Budget
Bunk Bed in a Shared Room
$1,500per person
3 spots available. Shared room, shared bathroom. The most affordable way in.
Reserve →
Pavones Surf Retreat
Costa Rica's longest left. Steps from the break.
July sold out. Monday August 24 → Sunday August 30, 2026 is the second Pavones week: six nights at a private villa, two coached sessions a day, daily video analysis, and Oscar in the water with you every session.
long lefts & long sessions
— The crew —
Eight surfers. Six days. One villa.
Small group means real conversation at dinner, real attention from Oscar in the water, and a crew that stays in touch long after the airport drop-off.
It's the part of the trip you don't expect — and the part everyone talks about when they get home.
— The wave —
A goofy-footer's dream.
When the south swells of Costa Rica's rainy season wrap into Pavones Point, you get rides that go for over a minute on the good days. Open faces. Hollow sections when you want them. A wave so long your legs burn before the wave finishes.
Amazing for regular-footers too — Pavones is the spot to spend a week working on your back-hand.
The July retreat sold out fast, so we're opening this second Pavones week for late August while the South Pacific swell is still firing. You'll surf more in six days here than in six weeks at home.
- 1 min+rides on the good days
- South swelllate August still fires
- Goofy & regularboth fire — backhand or front
— Your coach —
Oscar Vargas.
15 years coaching surf in Costa Rica.
For this retreat the structure is built around real progression:
- 01 Two coached sessions per day in the water with Oscar & a Pavones local coach.
- 02 Each session filmed — wave selection, paddle, take-off, key moments.
- 03 Evening debriefs: watch your own footage with Oscar walking through what's working and what to fix.
- 04 Group capped at 8 — small enough for personal attention, big enough that you're surfing with new friends by day two.
Focused on intermediate to advanced surfers who want to progress.
— The villa —
Spanish architecture. Jungle setting. Steps from the point.
Nestled at the point in Pavones and with a private path for beach access, the charming Spanish architecture blends seamlessly with the surrounding environment.
Conveniently located just a short walk away from the second longest hand wave in the world, Pavones.
The big villa is the heart of this retreat and where we want to host most of the group. If needed, there is also a smaller cabin available for a small family.
- On-property chef · 3 meals a day
- 3 bedrooms · 3 bathrooms
- BBQ area
- Beach front access to surf
- River swimming access
- Hiking trails
— What's included —
Everything you need. Nothing you don't.
In your trip price
- 6 nights in your private bedroom
- Round-trip airport pickup from Golfito airport
- 3 meals a day, fresh, cooked by a local chef on-property
- 2 group surf sessions daily with Oscar (morning + afternoon)
- Daily video analysis after dinner — full technique breakdown
- Surfboard rental for the week if you're not bringing your own
- All in-town transport to the breaks and back
- Unlimited pool, swim-up bar, hammocks, full villa access
Not included
- International flights to/from San José (SJO) or Liberia (LIR)
- Connecting flight to Golfito (~$100–$200 round trip on Sansa Airlines)
- Alcohol
Optional extras — yoga, massage, panga trips, jungle tours — all available on request at additional cost.
— A day in Pavones —
Two sessions. Two debriefs. Six straight days.
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7:00 am
Coffee. Breakfast.
Fresh fruit, coffee, and breakfast at the villa.
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8:00 am
First session.
Best light. Cleanest conditions. Surf with Oscar in the water.
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10:00 am
Pool. Hammocks. Recovery.
Back to the villa. Breathe. Float. Reset.
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12:30 pm
Lunch.
Local ingredients, big plates, made for surfers.
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3:00 pm
Afternoon session.
Back in the water when the wind plays right.
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7:00 pm
Dinner.
Prepared fresh. Eat with the group.
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7:30 pm
Video analysis.
Your footage on the big screen. Technique breakdown with Oscar.
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8:00 pm
Open evening.
Pool. Swim-up bar. Stars. Sleep. Whatever you need.
— Pricing —
Three simple options.
Shared
Queen Shared Room
$1,750per person · $3,500 / room
Bring a friend, partner, or buddy. Same private bedroom & bathroom, just split.
Reserve →Solo
Queen Private Room
$2,500per person
Your own private bedroom & bathroom. Queen bed.
Reserve →50% deposit per person via PayPal or wire transfer holds your spot.
— How to get there —
Three steps.
-
01
Fly into Costa Rica.
San José (SJO) or Liberia (LIR) — whichever flight works for you internationally.
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02
Hop a Sansa flight to Golfito.
Small propeller plane from SJO. Roughly $100–$200 round trip. Book at flysansa.com. Plan a 3-hour layover at minimum.
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03
We pick you up.
Round-trip transport from Golfito airport to the villa is included in your trip price.
Driving from Nosara with Oscar? 1 or 2 spots in the van for the road trip down — beautiful 5-hour coastal drive. Let us know when you book.
— Who this is for —
Intermediate and up.
You can confidently paddle out at a point break, you can read sets, you can pop up clean — and you want a focused week of real coaching with someone who knows these waves.
Pavones is a punchy, fast wave. Not the right place to learn to surf. If you're not sure where you fit, message Oscar before you book.
Non-surfing partners welcome at the shared-room rate. Plenty to do at the villa — pool, hammocks, the village a short walk away, optional yoga and massage, jungle tours, exploring South Costa Rica.
— Booking & refund policy —
- 50% deposit per person holds your spot.
- Balance due August 1st.
- Deposit non-refundable — but credit toward a future retreat.
— Ready to surf Pavones? —
Only 3 rooms available.
Tell me your dates, room preference, and where you're at as a surfer. I'll get back to you within a day on WhatsApp.
— FAQ —
Everything else.
Do I need to be advanced to come?
Intermediate and up. If you can paddle out at a point break and ride down the line with control, you're ready. If you're not sure, send Oscar a clip of your last session and he'll give you an honest read.
Can I bring my own board?
Absolutely. If not, we'll provide you with the right equipment.
How fit do I need to be?
Two surf sessions a day is real exertion. If you can handle a 90-minute session at home, you'll be fine. The villa pool, hammocks, and a chef who cooks for athletes will handle the recovery.
What if my partner doesn't surf?
They're welcome at the shared-room rate. Plenty to do — pool, swim-up bar, the village, hammocks, yoga or massage on request, and exploring the surrounding areas of South Costa Rica. Some non-surfing partners read books all week and love it.
Why late August?
Pavones works best with south swell and offshore wind, and late August still lands right in Costa Rica's rainy-season window when those long lefts can really turn on.
Is the property safe?
Yes. Private gated property. We coordinate all transport, meals, and surf sessions as a group.
Dietary restrictions?
Tell us when you book and the chef will handle it. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergies — no problem.
More dates this season?
July is sold out, and August 24–30 is the second Pavones trip we're opening now. Message Oscar if you want details on any future dates too.