Private Surf lessons in Santa Teresa Beach

The best part of this lesson is its private format. You are not trying to hear an instructor over a large class or waiting for your turn on the beach. Sammy, Ryan, or another instructor can focus on your level, from first attempts at standing to advanced work on bottom turns, cutbacks, and roundhouses.

I like two things right away: the surfboard is included, and the coaching can change to suit your ability. The instructors are also praised for patience and clear explanations, with one first-time pair managing to catch some strong waves during their first session.

The main consideration is time. Ninety minutes is enough for a useful introduction, but it passes quickly once you cover safety, technique, paddling, and practice in the water. Surfing also depends on good weather and suitable conditions, so your schedule may need some flexibility.

Key points before you book

• Private 90-minute coaching: Your group receives the instructor’s attention rather than sharing a large class.
• Lessons for every level: Beginners learn the basics, intermediate surfers work on reaching the lineup and catching green waves, and advanced surfers can practice turns.
• Santa Teresa or Hermosa Beach: The lesson takes place at one of two nearby beach areas, with the exact setting suited to the session.
• Board included: You do not need to arrange a separate surfboard for the lesson.
• Patient instruction: Sammy and Ryan have received especially warm praise for explaining techniques carefully and helping first-timers make progress.
• Simple meeting point: Start and finish at Santa Teresa Extreme Center, 100 meters north of the soccer field in Santa Teresa de Cóbano.

Why a private lesson makes sense in Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa is a natural place to try surfing, but a beach lesson is only as useful as the attention you receive. With a private session, the instructor can watch how you position your feet, how you paddle, and how quickly you react when a wave arrives.

That matters because surfing problems are often small. Your stance may be too narrow. You may look down instead of forward. You may push up too slowly, or place your weight too far over the nose. In a shared class, you might repeat the same mistake several times before an instructor gets to you. Here, the format gives the coach more room to correct it early.

The session lasts about one hour and 30 minutes. That is a good length for a first lesson because it allows time for an explanation on land and practice in the water. It is not an all-day surf camp, and you should not expect a long progression through several techniques. Think of it as a focused coaching session with enough time to get a real feel for the sport.

The activity is also flexible in a useful way. You are not locked into a beginner script if you already surf. The instructor can work on paddling out to the lineup, catching unbroken green waves, or refining more advanced turns.

Starting at Santa Teresa Extreme Center

Your meeting point is Santa Teresa Extreme Center, located 100 meters north of the soccer field in Santa Teresa de Cóbano. The activity starts and ends at this same place, which keeps the arrangements simple.

You should plan to arrive ready for a beach activity and allow a little time to find the center. The stated operating hours are from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day, covering Monday through Sunday. The experience is also near public transportation, which helps if you are staying in Santa Teresa without your own vehicle.

The supplied information identifies Santa Teresa as the meeting location, while the lesson itself may take place in Santa Teresa or Hermosa Beach. Confirm the beach details when you book or meet the instructor. That small check is worthwhile, especially if you are arranging your day around other activities.

Because the activity returns to the meeting point, you do not need to plan for a separate end location. That is handy in a beach town where transport plans can otherwise become vague.

What happens in a 90-minute session

The lesson begins with the basics appropriate to your ability. A complete beginner can expect instruction on how surfing works, how to stand on the board, and how to control it. These first explanations may sound simple, but they are the foundation for staying balanced and making safe choices in the water.

Beginners should pay close attention to the standing technique. The aim is not just to jump up quickly. You need to place your feet correctly, keep your weight centered, and face the right direction. The instructors have been praised for taking time with these details rather than rushing people into the water.

Once practice begins, the focus shifts to applying the lesson. You may work on catching small waves and standing for the first time. The experience of getting even a few successful rides can make a first lesson feel worthwhile, but conditions and personal balance vary. No instructor can promise a particular number of waves.

For intermediate surfers, the session moves beyond simply standing. You can work on paddling out to the lineup and catching green waves, meaning waves that have not yet broken. This is a useful step because reading and catching an unbroken wave requires more timing than riding whitewater toward the beach.

Advanced surfers receive instruction in techniques such as bottom turns, cutbacks, and roundhouses. These are not beginner maneuvers, so the private setting becomes more valuable at this level. The instructor can focus on body position and timing rather than spending the session explaining how to stand.

The lesson is customized, but the exact sequence is not specified. If you have a clear goal, tell the instructor at the start. A beginner might want help standing consistently. An intermediate surfer might want to catch cleaner green waves. An advanced surfer might want to sharpen a particular turn.

Santa Teresa and Hermosa Beach

The lesson can be held in Santa Teresa or at Hermosa Beach. Both locations are part of the same general surf experience, but the beach selected for your session can affect how the lesson feels.

Santa Teresa is the main meeting area and the practical choice if you want to keep arrangements easy. Hermosa Beach gives the provider another setting for the lesson. The supplied information does not specify which beach is used for each skill level, how conditions differ, or how transport between the two is handled.

That means you should not assume you can simply walk to either beach without checking. Ask where you will meet the instructor and where the water portion will take place. This is especially important if you are carrying personal items or have a tight schedule afterward.

The setting is part of the appeal, but the quality of the session depends more on matching the coaching to your ability. A beginner needs clear instruction and close attention. An experienced surfer needs useful feedback rather than a repeat of the standing lesson.

The instructors and teaching style

Sammy is specifically praised for being patient and teaching a lot during the session. That combination matters. Patience keeps a first lesson from feeling stressful, while clear instruction gives you something practical to work on after each attempt.

Sammy and Ryan taught one complete beginner pair who arrived with no experience and left having caught some strong waves. That does not guarantee the same result for everyone, since weather, surf conditions, fitness, and balance all play a part. It does show the lesson is set up to help people who are starting from zero.

I would tell you to listen carefully during the land instruction, even if you are eager to get in the water. The most useful part of a surf lesson is often the short correction that changes how you approach the next wave. Ask questions if a movement is unclear, and tell the instructor if you have surfed before.

The session is private for your group only. That makes it a good fit for friends, couples, or families who want to learn together without an unrelated class sharing the lesson. It also gives the instructor a better chance to adapt the pace.

Is the $100 price good value?

The price is $100 per person. That is not the cheapest way to spend 90 minutes in Santa Teresa, but the value rests in what is included and how much attention you receive.

A surfboard is provided, so you do not have to arrange separate equipment for the lesson. You are also paying for a private activity rather than a large group session. If close coaching is important to you, that difference may justify the price.

The private format is particularly useful for first-timers who want repeated corrections. It can also make sense for an intermediate or advanced surfer who wants specific technical help instead of a broad introduction.

The value is less clear if you only want to try standing on a board once and do not care about personal instruction. Ninety minutes is a limited window, and surfing is physically demanding. You may finish tired, especially if it is your first time, so consider the price alongside the quality of coaching you want rather than treating it as a simple equipment rental.

The experience is commonly booked about nine days ahead, which suggests planning in advance is wise. That is especially true if your schedule in Santa Teresa is short or you need a particular morning or afternoon time.

Who will enjoy this most

This is a strong choice for a first surf lesson because the instruction begins with basic board control and standing technique. The positive teaching details also make it suitable for people who want encouragement without being hurried.

It suits an intermediate surfer who wants help reaching the lineup or catching green waves. Those skills can be difficult to improve alone because timing and positioning are hard to judge from the board.

Advanced surfers may also find value here, provided they communicate what they want to work on. Bottom turns, cutbacks, and roundhouses require specific feedback, and a private instructor can focus on the movement instead of covering general basics.

The lesson may be less suitable if you want a full-day surf program, a long beach outing, or a structured course over several days. The information provided covers one 90-minute session, not a multi-lesson progression.

Most people can participate, but the activity still requires you to be comfortable taking part in a surf lesson. If you have concerns about your fitness or ability to participate, ask the provider before booking.

Weather, timing, and cancellation

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off uses local time.

Confirmation is provided when you book. Since the lesson may take place in Santa Teresa or Hermosa Beach, use that confirmation to check the meeting details before setting out.

I would avoid placing this lesson immediately before an important appointment. The session ends back at the meeting point, but surf conditions and the physical nature of the activity make a little breathing room sensible.

Should you book this surf lesson?

Book it if you want a private, focused introduction to surfing and value patient instruction more than the lowest possible price. The included board, flexible coaching, and options for beginners through advanced surfers make the session useful for a wide range of ability levels.

I would be especially comfortable recommending it to a first-time surfer who wants clear help with standing and board control. Sammy and Ryan are singled out for patient teaching, and the first-timer experience shows that the lesson can help beginners make real progress.

Think twice if you want a longer course or need a guaranteed result. No 90-minute lesson can promise perfect waves or advanced ability, and the weather may require a change of plans. For a compact, private surf session in Santa Teresa, though, this is a sensible choice.

FAQ

Where does the surf lesson meet?

Meet at Santa Teresa Extreme Center, 100 meters north of the soccer field in Santa Teresa de Cóbano, Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

Where does the lesson take place?

The 90-minute lesson takes place in Santa Teresa or at Hermosa Beach.

How long is the activity?

The surf lesson lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

How much does the lesson cost?

The price is $100 per person.

Is a surfboard included?

Yes. Use of a surfboard is included in the lesson.

Can beginners participate?

Yes. Beginners are welcome and receive instruction on surfing basics, standing up, and controlling the board.

Can intermediate surfers take the lesson?

Yes. Intermediate coaching can cover paddling to the lineup and catching green waves.

Can advanced surfers take the lesson?

Yes. Advanced instruction can cover techniques such as bottom turns, cutbacks, and roundhouses.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private lesson.

What happens if poor weather cancels the lesson?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the experience to be canceled.