The Dish

As the founder and co-owner of Surf Diva, the original all girl's surf school, it's an honor to contribute a few words to SurfShot's hot, new women's surf section. Female surfers in San Diego are among the world's best in terms of style and performance. One thing that we all agree on, is our love for travel, and adventure. As more girls get into surfing, the next thing on the list is to travel to an exotic surf destination. Surfer girls are more inclined to save up for a surf trip than for a pair of stilettos, and one location that is buzzing right now is Costa Rica.
As a surf destination, more women are traveling to Costa Rica because it offers a variety of surf breaks for all levels, relatively uncrowded waves, and a gorgeous setting. In addition to all of its perfection, Costa Rica is a safer destination than most countries in Central or South America for women traveling in groups or alone due to the country’s low crime rate and friendly locals who respect gringa surfers.
Surf camps offer packages exclusively to girls of all levels, which is perfect for those who want to improve their skills or want to meet other surfers to surf with. With more women traveling alone, surf camps offer a safe haven with fun activities, and skilled guides/instructors with local knowledge of the surf conditions, tides, swell directions and wind habits.  Besides helping women score the best surf, instructors usually have insider info on everything from the best season to watch the baby turtles hatch to where the spicy salsa dancing is going on that night.
When looking for a good program to book a Costa Rica surf camp, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.  Most importantly, book with an operator that is based in the U.S. You want to make sure that they are a legitimate operation that will be there to pick you up at the airport after you've given them your payment. Always ask for references from previous campers who have attended the program. It's amazing how women love to share a good experience and will not hesitate to warn you of potential disaster if a program sucks. There is a lot of truth to the saying that you get what you pay for? And, when shopping for deals, be careful not to book the cheapest camp unless you don't mind sleeping in youth hostel style co-ed bunk rooms. Also, be sure to verify that your ground transportation is included, or you may have to pay for additional flights and shuttles to get to your destination. Find out what kind of experience and certifications your instructors or guides have, and if equipment is provided. Check with the camp to
see if meals are included, and if so, what kind of food will be served.
The dry season lasts from November to May, making those months an excellent time to visit. During the rainy season, which is especially heavy in September, October and November, the heavy rains turn the places like the Nicova Peninsula into a tropical rain forest, making this a great destination for sun worshipers and nature-lovers.
Costa Rica is the jewel of Central America. This tiny country nestled between Nicaragua and Panama boasts some of the finest coastline and most beautiful scenery on the planet. Costa Rica is Mother Earth at her absolute best. The country is also a haven of eco-tourism. The nation's environmental policies serve to strictly protect the natural habitat. We could all learn from Costa Rican's enlightened attitude towards the environment!
“Pura Vida” or "Pure Life" is the best way to sum up everything that Costa Rica has to offer. You'll hear everyone say it. Costa Ricans embrace the idea of Pura Vida in the way they live their lives. It's a simple phrase that seems to capture the essence of what to expect from a vacation in Costa Rica - friendly and welcoming people, an experience of nature in its purest form, peace and serenity, beautiful scenery and an ocean that just begs to be surfed.
Whether you're a surfer, a nature lover, a beach bum, an adventurer, or even if you just want to chill out and soak up the atmosphere, it doesn't get any better than Costa Rica.