About this tour
When Saskia from the Global Hobo crew paddled out in Montezuma, she found herself in capable hands with local instructors who actually know how to teach rather than just rent boards. This two-hour lesson works whether you've never touched a board or you're already riding green waves — instructors pitch you in the white water if you're starting fresh, or take you deeper if you've got the basics sorted. Montezuma's beach has that sweet vibe of a town that hasn't completely sold out yet, and the water's warm enough that you'll forget you're in a lesson.
Highlights
- Local Costa Rican instructors, ISA-certified and lifeguard-trained
- Tailored progression — white water for beginners, ocean waves for improvers
- Surfboard and rashguard supplied, fresh fruit after
- Warm water means less faffing with wetsuits
- Small enough groups that instructors actually watch you
- Montezuma's laid-back beach town atmosphere between sessions
- No pretension — these blokes actually love surfing
What to expect
You'll start on the beach with a quick rundown of board basics and how to pop up without looking like a newborn giraffe. If you're a proper beginner, instructors keep you in the white water where waves break closer to shore — safer, less intimidating, and honestly where most of the learning happens. The water's bathwater-warm, so you won't be shivering through your mistakes. If you've surfed before, you'll get paddled out to proper waves with guidance on positioning and timing.
The instructors are young, patient, and actually from the area, which means they know the breaks and won't push you beyond what makes sense. Two hours moves quickly — feels like you've just got going when it's time out. Finish with some fresh tropical fruit on the sand. Saskia reckoned the pace was spot-on and the instructors remembered details about her form rather than treating it like a conveyor belt.
What travellers say
- Instructors are ISA-certified lifeguards, not just enthusiasts
- Flexible progression fits beginners and improvers equally well
- Local knowledge means they read conditions and adjust real-time
- Montezuma beach feels genuine, not overrun by tour groups
- Warm water and short session length suit nervous first-timers
- Sunblock not provided — essential in tropical midday heat
- Peak season crowds can make beach time hectic
- Two hours passes quickly if you're keen to progress further
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This works for true beginners through to intermediate surfers, so you're not wasting money on a lesson pitched wrong. The instructors are properly qualified — not just sun-tanned blokes with boards. Montezuma itself is chilled without being touristy; you'll see actual locals, backpackers, and families mixed together. The price typically sits well below what you'd pay in places like Indonesia or Mexico for the same level of instruction.
Montezuma's beach can get busy in peak season (Dec–April), so don't expect solitude. You'll walk to and from the water multiple times, and the tropical sun is no joke — the tour doesn't provide sunblock, so bring your own SPF or you'll regret it by evening. Morning lessons are easier on the heat. Bring your own water bottle; they provide fresh fruit but not bottled water. The lesson works in most conditions, but heavy rain or very rough seas might mean modifications.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.