Surf Skate Retreat in Costa Rica

This AWA Lodge is located in the heart of Santa Teresa, on the south western coast of the Nicoya Peninsula.

Our location is relatively remote - it's what makes the area so stunning, and while this means uncrowded beaches, take into account travel time to reach us.

There are a few options for getting to us from San José or Liberia airport depending on your time and your budget. Flying from San José to Tambor (closest local airport) and then taking a cab is significantly quicker but also more expensive. In the intermediate price range is to travel via private shuttle, a door-to-door service. 

PLANE

There are currently two airlines providing daily flights from San José to Tambor on the Nicoya Peninsula. The flight is approximately 30 minutes and it costs something between $120-$150. If travelling with friends, we recommend booking these flights together, in order to avoid changes to one of the reservations and not the other (rare, but just in case).

We recommend Costa Rica Green Airways which operates out of the separate domestic airport, a five-minute walk from San Jose's main terminal (SJO). As they operate out of a different airport, you are not connecting, instead, you’ll first need to go through Immigration and collect your luggage. Upon leaving Arrivals, walk straight ahead to the main boulevard, turn left, and you will see the Domestic Terminal located 500 feet ahead. If in doubt, an airport official will be able to point you in the right direction. Book here: CR Green Air

Sansa is another Costa Rican airline operating out of the domestic terminal; it also offers multiple flights per day. Sansa also flies into Tambor from the Liberia International Airport. Book here: Sansa

On arrival into Tambor, grab a taxi to Mal País – approximately 40 minutes and $70. We recommend the services of Miguel Delgado (on booking, we’ll be able to coordinate this for you).

Alternatively, Sansa offers a shuttle service from Tambor to Santa Teresa at the time of flight booking, which while shared, does end up more cost-effective than a taxi for solo travellers and smaller groups.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The above options won’t work for those who are travelling with surfboards bigger than 7’0.

SHUTTLE

There are a number of companies that provide shuttle service to Santa Teresa and surroundings; we frequently use the services of Tropical Tours. You'll be collected from San José and driven to the Puntarenas ferry (approximately 1.5-2 hours). At Puntarenas, you'll leave the van and board the ferry, taking your bags with you. The ferry crossing is approximately 1.5 hours and on arrival you'll be met by another van, which will drive you the rest of the way to the AWA Lodge (approximately 1.5 hours).

The quoted cost of the shuttle includes all legs of the journey (shuttle > ferry > shuttle) and is approximately $70.

Check-in: from 15:00 

Check-out: from 10:00

You can either bring your own skateboard or use one of ours. We suggest you travel with your own board if you are feeling comfortable with it. We definitely suggest you bringing your own helmet and pads to make sure you will have the most appropriate protection along your whole trip.

If you feel like purchasing your new gear use the code AWA30 to get a 30% off of all GRLSWIRL equipment.

No need! We provide all the necessary surf equipment, including boards, leashes and wax. However, if you have your own gear and feel more comfortable using it, you're welcome to bring it along*.

*Take in consideration that you wont be able to take the domestic flight with boards over 7' so in that case you'll have to travel via land.

None! Our retreat is designed for women of all surf and skate levels, from beginners to advanced. Our team of experienced coaches will tailor personalized lessons to meet your individual needs.

No problem at all! Our retreat is perfect for beginners and so are these beaches. Our team of surf coaches will start with the basics, teaching you everything you need to know to catch your first wave safely and confidently. 

There will be daily coached surf skate sessions during the week with optional free skate at any time. All skate equipment will be available for you every day.

There will be 4 coached surf sessions during the week with optional free surf at any time. All surf equipment will be available daily.

Not at all! The majority of our guests come solo, and our retreats are carefully curated as supportive and inclusive experiences for everyone. You'll have plenty of opportunities to connect with other like-minded women and most likely build friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime. 

A lot of our first-time guests are concerned about this! 

Our retreat welcomes women of all ages, starting from 18 and up. To give you an idea, about 80% of our guests are between 25 and 55 years old. We love witnessing the diversity and unique perspectives and experience that each guests brings to the group. We have created an inclusive environment that ensures that everyone feels valued and empowered, regardless of age.

While we cant control the weather, we do our best to adapt to changing conditions Our experienced hostesses and coaches will adjust the schedule and activities accordingly to ensure you have a fun and safe experience, both in and out of the water. 

No. We host fully immersive retreats and surfing progression experience so we encourage everyone to share the same space and that way deeply drop into the whole experience.

This depends on personal preferences but honestly not much as its super easy to pull out money from a local ATM. 

Here are a few things you might need cash money for:

- Local souvenirs for friends and family.

- Tips. While tipping is not mandatory in Costa Rica, it is highly appreciated and to the discretion of each traveller. If you want to tip, we will collect cash money for surf coaches, cleaning or cooking staff members.

Most tourism businesses accept US dollars and cards. There are ATM's available in the area. You can also exchange your USD for colones (local currency) at most grocery stores.

If you are coming from a country outside of the US, we recommend exchanging your money outside of the airport as the airport charges the highest exchange fee.

While Costa Rica is the safest country in Central America - and therefore a perfect destination for first-time solo travelers - it's always important to use common sense.

Tuck away valuables when you're in public, put your phone away when you're not using it, and leave your nice jewelry at home. Always know where you're going, avoid isolated areas, and stick with a group when you're out at night.

We promise you’ll have an epic time. "It’s truly amazing and hard to put into words", our guests say...If you are feeling the call, just do it, let go of any expectations and let us host you during the time of your life!

We host a maximum of 15 guests in this experience.

Yes, we intentionally build in downtime for relaxation and reflection. You can spend your free time exploring the local area, enjoying optional activities, or simply unwinding on the beach or by the pool.