Private or group surf lessons, surf clinics, and body surfing lessons to awaken your inner surfer while learning about the environment, engaging with the community, and having lots of fun!
What Guests Have To Say
Myself and my husband travelled from Canada with surfing on our list of things to do. Travis was an amazing teacher with so much knowledge of the ocean. We were taught so many things and by the end of our trip were able to rent boards and successfully catch some waves on our own. He was so easy to work with and an all around great guy! We will be back in 2024 with our daughter to take the five day clinic for sure!!
April
Amazing experience with Bodhi! We can't recommend them enough. The instructors are so kind and knowledgeable...and we always feel taken care of when we are with them. This is our 4th time (maybe more? I am losing track now) with Bodhi. Each time we go to Costa Rica we prioritize scheduling family surf lessons. Spencer, Travis, and Adrianne (along with all of the other instructors) always make our experiences so enjoyable. After learning with Bodhi, my husband (in his 40's) feels confident enough to go out on his own and catch the green waves.
Hayley K.
The teaching methodology they use walks you through reading the conditions, assessing any hazards and, hopefully, starting you on the road to being a surfer, not just a tourist on a surfboard. Spencer was totally awesome! He could watch us as we tried, see where we were perhaps struggling, and had a way of offering advice that truly helped. I was stoked to actually stand up and “surf”, but was even more excited about what I learned about the ocean and how to play in it safely!
Robert L.
Sooo great! There is much care and attention to self empowerment, surf and environmental education and the connection between them, and an authentic spirit that genuinely wants you to learn something new about yourself while having an amazing time and catching rides.
Ashley D.
Surfing Lessons
Learn to Surf at Uvita, Osa, Costa Rica
Group Surf Lessons
$65.00 + 13% VAT per person
Group lessons are great for families, groups of friends, and couples who only have a few hours to dedicate to surfing during their vacation. Our group surf lessons are two hours long, and have a 5:1 student to instructor ratio. We focus on teaching our students to surf safely in a beautiful natural classroom. Even for those who are traveling alone, group surf lessons can provide a great opportunity to meet other travelers/future surfistas - please note that we require a minimum of two people for a group lesson.
GROUP SURF LESSONS
The surf lesson takes place at Playa Chaman in the Marino Ballena National Park, and begins with a beach portion where your instructor talks a bit about the national park, goes over basic ocean and surfing safety, explains what makes the beach at the Marino Ballena National Park a good place to learn, and goes over the parts of a surfboard. Next, your instructor will explain and demonstrate techniques for how to carry a surfboard properly and safely. Following that, they will explain and demonstrate the surfboard management and control drill which you will then put into practice by catching white-water waves on your stomach.
After riding some waves and gaining a feel for how to control the surfboard, you’ll head to shore for a drink of freshwater and a 5-minute break. Once the group is ready your instructor will explain the “pop-up” technique for standing on your surfboard, explain how to properly dismount from the surfboard, and go over how to fall safely to reduce the risk of injury. You will then practice popping-up on the sand and finally head back out into the water to attempt standing on the surfboard for the last 20-30 minutes of the lesson.
Price:
$65.00USD per person
Duration:
2 hours
Student to Instructor ratio:
7:1
Requirements:
2 person minimum
Includes:
Water
National Park entrance fees
Surf equipment + rash guard
The topics you will learn during a group surf lesson include (note: these may vary depending on ocean conditions):
- Factors that contribute to a good beginner surf break
- Parts of a surfboard
- How to carry a surfboard safely and properly
- How to walk the surfboard through the surf
- Proper positioning and paddling technique on a surfboard
- Technique(s) for standing on a surfboard
- How to fall safely from a surfboard
2-Day Surf Clinic
$150.00 + 13% VAT per person
The 2-Day Surf Clinic consists of six hours of surf instruction over the course of two days. In these two sessions we cover all the basic theory and explain and demonstrate the techniques necessary to get you surfing and keep you safe in the process. We maintain a 5:1 student to instructor ratio to ensure that each of our students obtains the attention and instruction they require. The two day surf clinic is ideal for students that wish to have ample time in the water putting the theory into practice. Both lessons take place at Playa Colonia inside the Marino Ballena National Park. Please note that we require a minimum of two people for a 2-day surf clinic.
2 DAY SURF CLINIC
Both days of the surf clinic take place at Playa Chaman, inside the Marino Ballena National Park. Day one of the surf clinic you can expect a lot of safety topics and theory, including:
- Factors that contribute to a good beginner surf break
- Parts of a surfboard
- How to carry a surfboard safely and properly
- How to walk the surfboard through the surf
- Proper positioning and paddling technique on a surfboard
- How to ride a wave and control the surfboard in the prone position
- Technique(s) for standing on a surfboard
- How to fall safely from a surfboard
Your instructor will talk to you about why Playa Chaman is a good beach for learning and developing your surfing ability, cover ocean safety, and go over the parts of a surfboard and the potential risks a surfboard may present. You will then learn and briefly practice how to properly and safely carry your surfboard. The first drill you will practice in the water is the surfboard management-and-control drill, which consists of walking your surfboard safely through the surf, catching white-water waves, and controlling your surfboard from the prone position. Your instructor will explain the drill on the sand and then demonstrate it in the water so that you can easily put this new knowledge to use and start developing your surfing ability.
Price:
$150.00USD per person
Duration:
6 hours total (3 hours per day)
Student to Instructor ratio:
7:1
Requirements:
2 person minimum
Includes:
Water
National Park entrance fees
Surf equipment + rash guard
After some practice catching waves in the prone position you will head in to the beach for a water and fruit refreshment and rest break.
Once you’re ready to continue, your instructor will explain and demonstrate the “pop-up” technique for standing-up on your surfboard and go over specific techniques to help you remain standing on your surfboard. They will also cover safety tips for performing a controlled dismount and how to fall safely in order to reduce the risk of injury. Before heading back into the water to try your hand at standing up you will practice on perfecting your “pop-up” technique on the beach.
The content of day two of the surf clinic will vary depending on the students’ progress and demonstrated ability from the first day, but topics that may be covered during the second day include (note: these may vary depending on ocean conditions):
- Managing the speed of your surfboard from a standing position
- Practice turning the surfboard
- Understanding how/why waves form and break
- Paddling through white-water waves
- Sitting and turning on your surfboard
Our surf clinics are designed to provide ample time to go over theory and put that theory into practice, so you can expect to get a solid foundation to continue developing your surfing skills and get you started on the path to surfing independently.
Group Bodysurf Lesson
From $65.00
The Group Bodysurf Lesson is a great way to gain confidence and awareness in the ocean by learning how to swim through the impact zone and surf waves in the simplest way possible - without a surfboard. Over the course of this two-hour lesson, you will learn essential ocean knowledge, including how to avoid potential hazards such as surfers, rip currents, stingrays and other marine life. Participants will also learn how to identify a safe zone to enter the ocean, how to swim out through and dive under waves in the impact zone, and how to ride waves back to shore using nothing more than your body.
Group Bodysurf Lesson
The Group Bodysurf Lesson is a great way to gain confidence and awareness in the ocean by learning how to swim through the impact zone and surf waves in the simplest way possible — without a surfboard. Over the course of this two-hour lesson, you will learn essential ocean knowledge, including how to avoid potential hazards such as surfers, rip currents, stingrays and other marine life. Participants will also learn how to identify a safe zone to enter the ocean, how to swim out through and dive under waves in the impact zone, and how to ride waves back to shore using nothing more than your body.
Bodysurfing is a crucial tool in the beginner surfer’s repertoire, and offers a completely different and unique connection with the ocean that will ultimately reduce your learning curve when it comes time for board-surfing.
Here's a bit of what we teach:
- Distinguishing an optimal break
- Generating a surf report
- Understanding how/why waves form and break
- Entering and exiting the water safely and identifying hazards
- Getting under oncoming waves
- Swimming stroke techniques for navigating the impact zone
- Catching and riding whitewater waves in the streamline position
- Using fins and a handplane
- Turning right and left while riding waves, and stopping
- Treading water while conserving your energy in deep water
- Catching and riding green waves back to shore
Price:
From $65.00USD
Duration:
2 hours
Student to Instructor ratio:
7:1
Requirements:
2 person minimum
Includes:
Water
National Park entrance fees
Surf equipment + rash guard
2-Day Wave Sliding Clinic
From $150.00
The 2-Day Wave Sliding Clinic combines bodysurfing and surfing to allow you to gain confidence and be successful in the ocean. This 6-hour course is delivered in two days. On day one, you learn how to surf in the simplest way possible, with your body. On day two, you apply your ocean confidence and bodysurf techniques to surfing with a board. The 2-Day Wave Sliding Clinic is an ideal choice for students who wish to have more time to get comfortable in the ocean and gain a holistic wave riding experience. Please note that we require a minimum of two people for a 2-Day Wave Sliding Clinic.
2-Day Wave Sliding Clinic
The 2-Day Wave Sliding Clinic combines bodysurfing and surfing to allow you to gain confidence and be successful in the ocean. This 6-hour course is delivered in two days. On day one, you learn how to surf in the simplest way possible, with your body. On day two, you apply your ocean confidence and bodysurf techniques to surfing with a board. The 2-Day Wave Sliding Clinic is an ideal choice for students who wish to have more time to get comfortable in the ocean and gain a holistic wave riding experience. Please note that we require a minimum of two people for a 2-Day Wave Sliding Clinic.
Bodysurfing is a crucial tool in the beginner surfer’s repertoire, and offers a completely different and unique connection with the ocean that will ultimately reduce your learning curve when it comes time for board-surfing.
Here's a bit of what we teach:
- Distinguishing an optimal break
- Generating a surf report
- Understanding how/why waves form and break
- Entering and exiting the water safely and identifying hazards
- Getting under oncoming waves
- Swimming stroke techniques for navigating the impact zone
- Catching and riding whitewater waves in the streamline position
- Using fins and a handplane
- Turning right and left while riding waves, and stopping
- Treading water while conserving your energy in deep water
- Catching and riding green waves back to shore
Price:
From $150.00USD
Duration:
6 hours
Student to Instructor ratio:
7:1
Requirements:
2 person minimum
Includes:
Water
National Park entrance fees
Surf equipment + rash guard