The Pacific coast of Costa Rica is rapidly becoming one of the nicest places on the backpack merry-go-round. Its a surfers paradise in Central Americas most laid-back holiday spot. Areas such as the Nicoya peninsula and Dominical further to the south are the real hotspots where the beaches are prestine and trees and rocks tumble down the to meet the fine, white sand.

Costa Rica has a reputation for its magnificent flora and fauna and theres nothing to be let down about on that score here. Pelicans and frigate birds wheel overhead as the booming calls of howler monkeys resound from the nearby rainforests. For those not satisfied by the ocean alone there are also numerous hikes in the region and due to Costa Ricas relatively small size you are never far away from the eco-tourism centres further inland.

Sticking out like a spare limb into the temperate waters of the Pacific, Nicoya has a myriad of unspoiled beaches where the breakers roll in consistently offering great surfing for all levels of ability whether youre a pale rookie paddling out for the first time or a sun-gnarled veteran. It is this variety that makes the area perfect for one of the worlds fastest growing sports and the region has had a fantastic reputation in the worldwide surfing community. costa rica beachfront residences A few years ago villages such as Santa Teresa were no more than a few fishing huts clustered together but with the boom of tourism in the area numerous services are now provided by locals offering the dusty streets a ramshackle charm a perfect setting for the laid-back surfers and the ever-growing community of young visitors. For those just wishing to hang out then there a numerous beach restaurants and beer shacks where laid back tunes and chilled cerveza set the tone for the after hours entertainment.

Further to the South lies Dominical, probably Costa Ricas most famous surfing grounds. costa rica real estate Its slightly less isolated than the Nicoya region offering easy access to the surrounding national parks and also the nation capital, costa rica beachfront real estate San Jose. The area is famed for its surf camps where surfing, accommodation food and activities are all included in the package and is a great way for beginners to get into the sport and even for experienced surfers who get the chance for tips from local instructors. The region has begun to develobut by no means to the extent that we are used to in big European resorts, eco-lodges are the typical accommodation here and the focus is on preserving an area of immense natural beauty. Whether surfing Dominical famous breaks or just chilling on the beach you ll find the area is as close to paradise as you