positive energy always make the experience even better.
We truly appreciate the 10/10 recommendation and hope to see you again soon! 🌊🤙
Christine_F, Dec 2025
We had the best time with Joshua! He was so fun to be with and we both learned how to get up on the board! Joshua was patient and so nice with us.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your review! We’re so happy to hear you had the best time with Joshua. His patience, positive energy, and clear instruction help make learning to surf fun and rewarding.
Hope to see you back in the water soon! 🌊🤙
Lindsey_S, Dec 2025
What a fun beginning surf experience with Joshua! Using the coordinates is helpful to find the location. It’s a tent on the beach and not a physical store. We spent a few minutes on the beach learning basics where he was very patient. We then spent an hour and a half in the water which was all I could take! Would definitely recommend booking with them!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your review! We’re glad you had such a fun first surf experience with Joshua. We appreciate you mentioning the location details, and we’re happy to hear his patience and instruction made the lesson enjoyable both on the beach and in the water.
Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to see you back surfing with us soon! 🌊🤙
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