Dear Steemians!
Today I would like to invite you to Tamarindo in Costa Rica. We will take part in a one-week long surf camp. I hope you are as excited as I am! ;)
As you may already know from my previous post I have decided to learn how to surf and to do it in Costa Rica. This is not the cheapest country in Central America, as some parts of it are commonly visited by Americans with their wallets packed with dollars ;) But Costa Rica is definitely calm, peaceful, and welcoming. It is a good place to recharge your battery and to start your long solo adventure.
My Surf Camp
There are many companies that offer camps in the exotic destinations like Costa Rica. With a variety of activities starting from painting, photography to practicing sports like yoga or surfing.
As I have already written, I chose the Witch’s Rock Surf Camp in Tamarindo. It wasn’t cheap, it wasn’t extraorbiterly expensive either. It had really good and “serious” reviews.
In order to cut my expenses, I decided to stay in a shared, 3-bed, room with 2 other girls. It was a smart idea since I was travelling alone and it gave me an opportunity to make friends in a short span of time. :)
Why did I decide to stay with Witch’s Rock? What was important to me? Here you go!
I have read on forums that people liked the whole team of instructors. And, obviously, this was one of the most crucial things for me!
The company was offering training programs at all levels of advancement since 2001 and was constantly attracting clients – judging by the dates of reviews and opinions - which meant it is stable and trustworthy.
The spot was offering free and unlimited surfboards rental throughout the whole camp.
The beginner surf program consisted of 2 surf lessons each day – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Additionally, surf seminars and video analysis were provided daily. A 1-day surfing trip to another spot was guaranteed (in our case it was Playa Grande, a great spot). At the end of the camp, we received a CD with some photos taken by the organisers. They are not great in terms of quality, but at least I have a souvenir. After all, it’s not easy to have photos if you are travelling solo. You always depend on others, and, let’s be frank, on how skilled they are to take a good shoot! ;)
The starting date and a free pick-up date coincided. Most of the camps were offering paid transportation from the airport, depending on the distance that could be 50 $ plus. Witch’s was providing free pick up on Saturdays, which was fine with me for a simple reason - their camp starts on Sunday, with a Saturday night included in the overall price. I “only” needed to schedule my flights from Europe accordingly. Fortunately, none of the flights were cancelled or delayed! (Arriving on a different day than on Saturday costs 75$).
In general, companies were offering accommodation within the price. Here the hotel was literarily beachfront. As I have never done beachfront before, I wanted to try this luxury. ;)
Food? Within the price of the camp only the breakfast was included. But it was acceptable to me, as I always try to eat locally and not at a resort restaurant. And let me tell you, those breakfasts were outstanding! You don’t know it about me yet… I eat a lot. I mean a lot! And those breakfasts were not only delicious but also huge. :)
What was the price you ask? I verified it. Back in 2015, I paid 868 dollars for the beginner surf camp with the accommodation in the shared room and all the other stuff I mentioned above.
As I have written in my previous post, this one week was the most expensive week throughout my whole 4 months of travelling. But I made cuts elsewhere. I feel it was worth it. I started my travel gently, in a comfortable and friendly environment.
After spending some time in Tamarindo, meeting locals (not only from Costa Rica but also from Argentinian community) I feel confident in recommending this spot to you. Witch’s Rock is touristic, Americanised but full of charm and great vibes! It attracts locals on every weekend, providing locally brewed beer and gigs by a local band.
P.S. I didn’t want this post to be so focused on the Witch’s Rock but somehow I will always have those warm feelings for the spot and people for who create its charm. I spent some very chilled and pleasant days in Tamarindo.
Pura vida to all of you, my Steemit friends!
Kasia
More about me here.
Some of my recent stories from South America:
KasiaTravels: Surfing in Costa Rica (Part 1: “Spots and the arrival.”)
KasiaTravels on a budget: Solo backpacking - on a budget - in Latin America. (Part 1: “When you finally decide to do it!";
Kasia and the death road - la ruta de la muerte - Bolivia (part 1);
Kasia and the death road - la ruta de la muerte - Bolivia (part 2).