Review of Surf Inn Hermosa in Central America

C-Lioness takes a trip to Costa Rica

Story/Photos By C Lioness and SurfGuru

Review of Surf Inn Hermosa—C-Lioness takes a trip to Costa Rica

One of my favorite surf destinations is the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.  Each year, I escape the summertime flat spells of Cocoa Beach by traveling to this lush tropical paradise where there is no shortage of waves.  Though I have visited Playa Hermosa several times in the past, this latest trip was a special treat because I had the pleasure of staying at the nicest hotel in the area—Surf Inn Hermosa!

Surf Inn Hermosa is the result of one woman’s love of Costa Rica.  Hotel owner Christina Truitt first traveled from her home on the East Coast of the United States to Costa Rica in 2003, and instantly fell in love with the “tranquilo” vibe of the country, which was refreshingly at odds to the achievement-oriented mindset of the Western world.  Christina decided not to go back home, and opened Surf Inn Hermosa so she could live in Costa Rica long-term.

Indeed, the tranquilo vibe defines the Surf Inn to a tee: it stands out in a sea of cheap cabinas as a more upscale lodging where you can truly relax and unwind in comfort and style.  The hotel features all the amenities a visiting surfer could ask for--comfy beds, AC, hot water, cable TV, a complete mini-kitchen, and plenty of space for your surfing buddies, family, or significant other.  Add to it a nifty courtyard-type pool built right into the building structure, an open-air rooftop lounge, a pretty green commons lawn next to the beach, and most importantly, a world-class surf break just steps away, and you’ve got the recipe for the perfect escape.

Surf Inn should appeal to both groups of friends and couples seeking a relaxing retreat.  Though the location makes it perfect for those whose first priority is surfing, many people do visit for other reasons like enjoying the beautiful rainforest and beaches, fishing, diving, etc.  In fact, Surf Inn appeals to such a wide range of people that travelers come here from all over the world—from as far as Russia to New Zealand, the Caribbean, Europe, Morocco, and everywhere in between.  While we were visiting, for instance, we met guys from Peru and UK right in the rooms next us.

Of course, we at Surf Guru care mostly about the surfing experience that a location can offer us.  I made this trip with my boyfriend who is also a surfer, and we both loved the fact that from Hermosa, we were close to several other breaks like Esterillos, Jaco, Boca Barranca, and Caldera, so we could travel to the break that best suited our mood and the conditions for the given day.  The wave in Hermosa is heavy, fast, and often quite hollow, but is subject to a lot of closeouts if the swell is large and at an unfavorable angle.  Such was the case upon our arrival to Costa Rica, so we simply surfed the mellower, playful waves of neighboring town Jaco and the lumbering point break in Caldera until Hermosa calmed down.  It was really fun to make these mini surf trips for added variety.
 
While we chose to “do our own thing” on our surf trip, Surf Inn Hermosa also offers great surf packages for those who want a more guided experience: a Beginner Learn to Surf package, a Hardcore Surf package, and a Learn to Surf plus Yoga and Fitness package.  Christina explains, “many of our clients have asked us to arrange lessons, board rentals, surf outings and meals, so we decided to bundle it together and offer them what they have been asking for… and [they] have been very happy.”

Check out surfinnhermosa.com/packages for more details on Surf Inn’s newest feature.
 
I am so thankful and happy about my trip to Costa Rica this year and my visit to Surf Inn Hermosa.  The experience of getting to surf great waves, being able to walk or make a short drive to cheap, delicious sodas (local Costa Rican restaurants that serve typical cuisine), and lounging around our beautiful hotel in between sessions truly made our trip exactly the escape from the Western world we were seeking.  Many thanks to my amazing surf and travel partner Mark Wolfgang, Surf Guru, and Surf Inn Hermosa for making it a wonderful experience!

For more about Surf Inn Hermosa, check out surfinnhermosa.com

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