One night after dinner I noticed that the boys, always looking for the latest news about waves, winds and swell, were listening carefully to a young man sitting not far from us. As we knew later, he was a reporter working for a Surf Magazine, who was waiting for the exact moment in which the Salsa Brava would come from the deep ocean over the shallow reef. Puerto Viejo is a surfer’s paradise, mainly because of this thick wave called Salsa Brava. It seemed that this phenomenon would happen the day after, at six o’clock in the morning. It was obvious that they would be there, and I couldn’t help to be concerned about that “slight” inconvenient.
Next morning, at 5.30 a.m. I was awakened by loud knocks at the door: the boys were leaving towards their close encounter with the Salsa Brava. I must admit, I felt asleep again. At eight I woke up, and realized the situation. We jumped out of bed and rushed towards the beach. When we arrived there was no trace of the boys and fortunately everything seemed calm, a lot of guys were surfing and we assumed that ours were among them. We were wrong. We saw one of the boys sitting far away staring at the sea, he was really mad, he hated the sea, the reef, the waves, especially the Salsa Brava. Though the famed Salsa Brava didn’t show, the fast and dangerous waves were enough challenge and he tried to paddle out as quickly as he could through a small channel in coral reef, which turned out to be a serious task due to the shallow waters and strong currents. There were not big collateral damages, just a few scratches and a broken board. http://www.surf-costarica.com/surfing-destination-puerto-viejo.shtml
Puerto Viejo is famous for its wonderful beaches, whether you are looking for top surfing or just good swimming. The best months for surfing are November and December, through April. Further south to Punta Mona, stretch some of the best beaches in Costa Rica. Playa Cocles is a white sand beach 3km south of Puerto Viejo, good for relaxed surfers who are not in search of adrenaline and advanced swimmers. Playa Chiquita is a small deserted beach fringed with palm trees, an excellent place to get lost and spend hours snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing in a peaceful lovely setting. Punta Uva, 7km south from Puerto Viejo, is a natural blessing, one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. We had lunch at “El Ranchito” restaurant on the beach and a great fun kayaking and swimming until sunset. Check the Iguana Verde Tree House Lodge, www.costaricatreehouse.com to experience a romantic stay in a luxurious wilderness retreat, right in front of the Punta Uva Beach, one of the best eco lodges of Costa Rica. The sleepy Manzanillo is the last town south of Puerto Viejo. The golden sand beach flanked with tropical jungle offers moderate surf and some diving and snorkeling areas.
From Manzanillo to Punta Mona there are no roads, this wildlife reserve is a fantastic place for trekking among tropical forests and gorgeous beaches. http://www.costarica.com/Places-To-See/Parks,-Reserves-and-Protected-Areas/Gandoca%11Manzanillo-National-Wildlife-Refuge/
