Joshua Groves, November 2011

I had an incredible time during my week stay at Surf Camp. I wished I would of planned for 2 weeks! The staff did an excellent time of showing us around Dominical and scheduling activities. By the end of the week I was catching my own waves! Thanksgiving Dinner was impressive and delicious!

Matt Thurburn, November 2011

I've been a little remiss in sending this because I've been so busy .... busy planning my next surfing trip.
      I had such a wonderful time at the surf camp. Ezequiel was not only an excellent teacher and coach but I really had fun bantering and joking around with him. He's a great guy and made the entire experience extremely fun and entertaining.
      The first two days the surf at Dominical was HUGE, 10 to 12 feet, which was intimidating to say the least. So, for the first two day we just rode white water at Domincal. I was up and riding in no time and I spent some time in the afternoons to practice by myself.
      On the 3rd day we went to Domincalito where the waves were still pretty big (for me anyway). Ezequiel was able to put me at ease and teach me different techniques if I happened to get caught inside or in the impact zone. We paddled right out and I think I was up and riding on the first wave. I was immediatedly hooked.
      For the next 4 days we surfed at Domincalito, Ezequiel never far from my side, yelling coaching points ... "paddle faster", "go, go go", "stand up", etc, and gving the occasional push on my board when I wasn't paddling quite hard enough. On day 5 I caught a wave that I rode for what felt like was an eternity .... at least 10 to 15 seconds ... and at that point I knew I was addicted.
      So now I sit here at the computer planning my next trip to Bali... having a hard time thinking about anything other than surfing. I just can't say enough about the positive experience I had with Ezequiel and the surf camp in general. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone and looking forward to my next trip back next summer.

Thank you so much for everything,
Matt

Jeff Black, July 2011

Dear Kaitlin and Cesar,
      This thank you is long overdue. Seth and I cannot begin to tell you how grateful we are for the time we had in Dominical. The lessons were great, the atmosphere was relaxed and the two of you along with Ezekial and George, made it all the more fun and exciting. We felt the love that you have for Costa Rica and for surfing. Costa Rica Surf Camp provides a complete experience. I have told all my friends and co workers about you and invited them to look you up.

Thanks again for a beautiful and relaxing trip. We plan to return and bring Robyn and Morgan.

Andrea Ayers, June 2011

      My brother and I spent a week in Playa Dominical to celebrate my 35th birthday and it was by far the best one yet. The people at Costa Rica Surf Camp were the ones that made this happen. Not only do you get to learn how to surf on a varitey of beaches but you also get to explore and partake in the "local vibe" of the Dominical from the minute you arrive. We were instantly welcomed and shown around. We were also given a multitude of things to choose from to entertain us in our upcoming weeks stay. You will run out of time before you run out of things to do here.

      Lessons are taught in small groups( it was just the two of us) with expert instructors who take the time to make sure you get the most out of your lesson. Being in such small groups was a great way to get the one on one attention you need when you are just a beginner. Thank you to Cesar and Ezequiel!!!

      Kaitilin was a huge help to us from the very beginning by honestly answering any and all questions that were thrown her way. She was very helpful in helping us select everything from airlines to hotels to what and where to eat around town.

      Kaitlin and Cesar were the best "tour guides" we could have asked for(although I hate to call them this because truly they became our friends) There's no better way to explore the Dominical than through the locals themselves. They were both very accomodating, informative and very fun to be around. We went on all kinds of adventures including hikes , waterfall tours, rope swings, scenic lookouts, national parks and gorgeous Costa Rican beaches. I highly recomend taking a trip to Manuel Antonio its totally worth it.

      Playa Dominical is an awesome local surf town with some amazing eateries and fun nightlife. The people are wonderful and the food is DELICIOUS. They have everything from Thai to Sushi to local Costa Rican cuisine. We also really enjoyed being here in the low season. Its nice to be able to relax in a chill environment that is not over run with toursits. We were a little concerned about the "rainy season" but the weather turned out perfect the entire time we were there. Even though it may rain at some point there are still tons of fun things to keep you busy in the rainforest.

      So if you are looking for an affordable, adventurous, beautiful, friendly and "local vibe" type of place for your surfing adventure Playa Dominical is where to be and Costa Rica surf camp is where its at. Even though I never saw that freaking toucan I was looking for all week I'd still go back and do it all over again. THANK YOU Costa Rica Surf Camp for a birthday I will never forget. Pura Vida.

Bethany Lizardi, June 2011

I cannot say enough about Costa Rica Surf Camp! My roommate, Jenna, and I decided it was time for us to go on a vacation together. Costa Rica? Why not! We decided to do a surf camp, and we started to do our research.

We loved every second of our stay with Costa Rica Surf Camp, and we did not want to leave. We felt at home from the second Cesar and Kaitlin met us at the airport. They showed us all around town, where to go on particular nights for food and entertainment, and all the ins and outs you should know as a tourist while visiting Dominical.

All of the instructors were incredible. They really helped us, and made us feel safe for the duration of our lessons. Neither of us had ever surfed before, and we were standing on our boards our first day and riding real waves by day 3. Now we can't get enough of it!

We feel that we have truly become friends with Cesar, Kaitlin, and the rest of the crew at Costa Rica Surf Camp. We spent a lot of time with them outside of surfing. We had lunch together after lessons, had dinner, and went out drinking and dancing. They are a very fun and friendly crew! We can't wait to get back and visit them again!

I would highly recommend Costa Rica Surf Camp to anyone thinking about going. Dominical is absolutely incredible. The food is amazing, the people are friendly, and the waves were perfect, even for beginner surfers. We had researched other surf camps before deciding on Costa Rica Surf Camp, and we can both honestly say that we would have made the same decision in a heartbeat! Thank you Costa Rica Surf Camp for making our vacation so memorable! You guys are fantastic!

Erin Carson, March 2011

     I took a 9 day trip to Costa Rica with one friend, and I can honestly say I hope to make it back once a year!

CR Surf School was absolutely amazing. Kaitlin and Cesar made my first trip to Costa Rica the best trip I have ever taken. Not only was Kaitlin easy to work with prior to getting to Costa Rica, she (and Cesar) made sure we were taken care of while in Dominical. Whether we were walking around town, hiking to waterfalls, checking out Manuel Antonio, or surfing they both made sure to make this an adventure I will never forget.

Surfing was such a blast - Cesar was a great teacher, not only making sure we were giving the proper instruction, but he also helped us catch our own waves. I never felt uncomfortable in the water.

Thank you CR Surf School - can't wait to be back next year!

Mike Zai, December 2010

Had such an amazing time hitting up the waves at Costa Rica Surf Camp. Coming from NYC, Dominical was exactly what I needed to get away from the hustle and bustle from the city. This little town definitely encompasses everything the "Pura Vida" culture stands for. One of my friends came down from San Jose and they let me give her a few of my lessons. The sunsets at this place are unbelievable too.. I brought my waterproof camera and DSLR and took some amazing photos. My only complaint was the rain.. but I guess thatÂ’s what happens when you go to CR in December. Thanks again!.

Johanna Hatzenbuehler, December 2010

I did a two week session at the Costa Rica Surf Camp Dominical. I had an amazing time. I am in my mid 20's, female, and took the trip by myself. Over the two weeks I learned to surf, made friends, and had a ton of fun.
The surf lessons were great-they like to keep the student to teacher ratio very small.(I saw some of the other schools with 5-10 students with one teacher)The personal attention was great and very helpful.
In the past I have been apprehensive about being in the water with large waves, but the teachers were very knowledgeable and helpful I felt completely comfortable in the water.
We started out in the whitewater then moved to some beaches with smaller breaks down south of Dominical. My last lesson was in front of the hotel at Dominical and I feel comfortable going out catching waves by myself now.
Another perk is that they took some pretty impressive photos taken of the waves I caught.
The trip to the waterfall was really nice-Dominical is such a beautiful place.
I can't wait to go back!

Jim Gillman, August 2010

It was a fantastic experience, beyond what I expected. The waves were great, the instructions were great, and everyone was completely friendly, open and accommodating. Dominical is a great small town where it's easy to fit in without worries. I think it was definitely the right choice for me compared to what I hear of the surf camps in the larger cities. I have surfed a lot, but knew that there was a lot I need to learn to step it up. I feel like I got excellent one-on-one tips from Cesar and his group of instructors. I'm anxious to take what I've learned back to the breaks in California.

St. Hilaire Family, November 2010

Cesar, Kaitlin, Ezequiel, Nacho --Thanks so much for a wonderful time! We had alot of fun learning how to surf and really appreciated all the patience and encouragement. The kids had a blast and keep asking to go back. Alix wants to play in the sand with Ezequiel & Nacho again!! You made it fun for all of us, it was truly a great vacation. Dominical is beautiful and all the people were so friendly. Thanks for taking us to the waterfall too, the kids had fun skipping stones with Cesar :)

Villas Rio Mar was a good fit for our family, toucans and iguanas to watch surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Doug, Kaisa, Alex, Elsa Levine, April 2010

What a memorable vacation! Alejandro and his guys were incredible, they took great care of us in every way. Surfing was awesome... Dominical is a great spot to visit for all ages, and Costa Rica Surf Camp is the best! Thanks so much, we will come back soon. Doug, Kaisa,Alex and Elsa

Greg, Katy and Maya Govan, July 2010

      Costa Rica Surf Camp goes beyond surf instruction on a phenomenal beach.
      Cesar, Nacho, and Kaitlyn made this vacation the BEST our family has ever experienced.
Cesar and his crew made this surf vacation a dream come true.
We are returning to Cesar's fantastic team.
       Cesar and Nacho, the instructors, worked well with all three of us beginners. We practiced on the sand and rehearsed ocean safety before beginning with surfing the white water. Although we all “popped” up on the first session in the white water, Cesar and Nacho continued to support us with gradually more challenging waves. As our confidence and skills increased, we explored different breaks at various beaches. Cesar adjusted the schedule of the sessions to the best time of the day for our level of surfing. Cesar demonstrates a talent for teaching. Maya continues to talk of Nacho. His humor and gentleness inspired Maya to surf every day (even when she was already tired). We are so grateful for the wonderful care from Cesar, Nacho, and Kaitlyn.
Cesar and Kaitlyn customized our activities based on our needs and preferences.
      Dominical is a hub for great activities. We used the local bus and taxis for excursions (and did not need a car). We are great food at local restaurants. Our daughter preferred Tortilla Flats because of the food, the friendly servers, and the craft tables presenting artisan work across the street. We liked the social scene and the beach panoramas. We visited the reserve Hacienda Baru, kayaked in the mangrove reserve, rode horses to waterfalls, and flew on the mild zip line at the flight of the toucans. On mellow days, we read books by the pool. Muchas gracias por todo. Esperamos que nos encontremos en 2011. Pura Vida y mas alla.

Jamie, Elena, Garrison, Victor Verner, April 2010

Alejandro,

I want to tell you that we had a delightful experience, and that you possess that rare combination of skill, knowledge, personality and ability (and desire) to teach, which makes for a World Class instructor. The kids and I had a great time, and they learned more than I had hoped for.

Thanks for sending the surf board recommendations, and web links. I honestly have been too swamped to look into it just yet, but I did receive your emails this time, and I will endeavor to get boards for the kids as soon as I can. I'm having my mother mail their wet suits up to Connecticut from Florida (where we bought them for swimming last winter), so that we can do some surfing in New York now and then. Thanks again for a real awesome time.

Cheers, Jamie

Mike, Cheyenne, Dillon and Ronan McGlue, Carlos, Carith, April 2010

     Thank you for the best family vacation yet. Every instructor with the Costa Rica Surf Camp was excellent. They were knowledgeable about ocean safety and surfing skills and were able to use their backgrounds to help inform all of us, were attentive to our individual needs while surfing and also made it a fun experience. They were also excellent with the kids. Alejandro and Kelsey were so kind and really welcomed us into their family and community. They both went beyond anything that we could have expected to insure that all of us were enjoying ourselves and getting everything and more out of our trip. You have done a great job with the surf camp. Dominical is a very beautiful place that we hope remains as small as it is. Honestly there was not anything we could have done for a better vacation. We highly recommend the Costa Rica Surf Camp for everybody, families, couples, beginners, intermediates, they can meet your needs regardless. Thanks so much to all of you (Nac! ho - Dillon and Ronan still talk about you) for a memorable surf vacation. We cannot wait to return. Miss you guys, and many, many thanks for everything.

The McGlue/Kamermans Family