During February and March, the waves are traditionally quite small in Costa Rica. It’s our summertime, so we don’t experience a lot of rain, but we do experience a lot of tourism and visitors. This is a great time for us locals to find an excuse for a road trip. And we almost always take the trip down to Matapalo on the Osa Peninsula.
The pristine rainforests and the rugged natural beauty of the Osa Peninsula makes this region among the most beautiful areas in Costa Rica. Matapalo hosts some unbelievable waves when there is swell. When you see a spike in size, this is the time to hop in the car and head South.
You have three breaks to surf in Matapalo:
Pan Dulce AKA “Sweet Bread” is the third break at the tip of the Osa Peninsula. It really needs a big south swell to break, but when it does, the rights go on for up to 300+ meters. This wave breaks best just before or after low tide.
Backwash is a right-handed reef break situated in the middle of Backwash Bay. It requires head high or bigger waves for it to work well, and is very popular for long boarding.
Matapalo is the most advanced wave by far. It has an incredibly steep right hand break. It is the farthest out of the three breaks and has a tricky entrance and exit, but once you are out in the line-up you will know why you paddled out.
For us regulars Matapalo is the bomb! We get consistent rights and Pan Dulce is too much fun for all levels.
So get on the road and explore this country, Matapalo is the pearl!
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