REEL · 001
35MM
3
NATIVOS / NOSARA · CR
EST. 20+ YRS
Oscar Vargas mid-turn off a Nosara wave
Est. 20+ yrs · Nosara · Costa Rica
Coaching · Video analysis · Boat trips

Surf with intention.

Personalized surf coaching in Nosara & Costa Rica.

& progression. Scroll ↓
Oscar Vargas reading the lineup at Playa Guiones
Oscar Vargas Founder & Head Coach
20+ yrs

Meet Oscar Vargas.

Twenty years of surfing, many of them spent competing at a national level in Costa Rica.

My focus is helping surfers understand the ocean, refine their technique, and make better decisions in the water.

Through personalized coaching, video analysis and structured practice, we work on the parts of your surfing that make the biggest difference. Every surfer is different, so the coaching adapts to you.

Today I work with a team of senior coaches, so Nativos can coach every level with the same approach, from a first wave in the whitewater to refining your turns.

  • 01 Ocean awareness & wave reading
  • 02 Confidence & positioning in the lineup
  • 03 Technique & body mechanics
  • 04 Applying technique to each section of the wave
“
The wave already tells you what to do. The key is learning how to listen.
— Oscar Vargas · Head Coach

Surf coaching, trips & retreats.

Edition 01 3 days

Breakthrough Program

$425 + 13% tax

Three days of focused coaching to build a stronger foundation and understand what can make the biggest difference to your surfing. Through personalized coaching and video analysis, we’ll work on your technique, positioning, timing, and wave reading, with specific corrections you can put into practice.

Best for

  • Beginner to intermediate surfers ready to build confidence, strengthen their fundamentals, and make meaningful progress

Includes

  • 3 coaching sessions, 60–90 min
  • Video footage + analysis after each session
  • Pre-program WhatsApp check-in
  • Personalized technique summary

Outcome

  • A clear picture of what's holding you back
  • Specific corrections you can put into practice
  • Better control, timing, and confidence
Book on WhatsApp→
Edition 02 5 days

Progression Week Most booked

$700 + 13% tax

Five days of structured coaching to take your surfing further. We’ll work on positioning, timing, speed, flow, and choosing the right approach for each section of the wave. Through video analysis and coaching tailored to your surfing, you’ll refine your technique, build consistency, and develop more control and confidence.

Best for

  • Intermediate to advanced surfers looking to improve their flow, speed, control, and confidence

Includes

  • 5 coaching sessions, 60–90 min
  • Video footage + analysis after each session
  • Daily drills between sessions

Outcome

  • Stronger, more consistent technique
  • Better positioning & wave selection
  • Reading each section of the wave and applying the right technique
Book on WhatsApp→
Edition 03 1 day

Boat Surf Trip

$800 · up to 4 surfers + 13% tax

Explore breaks you can't reach from the beach. A guided boat trip from Nosara or Garza to selected breaks, chosen according to the swell, wind and tide. For intermediate and advanced surfers. $800 covers the trip for up to 4 surfers. Larger groups available at added cost.

Includes

  • Group departure from Nosara / Garza
  • Boat transport to selected breaks
  • Spot selection (swell, wind, tide)
  • Guidance on positioning, wave selection and reading new lineups
  • Flexible timing

Best for

  • Intermediate to advanced
  • Surfers who want to explore new breaks
  • Surfers continuing after a coaching program

Outcome

  • Time at quality breaks, often less crowded
  • Practice reading unfamiliar lineups
  • Adapting your surfing to different conditions
Book on WhatsApp→
Edition 04 5–7 days

Surf Retreats — South Costa Rica

By request

Small-group surf retreats in southern Costa Rica, combining personalized coaching, video analysis and time in the water at some of the country's most rewarding breaks. We're confirming 2027 dates and details. Join the waitlist and you'll hear first.

Includes

  • 4–6 surfers max
  • Daily coaching + video analysis
  • Accommodation
  • Transport (airport + surf)
  • Breakfast + selected dinners
  • Guided sessions at key breaks

Locations

  • Pavones
  • Osa Peninsula

Best for

  • Intermediate to advanced
  • Surfers who want focused coaching while exploring southern Costa Rica

Outcome

  • Improved flow on long waves
  • Deeper understanding of point-break surfing
  • Better wave reading and decision-making across different sessions
See the retreats→
01 Assessment
02 Correction
03 Reinforcement
— The Method —

Surf with understanding. Progress with intention.

I start by getting to know you and seeing where you are in the water. From there, we work on reading the wave, choosing where to sit and making calmer decisions in the lineup. Then we refine your technique with coaching and video footage, so you can see what your body is doing and why. The aim is to connect your movements to what the wave is doing, and surf with more confidence, control and flow.

Who's surfing?

01 Just me

One-on-one coaching at your level, whether it's your first wave or your next turn.

Coaching → 02 Two of us

Share a coach with a partner or friend. Each of you pays less, and the coaching adapts to both.

Shared pricing → 03 A family or group

Coaching for each person's level, with several coaches in the water. Ages 5 and up.

Families & groups → 04 I'm hosting a retreat

Bring your retreat to Nosara. We'll run the surf for groups of up to about 20.

Host your retreat → 05 I live in Nosara

Weekly training in a small group, in the water, on video and on land.

Progression Lab →
Nativos senior coaches on the beach in Nosara
Roll · 24 Frame · 17

The Senior Coaches.

Alongside me, Nativos has a team of senior coaches. Each of them has 20 years of surfing and teaching experience, speaks English and Spanish, and coaches every level with the same approach.

Their focus

  • 01 Fundamentals & technique
  • 02 Ocean awareness & safety
  • 03 Confidence in the lineup

All our coaches follow the Nativos coaching approach and can run video analysis, so the experience stays consistent whoever you're with in the water. Program sessions are filmed by a professional local videographer.

Verified Google Reviews

What surfers say.

★★★★★
Oscar is hands down the best surf coach I've ever worked with. My surfing improved so much in a short amount of time — highly recommend him.

Charlotte S. · Recent client

★★★★★
If you're looking for a surf coach in Nosara, Nativos Surf Nosara is the absolute best. The experience working with Oscar Vargas, the owner, was outstanding. He's patient, incredibly detail-oriented, and explains things in a way that actually sticks.

Joe M. · Recent client

★★★★★
I've had several coaches, both private and on retreats. Oscar is the best. There were three of us, and he was able to tailor his coaching to meet each of our needs. Both in the water and out, his attention to detail was impressive.

Charlotte R. · Group coaching

★★★★★
Oscar was one of the best surf coaches I've ever had. He was able to break down details of a surfing challenge that has escaped other good coaches. He broke down both the good and the "needs improvement" aspects of my surfing. I'm definitely a better surfer as a result of working with Oscar.

Mary R. · Private coaching

Read all reviews on Google → Leave a review →

In the water.

Costa Rica · point break
Oscar · session at Guiones
Down the line
— The Nativos path —

What comes next.

A way of training, one step at a time.

— Ready when you are —

Let's build your best surf trip.

Tell me your dates, your level, and what's been holding you back. We'll figure out the right program together.

Message Oscar on WhatsApp →

or email vargassurf86@gmail.com