christinerF1902TD, Jul 2026
Surf Factory was easily my highlight of our trip to Costa Rica
Our family of four booked a lesson with two instructors, and it was the perfect setup. While one of us caught a wave, the other instructor was already getting the next person into position, so there was very little downtime. The 1.5-hour lesson might sound short, but surfing is a surprisingly intense full-body workout. By the end, we were happily exhausted.My instructor, MJ, was fantastic. Positive, encouraging, and incredibly good at reading the waves, she offered just the right amount of coaching and technique adjustments while helping us conserve energy between rides. It was her mission was to get everyone standing—and she succeeded. All four of us were riding waves during our very first lesson.A tip for future beginners: spend a little time beforehand watching videos on the “pop-up” technique and maybe do a few planks or mountain climbers. You’ll get even more out of your lesson if those movements feel familiar, but don’t worry if you don’t, we all had success anyway.One unexpected highlight was the photography. We hadn’t planned on buying photos, but Nadine captured incredible images from the beach and even with a drone. The quality was so good that we happily bought the package, and those photos have become some of our favorite souvenirs.The only small improvement I’d suggest is sending a bit more arrival information beforehand. We weren’t sure where to park or what to expect, but they have secure parking, lockers, rash guards, and boards ready to go. Also, our lesson time shifted slightly closer to the date, which I assume was to match the best tide conditions. It was absolutely worth the flexibility.We’ve done a lot of amazing activities in Costa Rica, but this is the one I keep thinking about. Every time I remember that morning, I smile. I’d book with Surf Factory again in a heartbeat.
