Surf Lessons, Santa Teresa North, Costa Rica

Great surfing with individualized instruction

We enjoyed a great lesson with Richard. We were a family of 5 with little experience. He had an extra instructor help out since we had various levels, and they worked with each of us to successfully get up on our boards. They adjust our start time according to the waves, which helped ensure a more enjoyable experience. Would highly recommend, had a great time!!

Great Time!

This was by far one of our favorite activities during our Costa Rica vacation! The location was beautiful and the waves were perfect! Instructions were super easy to follow! If I can catch a good wave or two, you definitely can!!

Must do activity

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful time, it was our first time surfing so we weren’t sure how well we would do but the amazing instructor made it so easy and fun for us.

Best experience ever!

I loved how positive and supportive Richard is! I was very nervous all throughout but he was nothing but supportive of my efforts. He lightens the mood with jokes and smiles and made my friend and I feel like we were going to be pro surfers at some point lol! The waves were intimidating at first and I could barely catch a wave but he kept pushing for me to go and saw the potential I had. Now I want to surf all over again! He made every moment worth and I am so excited to book again!

Great Surfing Experience

It was my first time surfing and this was such a fun intro lesson. I was hesitant at first but Richard and his team made sure that we were well-prepared. Thank you for such a great experience!

A fantastic surfing lesson with Richard!

I recently had an amazing surfing lesson with Richard as my instructor. Richard was not only nice, patient, and encouraging but also incredibly helpful, friendly, and funny throughout the session. His positive energy made learning to surf an absolute joy! Highly recommend for anyone starting out in surfing! I had never surfed before this lesson and was able to get up on the board really quickly

Surfing with Richard was amazing!

Surfing with Richard was amazing! We had so much fun being in the ocean with him on the boards! He was super patient and had such a good vibe to really get to know the pura vida life :) Would definety recommend booking this surf lesson!

Wonderful intro to surfing!

We had such a wonderful time learning to surf with Richard and Melissa! They were so patient and encouraging, and the beach was beautiful. Will definitely be back!

Go with Richard!

Richard - thanks so much for giving us such a wonderful surfing experience. I can't believe that all three of us were able to catch waves even in our first intro class, and how good you were at focusing our attention on the key details and useful skills (and pulling our attention back when we got distracted by other details that don't matter). You are a master teacher - our class with you was one of our favorite memories of our week in Costa Rica. Thank you so much and for anyone reading this - book with Richard now! Pura vida! :)

Must do!

Richard was an unbelievable teacher. Very encouraging and professional. By the 3rd time everyone in our entire group was up. The group size was no bigger than 3! He mentioned that he might do 2-3 groups a day and he could have easily squeezed everyone in but prefers to give the 1 in 1 attention. His friend he brought worked individually with my two boys. I believe her name was Melissa and she was wonderful as well. Could recommend Richard and his team higher. Must do while in Santa Teresa!

Amazing teacher, lots of fun!

Amazing teacher - we were beginners and he taught us well and we had a lot of fun, too! Very nice all-around experience! Finished off with a cold coconut 🥥

Don’t take surf lessons anywhere but here!

Richard is THE GUY! Local surf instructor who was able to teach me, a non board sport kinda gal, the ropes with ease. He gave me confidence, easy & memorable instructions that got me up on the board riding the wave every wave I attempted. SO mUCH FUN! Highly recommend Richard and ONLY Richard, we tried a couple other lessons and nothing compares to Richard. Pura Vida Baby!

MUST TRY.

I’ve taken a few surf lessons before and Richard is hands down the best teacher I’ve had! Previously I’d never been able to stand up. This was a recommendation from friends who also took a surf class from Richard a month before. He was flexible when I accidentally booked the wrong day, thorough to ensure we and others in the beach were safe, encouraging and funny so it was easy to keep trying! We are two women and appreciated his patience, we rode maybe more than a dozen waves and we stood up and caught waves most of the time! If we could stay longer I’d take more classes from Richard. The fresh coconut water at the end was a cherry in top. After the class we couldn’t figure out why our atv wouldn’t start.. he helped us with that also : ) and we got home safely. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Didn't get to experience

The instructor wasn't where I was told to go and the company wouldn't respond to messages or calls. The company was not available, I still haven't heard back from Richard

Passionate and fun local surfer

This was the best possible experience!!! Richard was a fantastic teacher and we had sooo much wave time. He is very involved and attentive, and this is one of the best priced private lessons you can find in Santa Teresa. He brought the best energy to our lesson and we are so grateful! Would absolutely recommend!!!!

Super fun afternoon!

Highly recommend this experience! As beginner surfers, we were a little nervous about what to expect but Richard and Manuel were super friendly and approachable throughout the whole class. They made us feel at ease and have such a fun energy! If you go at 4pm you'll be surfing against a gorgeous sunset. Gracias chicos y pura vida :)

Amazing experience with brilliant teachers!

Richard and Manuel (aka Pollo) were brilliant teachers with a chilled, Pura Vida approach to the lesson. They were very thoughtful and ensured their gringa students had enough suncream and water and our car was safe. Perfect beach for surfing, beautiful sunset at the end, great vibes. Thanks for an amazing intro to surfing!

Perfect Surfing Introduction for Beginners with Richard!

Richard's expertise and teaching style made the entire lesson enjoyable and accessible for complete beginners. His clear instructions, combined with his enthusiasm for the sport, created a supportive learning environment allowing me to catch my first waves.

Amazing Surf Lesson!

Great surf lesson! Richard was super helpful and was with us the whole time in the water. Can’t wait to come back and surf with Richard again!

The Best Surf Lessons

So glad I found this listing and talked my friends into doing it with me. It was a battle because they’d done “surf lessons” before in Bali… Well, everyone found Richard’s approach and assistance to be well worth giving it another go! Richard is incredibly patient, creates a fun environment, and is determined to get you up. He’s a great instructor with a radiant personality. I’m recommending him to everyone who finds their way to the corner of Santa Teresa! I was relieved that the lesson was in Playa Hermosa, because S.Teresa has ROUGH breaks (and too public a place to stumble as a beginner). If you’re worried about getting around, look into the new affordable bus/shuttle in the area. You can coordinate a pickup/drop off with them, but also the walk to/from on the beach isn’t totally terrible if necessary. ~Pura Vida~

Definitely sign up!

Fun times! Richard was not only welcoming and fun, but also knowledgeable and a great teacher. Would definitely recommend and book his services again.

Father and son memory for life!

If you’re looking to learn how to surf and HAVE FUN doing it, Richard should be your first choice. First and foremost, he’s a professional. However, he’s also intent on bringing elements of humor and kindness into your learning experience. You can feel his genuine concern for your safety in the water and him being completely present in the moment. Great energy! One of the highlights of our Costa Rican adventure. VIDA PURA!

Best Surf teachers ever!

Richard and Melissa were such amazing teachers. Really friendly, clear, knowledgable and most of all they made us feel safe and we all had so much fun. You can tell they love surfing and want you to experience the thrill of catching a wave. If you’re new to surfing or have some experience, they are the teachers for you! Local Tico’s sharing their love and passion for a truly wonderful way of life. Please book them. You won’t regret it! Thank you both!

Great Experience

Richard was such a great instructor!! He was a ton of fun, a good teacher and he got us up on our first wave. Highly recommend!

Get your lession with richard

Great teacher! My lession was on a supernice scenery, richard helped me a lot to do the stepps in the process. Top motivated. Highly recommended

Best Surfing Lesson

Today we had our first surfing lesson and were a bit afraid first. After meeting the greatest teacher, Richard, we became more calm. Richard definitely responded individually and was friendly and calm the whole time, so we always felt comfortable. He explained everything until we understood it and answered all questions professionally. He never lost his sense of humor - the ice was quickly broken. However, Richard tried to give us the feeling on the board - always breathing in and out, relaxing, focusing and going with the wave. Thanks to Richard, we had incredible success today and will continue to practice. Thank you, Richard, for this great experience. Miri

Awesome experience! Highly recommend

Richard is awesome!! We had such a great time and learned so much. Such a great guy and very supportive. You’ll have a great time. We ended up taking 4 lessons.

Incredible!

This was the first time me and my boyfriend have ever surfed and Richard made the experience incredible! He was such an awesome teacher, it was a perfect day!

Surf lessons with Richard 🤘

Richard was upbeat and funny, but when it came to the surfing part…all business! He will make sure you are up and running!

If you're tentative, or a little more advanced, Richard is your guy!

Richard was absolutely great, covering all the critical basics, including safety, being patient and encouraging every step of the way. This was my first surfing lesson ever and I managed to ride my first couple of waves, thanks in big part to his skills. I couldn't have left happier.

The absolute BEST surf instructor!

Our experience learning to surf with Richard and Pelican Experiences was the absolute best! His energy and positive attitude are so contagious but he supports that with a very professional and expert approach to his teaching and coaching. Great communicator and motivator. Perfect English. If we did it over again, we would have got a package with him - maybe lessons every day or every other day. The kids got so much better on their second lesson - they were surfing a bit, not just standing up and being pushed by the wave. By the way, even the parents were regularly getting up on waves all week with the foundation Richard provided us on our only lesson. Loved the coconut water in the parking lot after a morning of surfing. He provide rash guards and boards of course. Because we had four taking lessons, he brought another instructor - Melissa, who was also fantastic. Richard also loves Costa Rica and Santa Teresa and so enjoyable just to hang out and talk with him. A great guy and couldn’t be more of a fan. Five plus stars!

WE! LOVE! RICHARD!

A couple friends and I booked surf lessons a few years ago and had such great experience we booked again this year. We live in a land locked state, but all of us were up on the board and catching waves by the end of our lesson! Thanks Richard! We will be back!!

Incredible Experience

This was our second time in Costa Rica and second time booking with Richard!! He is a kind, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable surf instructor and person! He immersed himself in the water with us to give pointers and encouragement. He practices safe surfing techniques while also giving the best vibes possible! We will most definitely book with him when we return again! Do not hesitate to book with him, you will not regret it!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO THIS!

Had such a great time! Our instructor couldn’t have been better and he was so helpful and encouraging. We were a bit shakey at first but ended up getting it with lots of pointers and nice words from our instructor. Amazing experience overall would definitely recommend to do this when I Santa Teresa.

Surfing Lesson

Had such a wonderful surfing lesson with Richard! He was extremely kind and funny but also wanted to see you succeed. Couldn’t recommend his lessons enough!

ABSOLUTELY recommend!

My wife and I are on our honeymoon surfing for our first time. Our Airbnb host highly recommended Richard, he said Richard was the best surf instructor around. The bar was set high and Richard still exceeded our expectations! My wife and I both felt very comfortable with him. He’s thorough with his instructions, he’s easy to understand, and he uses words of encouragement that make you feel strong and confident. We are now in love with surfing! Thank you Richard!

Amazing! Good heart

Richard is extremely knowledgeable in order for you to progress in a safe and effective manner. His passion radiates and is contagious and calming. He’s encouraging pushing you forward to be a great surfer. I’ve been rusty not surf in for 3 years as a beginner and with his guidance I was able to get back in it after a few waves. We need more people like him.

Richard is AWESOME! He is smart, fun, and very patient! He will make you better!

Richard is the best! He quickly understands your skill level whether a beginner or for me, have surfed, but wanted to improve and learn! I was nervous the first day and he was super patient and kind while also encouraging me. By the end of the week, I feel like I learned on what to work on, felt physically stronger and more importantly, had so much fun! He is a gem and look forward to my next trip and continuing to learn from him! My friends who had never surfed took a lesson, too, and also loved him!

Amazing Surfing Lesson

Richard was a great instructor to have for my very first surfing lesson! He was very prepared, giving me a long-sleeved surf shirt and a 9’ board in perfect condition. We started out with some stretches (very important) followed by “dry” practice, going through the motions on the beach. He was very professional and made sure I knew exactly what to do to succeed and be safe. After a few minutes of this we went into the water and put it into practice. Richard was always ready to go, and did a great job coaching me & stabilizing me on every run. He had me up on the board & riding a wave on the second attempt. Great energy from him the entire lesson, and he was just as happy and excited by my successes as I was. Would absolutely surf with him again.

Amazing!!!

We really loved the surf lesson! We found Richard to be a very good teacher, his positive vibe is contagious!!! After 1 fall I already managed to stay on the surfboard. Highly recommended! 🏄‍♀️

Richard Rocks!

Richard is awesome!!! We ended our trip with these surf lessons and it was the perfect conclusion. Neither me nor my friend though we would stand up on the surfboard but we both did, many times! Richard, the instructor, was such a great teacher and also so much fun. 100% recommend these lessons for anyone interested in learning how to surf in the Santa Teresa area.

Richard is who you want

Richard is amazing. Super positive high energy that is infectious. And a great/patient teacher. Stood up on multiple waves!

Book Richard!

My husband and I, both beginners, had a 90 minute lesson with Richard and I had a follow on lesson the next day. Both at Playa Hermosa. Richard is an excellent teacher - having looked at a number of surfing websites his methods really help you to understand what you should be doing. He is safety conscious in terms of handling your board in the water. Two things which are linked really stand out - Richard is an incredibly positive and enthusiastic teacher. This means you have faith in yourself and don’t get discouraged when, as a beginner, you have the inevitable wipe outs. We both really enjoyed being taught by Richard and would recommend him most highly.

Richard is the man!

Richard was the man! Was a great teacher for first time surfers and both of us were able to catch on! He was a great time and made the lesson fun and a solid workout too! 10/10 would recommend!

Endless Positivity & Clear Expertise!

I learned a lot from a couple of lessons with Richard, going from wobbly in the whitewater to understanding how to read and catch my own waves. More than anything, Richard's positivity was infectious and kept me motivated. I would highly recommend Richard!

Perfect!

Richard is a really good teacher, really patient and take time to explain. We were just 2 in the group, and I've learn a lot. I took classes somewhere else and I can see the difference!

Fantastic Lesson!

Had a great time with Richard who was both knowledgeable and friendly during the entire lesson. He gave insightful feedback and motivation which lead to a productive session of surfing! Would do a follow up lesson if I came back to Santa Teresa.

A highlight!

We had Richard for our surfing class. All three of us were beginners and all of us managed to get up on the surfboard throughout the class. It was an incredible start to our trip and definitely a highlight!

Very enjoyable

Richard was very patient and friendly and explained the small details very well. We caught many waves and then booked a second lesson and learned to catch waves all on our own. Overall a very fun and upbeat experience!

Richard is the best!

We’ve never surfed before but Richard and Wesley had us all up and surfing in no time! Great setting, new boards, and super patient surf instructors make this a great outing for anyone.