Photo: Hiram Montiel Calder… · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Playa Avellanas
Several kilometres of peaks 15 km south of Tamarindo, spread out enough that the crowd never concentrates. Beach break over sand for most of its length, with a rock platform mid-beach and a serious right reef at the north end nicknamed Little Hawaii. One beach that holds a first lesson and a double-overhead reef day, which is why so many camps sit behind it.
Surf outlook
We don't have a forecast outlook for Playa Avellanas yet. The seasonal guidance below is based on long-run averages, not on this week.
Live conditions
We don't have a current forecast for Playa Avellanas. The seasonal guidance below is based on long-run averages, not on today.
Surf Snapshot
Estimated seasonal guidance — not a live forecast.
When to surf Playa Avellanas, month by month
Estimated from our authored seasonality — not a live forecast.
Peak season: May, Jun, July, Aug, Sept, Oct (All-time).
| Month | Surf consistency | Wetsuit |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | Moderate | Boardshorts |
| Feb | Moderate | Boardshorts |
| Mar | Moderate | Boardshorts |
| Apr | High | Boardshorts |
| Maypeak | All-time | Boardshorts |
| Junpeak | All-time | Boardshorts |
| Julypeak | All-time | Boardshorts |
| Augpeak | All-time | Boardshorts |
| Septpeak | All-time | Boardshorts |
| Octpeak | All-time | Boardshorts |
| Nov | High | Boardshorts |
| Dec | Moderate | Boardshorts |
Does this wave fit your level?
Rated for Levels 2-6 · Best at Level 4.
Take the 2-minute quiz to see if Playa Avellanas fits you today.
Find my Level →Beginner notes
Learn on the sand peaks in the middle and south of the beach, not the rock platform in front of the main parking area and not Little Hawaii at the north end, which is an experts-only reef with underwater hazards. Dec-Apr is the smaller, cleaner window for a first trip; Apr-Nov brings the size.
Hazards
- rock platform in front of the main access
- reef at the north end (Little Hawaii)
- rip currents on bigger swell
- river mouth at the north end
Camps near Playa Avellanas
Nearby spots
The closest graded spots to Playa Avellanas, straight-line distance.
- Tamarindo~9 km · Levels 1-5
- Playa Grande~13 km · Levels 4-6
- Nosara (Playa Guiones)~33 km · Levels 3-6
- Santa Teresa~96 km · Levels 4-6
- Playa Remanso~112 km · Levels 1-4
Best months to surf here
In-season months for Costa Rica, from our editors’ season calendar.