1. Quiver & Bags
Unless you are a pure beginner who will be renting soft-tops, bringing your own boards is highly recommended. Buying a new board in Costa Rica comes with heavy import taxes.
Protective Transport
HQ Hack: Pipe Insulation
Don’t rely solely on your travel bag’s padding. Buy foam pipe insulation, slit it down the middle, and tape it around the rails of your boards.
HQ Hack: Strip the Wax
Remove old cold/cool water wax before packing. Costa Rica’s 82°F+ water requires tropical wax, and old wax will melt into a mess inside your travel bag.
2. Surf Hardware
Surf shops in towns like Tamarindo and Jaco are well-stocked, but imported goods (like leashes, fins, and wax) carry a massive premium. Pack redundancies.
3. Sun & Elements Protection
Costa Rica is only 10 degrees north of the equator. The sun here is violent. If you try to surf mid-day with standard sunscreen, you will burn, blister, and miss the next day’s swell.
4. Tech & Comm Ops
Capturing the mission and staying connected. Power outages are common during the wet season, and you need to protect your electronics from the intense humidity and boat spray.
5. The “Skip It” List
Save the weight in your board bag. Do not bring these items to Costa Rica.
Full Wetsuits
The water is 80-84°F year-round. A 2mm spring suit is only acceptable if you get cold very easily during dawn patrol.
Formal Wear / Nice Shoes
Costa Rica surf towns are incredibly casual. Flip-flops and boardshorts are standard attire at almost every restaurant.
Excessive Cash (USD)
ATMs dispensing Colones and USD are in every major surf town. Almost everywhere accepts credit cards.
Camouflage Clothing
It is actually illegal to wear camouflage clothing in Costa Rica, as it is reserved strictly for military/police forces.
Mission Accomplished.
From HQ Creator MikeyCongratulations! You’ve completed all 6 tactical briefings and are fully prepared for deployment.
“Let me know when you’re down here in Costa Rica. If I’m around, we can definitely go for a surf together!”
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