Surf Lessons In Papagayo

Abel (guide/instructor) and our boat driver (whose name I am blanking on) were both awesome! Abel immediately engaged our 3 kids. He gave good instructions that were thorough but not overwhelming— and then got us on the water. Kid were standing on their boards in 15 minutes and parents not long after. It was fun, relaxing even, and our kids were thrilled with their experience! They took some videos and pictures from the beach for us and airdropped them to us, which was much appreciated!

Mathis and Jordy were excellent with the family and helped get us up and surfing. The trip was excellent.

Amazing time with Jordy and Jeff!

Great experience! Sergio was awesome with our kids and was so helpful during their lesson. The beverages and fresh fruit were the perfect way to end a great excursion!

This was exactly everything we hoped it would be. Soma was an outstanding teach/instructor. Very patient with several tips to help you ride your first wave. The setting was excellent, Soma was perfectly on time, and it could not have been better!

Amazing experience! Great work instructors-patient, knowledgeable and so kind. We are aged 55-17 years old and it was the perfect experience!!

We loved our small group surf lessons with Soma and Eduardo. They took 4 of us on a boat directly from our hotel’s beach to a beach with great beginner waves to learn (none of us had experience prior.) He taught us the basics then got us into the waves. It was a 2.5 hour experience in total, and about 1.5-2 hours of it was instruction on the beach and surfing in the water so we got a lot of practice. We were surprised to be able to find good waves in Papagayo area but this was perfect. Soma knew where to take us! And they were kind enough to get pictures of us while we surfed. A great morning adventure!

Our guides were friendly, great teachers, and we felt very well taken care of. Both instructors took care of my kids and they caught great waves their first time out. I highly recommend them!

My daughters and I took surf lessons today. The two gentlemen that helped us were very kind. We had a great time and learned a lot. Can’t wait to come back.

My stay at the Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica, was truly unforgettable. The cuisine, food, and drinks were exceptional—delicious, beautifully presented, and crafted with care. The variety and quality exceeded my expectations, making every meal a pleasure. The views, beaches, and activities were absolutely stunning, offering the perfect blend of natural beauty and adventure. Whether relaxing on the pristine beaches or engaging in the exciting activities, I felt immersed in the breathtaking surroundings. The staff demonstrated thoughtfulness and genuine helpfulness throughout my visit. Their extensive knowledge about ingredients, cooking processes, and allergies made me feel safe and well cared for, attentive to every detail. Embracing the Pura Vida way of life, the atmosphere was laid-back, friendly, and welcoming, adding to the overall sense of happiness and relaxation. I highly recommend this destination for anyone seeking a luxurious, authentic, and enriching experience in Costa Rica.

Francisco and Manuel were amazing guides & teachers. They stayed in the water and gave great instruction after each wave.

Our instructor was so fun and so helpful! The company provided everything, the driver took photos and videos for us. If we could do it over we would have done this every day of our trip.

This was a highlight of our trip. GoSouth picked us up by boat right from the beach of our hotel and took us across the bay to the beginner surf area. They gave us fantastic instruction and safety information on the beach and then took us out into the water. Our 6 and 8 year olds both stood up on their very first try and had such a blast. Soma and Wilber were fantastic instructors and photographers, making the experience so enjoyable. Would highly recommend if you'd like to learn how to surf.

So much fun!! Eddie and Alberto were amazing. I didn’t think I’d be able to get up, but Alberto was a great teacher. Wonderful boat ride to and from the beach

Wow! My 16yo son and I did the beginner lesson. Alberto (instructor) and Wilbur (boat captain) were awesome, super friendly and picked us up by boat. Alberto was a great instructor, got us up and surfing right away,with clear instruction tailored to our ability, great teacher! Wilbur took a ton of great photos for us which is a great added bonus. The beach had perfect waves for learning (3-4ft) with a gentle slope & sandy bottom, so perfect for us novices (1-3 previous lessons over the years) and we got so many waves over the 2 hrs..could not ask for more. Highly recommend!

FIVE STARS! Alberto and Wilber were the BEST surfing instructors/guides we could have asked for. Had all 4 of us - 2 parents and 2 kids - up and surfing within 20 minutes. No one could get enough! To top it off, fresh pineapple, drinks and 100+ photos/videos they captured - really awesome day and memory. Book them!

This was an amazing experience. It was a fun filled day and the instructor and boat captain took great care of us.

The day after our boat to snorkel we (they the children and grandchildren) took surfing lessons. Patient guides that helped everyone succeed!

We had the most incredible time with Francisco for our surf lesson. He was an excellent teacher and super patient with us. The whole experience from the boat ride pick up, to the special location of the lesson, to returning us to our driver was 10/10 from start to finish. We had NO surfing experience in our family of 5, and all 5 of us got up on the board and had a blast. My hard-to-please teenagers said this was their favorite experience and begged to do more. Francisco planting the surfing seed in us for sure. Thank you for an amazing day and experience!

Such a great experience. My daughter was nervous to try surfing and then hopped up on her first attempt at catching a wave with the instructors help. They were great!

We had a 29 people group which you would expect to be pretty chaotic, it was beautifully organized everyone left with a huge smile we had absolutely the best time and the instructors were AMAZING would highly highly recommend this experience

My 4 year old son and I had a surf lesson this morning with our instructor being Alberto and our driver David. I feel like Go South went above and beyond with our family. There was a mixup and our travel agent put the wrong date on our agenda, so we were not there to meet them when they expected us. After some texting we were able to do the lesson later in the morning, and I very much appreciate their flexibility as the mistake was definitely with the travel agent and not GoSouth. My son was very excited to try surfing; I was hesitantly willing. He improved so much in one lesson - he was able to follow instructions and was standing and surfing on low waves well. I would not describe myself as athletic but after some pretty bad attempts Alberto told me another way to try to get up on the board and I was able to a few times! My son is enthusiastic to try surfing again and had a great time so I am very happy with our experience.

We had a great time surfing with Go South. They had our whole family standing and enjoying waves, even my 5 year old. My kids kept asking to go again and again :) They just did a great job teaching us, pushing my kids into waves at first and then teaching them to paddle into waves.

So much fun! The guides were very nice and helpful. One helped push us so we could catch the waves and told us the right timing to paddle and stand up. He was very helpful in teaching us and correcting us. The other one took photos and videos for us! They also gave us fresh fruit afterwards. Overall great experience!!

Amazing experience with our Captain Jesus and surf instructor Alberto. We had 3 teenagers (18,17,14) and 1 parent surf while another parent watched. All suffers were up on their first or second wave and continued to improve through the excursion. Needless to say the instruction was great. It was the hospitality and the way they connected with our children that really made the experience special. If you are looking for a fun experience and want to do it with people that truly care about you, Go South is your best bet. Thanks Alberto & Jesus!!

The surfing lesson at Iguanita Beach was a great and successful way to kick off our Costa Rican adventures. Our instructors were Alberto and Jesus, and they both made getting up on the board so easy! My two kids (age 11 and 13) stood up on their first try and were so excited they did not stop for a break for the entire excursion! My husband and I both successfully rode in waves, too, which I didn't expect to be able to do! The waves were the perfect size for beginners but the water wasn't deep so it didn't feel scary at all when you wiped out. Fun for the whole family. So glad we did it!

Alberto and Chi Chi were the absolute best! Such a fun experience for our family! This was our two boys ages 6 and 8 first time surfing and Alberto made it so fun for them! The setting and waves were perfect and everyone felt accomplished!! We definitely recommend Alberto and would book with him on our next Costa Rica vacation!!

Sergio and Jonathan were fantastic teachers! Our 8 and 11 year olds had a blast too! We stayed at the Andaz Papagayo and this was a perfect experience.

We had an amazing time at our surf lesson! All of the guides were so friendly and helpful. It was definitely a highlight of our trip.

Thank you Sergio for the amazing surfing lessons for our 10 and 13 year olds. It was the highlight of our trip to Costa Rica and you made it such a memorable experience!

Great experience! Very nice guides who brought us to the perfect spot to learn surfing. My wife and I had a blast and even saw dolphins jump out of the water on the way to surf!

How can you complain when your entire family (kids 7 & 9) all get up on their first waves in Costa Rica? Seriously the best trip!! We did the boat tour with Go South and loved the crew so much, we thankfully last minute added the surfing lessons. BEYOND grateful we did. Thanks to the front office for being so accommodating and helpful! Our family had an amazing day in the waves -- we were set in a private cove, just us with the perfect size waves for us to learn. Sergio was incredbiel and super patient with the kids and adults :) The instruction was perfect allowing all of us to feel successful! Baba and Jonathan were in the water helping with the kids, taking pictures and answering endless questions by inquisitive kids on shells and fish. True patience. This was one of our most memorable experiences as a family in Costa Rica and highly recommend this tour! Such a blast!

We had such a fun time! The crew was so nice and took us to a beautiful beginner surf spot where we felt comfortable and safe. Everyone was able to stand up and enjoy an afternoon of riding the waves. Thank you so much for the special memories.

We had a great morning surfing with Sergio at Go South Costa Rica Charters . Sergio was very knowledgeable, friendly, and was able to help all 3 of us improve upon our surfing. The wave was only a few minutes from Playa Hermosa Beach by boat. Learning to surf on a wave that you have all to yourself is perfect for beginner’s, and Go South can take you there.

Very thorough and easy to understand lesson that very quickly taught us the basics of surfing! Everyone was extremely friendly, very helpful, and fun to hangout for the morning! They also provided water, Powerade, and snacks to keep us going! My wife loved how encouraging the instructor was! They kept us motivated and even got us up on a couple party waves!

My husband and I, both in our 40’s, took a trip without kids, and decided to take surfing lessons for the first time. When I initially emailed the company, Rebecca was very prompt and professional. Every question I asked after that was followed up in the exact same manner. She made sure that we had everything that we could want with us on the boat. Walter and Wilber picked us up at our hotel. Both were wearing masks. The boat was very clean, and we felt very safe. All you need to know after that, is that Walter is hands down, the best! He broke everything down for us with regards to surfing, and had us riding waves in no time. We had the best time—even my husband who hates doing things like this with me. We can’t wait to bring our kids back and book lessons for them with Walter. A major plus is that Wilber takes pics and videos the whole time, so you can take the fun home back with you. These guys are classy, safe, and professional. Book them.