Surf Synergy All-Inclusive Surf Retreat

Surf Synergy was a wonderful experience, and we will go back. I am an upper-level intermediate surfer who went primary for the one-on-one coaching and video analysis. After looking at their website and social media, it appeared as if they focused on beginners, which was great for my wife, who had only surfed once. However, I was concerned that I might not be able to get the more advanced coaching that I wanted. I also had some concerns about it being in Jaco because of some of the things I heard from my friends about the city, especially at night. But I am so glad we went, and I hope this review will capture the awesomeness of this place. I know it’s a long review, but please read to the end because I had a medical emergency that I share in the end, and how the staff helped me. First, Surf Synergy is a beautiful place. While it’s technically in Jaco, you would never know it because it’s on the outskirts of town in a rural environment. We stayed in Bungalow 1 at the top of the hill and had a view of the ocean on one side and breathtaking mountains on the other. The thing we liked most about our bungalow was the shower (with hot water). While part of our room, the shower was outside and included more beautiful plants! They also provided organic soaps, shampoo, conditioner, and bug repellent. My wife works at the Brevard Zoo in Florida, which employs a Master Gardener, and she was surprised that the gardening and landscaping at Surf Synergy is on the same level! There are colorful flowers and plants everywhere you go. You truly feel like you’re in paradise. The bungalows and other buildings complement the landscape and are clean and attractive. Second, the staff was amazing. Marcel, Kriss, Marlin, Jose, and many others, tended to our daily needs and requests. They set up a group chat in WhatsApp, so anytime we needed anything we could just send a message and someone on the team would respond. In addition, Kriss set up a date night for my wife and me at a restaurant in Hermosa, as well as an excursion to Manuel Antonio Nation Park (which was amazing!). Knowing that I was there to celebrate my 50th birthday, the staff also went out of their way to throw me a surprise birthday party, buying and decorating a cake just for me. They also customized meals, taking into consideration special dietary needs, and replacing items that we didn’t like with things we did. The person I connected most with was Marcel, a truly exceptional human being, who I now consider a friend. Speaking of food, every meal was amazing and filling! The food was organic, fresh, healthy, and full of flavor. The highlight for me was the night they served grassfed filet mignon, but I also can’t stop thinking about the homemade bread and jelly, the fruit smoothies, and the seared tuna. The food was one of the highlights of our trip. While they have a very small selection of beer and wine, we bought most of our alcoholic drinks in Jaco. Third, there were so many great act

It's hard for me to put my experience at surf synergy into words, but I'll try. I went with my wife on our honeymoon in June 2024. The Surfing I don't know how to swim, my wife is a former lifeguard, and neither of us had surfed before. We got paired up with our coaches Ana and Nico. They took the time to go through the technique with us, took it slow, and made sure we had fun! My favourite part was when my coach, Nico, went out into the ocean with me, without a board, and helped me get more comfortable in the water. We dove under waves, dove with waves, and just played around in the water. After that, I felt so comfortable in the water, and it's something I'll carry with me forever, so thank you Nico! If you're uncomfortable in the water, please don't let this hold you back, your coach will help you through it. Ask them to go in with you without the board and splash around a bit - it will help! Lastly, you end each lesson with a video analysis session where everybody watches each other's surf videos from the day. You get helpful tips, everyone hypes eachother up, and it's hilarious to see each other inevitably wipe out. It's like a fun movie night every night! The Resort The resort is first class. It found this “synergy” between luxury, comfort and surf. Our bungalow was great. The bed was comfortable, it was cleaned daily, and the bathroom was spacious and gorgeous too. Not to mention the open-air rain shower was awesome and so unique. The common areas were fantastic. The common area at the top of the hill “Casa Cielo” was spectacular. A breathtaking infinity pool, a jacuzzi, loungers, comfy couches and a view you'll never forget. On the inside, there's more couches, and a big dinner table where meals are often hosted. Down the hill, there’s a yoga deck where yoga and other classes are held, and it's probably the coolest place you'll ever do yoga or a breathwork class. The People This is the best part. The people. When we signed up for the resort, we were hesitant to be so involved with other people at the resort and to have communal meals. Especially since it was our honeymoon as we would want a more intimate experience than normal. I feel so silly that I was hesitant about this, as it ended up being the best part. The people in the room next to us were a mom and daughter from the states. They were so friendly and kind, we did everything together! The other people at the resort were 3 families of four, and they were all awesome. Everyone was there for the same reasons - get better/learn how to surf, eat great food, and have fun! We all did that together. By far, my favourite part was the people we met and hung out with, and it's the part I’ll miss the most. Also If you’re a young couple and are hesitant to be at a resort with kids (like we were) I will say I was shocked at how well behaved the kids were! It didn't feel like you were at a 3 year olds birthday party, all the kids were a bit older and very respectful. Not to mention they w

We had an AMAZING time!! My partner uses a wheelchair (C7 spinal injury- quadriplegic), and when we contacted Marcelo at Surf Synergy he helped us organize adaptive surfing for the next day! Elian and Javier did a great job helping him and he felt very comfortable and safe. They were able to help him into the water and onto the board, and he caught a lot of waves! He said it was even better than when he’s done it before in Virginia- he didn’t fall off the board at all and the waves were great! I don’t have any physical limitations, and have some minimal surfing experience, and had a lot of fun too-Gabriel was able to help me improve my skills and learn how to turn! The waves were great and we had such a fun time! Highly recommend!

I'll admit I was skeptical about a surf retreat 1 mile from the coast outside a busy beach town, but Surf Synergy changed my mind--fast. Their main differentiator is the surf coaching. For seven straight days I was in the ocean with guys who knew the breaks, the tides, the swell direction, and of course surfing technique, so they brought me to ideal spots to both enjoy myself and advance my skills. I'm an intermediate surfer who was traveling with a more beginner-level friend, and they hooked him up with a similar experience. I felt like my surfing improved dramatically throughout the week. Equally impressive, on some days our fearless leaders brought us to breaks--with solid waves--where were the only people in the lineup. A+ on that front. The food at the retreat was sublime--fresh, local, and the right amount; three solid meals a day, enjoyed with other guests (all of whom we really liked) and occasionally surf coaches and other staff (all of whom we ALSO really liked). And no stupid snack food lying around (you could of course BYO), which helped me break the snack-because-it's-there habit. The property is a little sanctuary, well manicured but not overly so, with a pleasant tropical vibe and regular appearances from resident iguanas and scarlet macaws and other cool birds. Add in the daily yoga with an awesome teacher, massage, an ice bath, bike rides into town for cocktails, a day trip to Manuel Antonio park, and a super friendly and attentive staff, and you really can't go wrong. HIGHLY recommend this place for anyone hoping to score some waves, improve their surfing and wellness, and meet very cool people.

Great experience. Really thoughtful staff, coaching, and activities. Amazing food, and amazing level of care while you are there. These people really care about the experience and they are selling something they all believe in and thoughtfully deliver. We were a bit taken by some of the safety comments online, but found the area to be safer then our home town of Denver Colorado and, although we did not go out at night and can not speak to that experience, we always felt surrounded by good people and in a safe environment for our 12 and 15 year old kids. We were also a bit concerned about our trip coinciding with the end of the "Rainy" season. Rain in this area is warm and rather nice on a hot day. We biked in the rain, swam in the rain, and in general did not feel the occasional rain was anything but enjoyable. If you want to bring your surfing skills to a new level, or simply want to relax and enjoy the activities, this place really hits the mark. We will be back.

Yes, this place has perfect reviews. That’s not fake or by accident. I have traveled all over the world, and this resort is the most special place I have ever experienced. I just finished my third trip staying there. It’s a small, intimate resort. Even with their new building opening soon they will only have capacity for under 40 guests. They tend to market themselves as a surfing experience, but it is so much more. It’s really a health and wellness retreat and community with surfing as the primary teaching mechanism for wellbeing. But the surfing is just a part of it- you don’t even have to surf if you don’t want to! You will make new friends with the other people staying there- everyone eats and surfs together! It’s an amazing resort, but their killer differentiator is their people and culture. Everyone who works there is world-class at whatever they do. The surfing instructors are all current pros or could be. Cata, the yoga instructor, is the most knowledgeable and effective instructor I have ever had the privilege to work with. Misha, the workout instructor, literally launched CrossFit in Costa Rica and was hired by the UAE government to launch their national CrossFit program in Dubai, which she did for 8 years!!! Tell her what your needs are for your workout, and she will design and deliver it perfectly. I came in with a pulled groin, and she was still able to design a program to work around it and give me an amazing workout. The head chef David designs the most delicious and healthy meals you have ever tasted, all tailored to your specific dietary needs. I’m a foodie, and I’m telling you, that Dude needs a Michelin Star pronto. The staff will all become like family members to you. When your friends see your itinerary here, they will die of envy. The resort offers basically every activity you could ever hope to do. Want to be pampered? Massages, facials and spa offerings galore. Prefer to be adventurous? ATVing, Ziplining, jungle and volcano tours, horseback riding, canyoneering, you name it. Other incredibly underrated wellness activities include breathwork and ice bath (if you haven’t tried these, you don’t know what you are missing). They work with you to design your perfect itinerary, and are super-responsive to your every need. My one learning after three trips there is to not do too much. This resort and country offer so many amazing activities that it is easy to over-schedule yourself. Rest and relaxation is an important part of your wellness experience, so just book another trip rather than trying to cram everything into one. Make this your next vacation. You will thank yourself for a lifetime.

Surf Synergy is way more than a surfing camp. It is a wellness retreat that is top shelf all the way. Your schedule can include not just one-on-one surfing lessons, but yoga, meditation, massage and other activities. The food is outstanding -- no need to ever go into town for food as no one can beat the breakfast, lunch or dinner prepared by master chef Diego and his team. Fresh, always healthy/clean, and delicious! The staff are incredibly gracious, friendly and attentive. If you enjoy getting to know the locals when you travel, you'll love that a member of the team joins your table at meals to share what they love about their life in Costa Rica and learn more about you. You'll truly make friends on this trip. The grounds are a garden of orchids, fruit trees and tropical plants meticulously cared for by a team of gardeners. The bungalows, yoga platform and common areas are all spa-like. This is the perfect vacation for so many audiences: couples, families that want to connect with their young teenagers, a great girls trip, or a guys getaway . This is because they really customize so much of your stay from matching you with the perfect surfing coach, best beach and board for your level, to meals tailored for dietary restrictions or preferences and other activities. All these five star reviews are true!

Our family spent a week at Surf Synergy and had an amazing experience. Everything was exceptional from the comfortable bungalows with fantastic views, delicious food and the wonderful staff made us feel at home. The professionalism and knowledge of the surf instructors made the surf experience incredible, and the Yoga and Massages topped off the stay. We will definitely be back!! Pura Vida!!

Surf Synergy was an amazing experience. The food is incredible (so fresh and healthy) and they can teach anyone to surf. My grown daughter and I went together and had so much fun. The days are full of really healthy activities: morning yoga, breathing exercises, land practice, and then surfing at either sunset or early in the morning. The surf coaches are patient and kind; if they can get me surfing, anyone can learn.