Advanced Surfing Lessons

Embark on the surfing adventure of a lifetime with Pro Surfer James Flores and Tico Mae Retreats! Our day-long, advanced surfing lessons have you traveling by boat to our favorite spots in and around Sámara, Costa Rica—including our best kept secrets.

Please note that these advanced sessions are typically only open to participants of our surfing retreats. We offer these as an addition to the surfing lessons included in the retreat cost. For more on our unique surf vacations, refer to our upcoming offerings:

• Surf and Fitness Retreat
• Surfing and Wellness Retreat
• Surf and Family Retreat
• Surfing and Service Retreat

If you are not attending a TMR retreat but are interested in our advanced surfing lessons, contact us about availability.

What You’ll Learn in Your Advanced Surfing Lesson

During your advanced surfing lesson, we’ll greatly expand your surfing knowledge by teaching you how to surf a variety of waves and breaks. Specifically, the advanced-level lesson covers:

• Point breaks
• Beach breaks
• River mouth breaks

Use one of our top-of-the-line surfboards or bring your own as you head out by boat for a day of surfing bliss. Before leaving the white-sand beach of Playa Sámara, James will conduct a personal skill assessment to ensure you get the most out of your advanced surfing lesson. Of course, wind and wave conditions also play a role in determining where your adventure will begin!

Our advanced surfing lessons build on the skills covered in the intermediate program where participants learn about board positioning, wave timing, and effective paddling. If you haven’t fully mastered these, you might be better suited for an intermediate-level surfing lesson. Read more on this in the Requirements section below.

Included Advanced Surfing Lesson

Your advanced surfing lesson with Pro Surfer James Flores and Tico Mae Retreats includes:

• Boat trip to surf breaks (including our secret surf spots!)
• Professional surf instruction
• 4 hours of free surfboard rental*
• Rash guard rental
• DVD of your epic surf session
• T-shirt (yours to keep!)
• Tropical fruit

*We do allow personal surfboards if you decide to bring your own.

Best Lesson Time for Advanced Surfers

At the advanced level, time of day isn’t as much of a factor as it is for our beginner and intermediate surfers. No doubt, we will travel to surf spots at the optimal surfing times of the day, but this varies by surf break. Fortunately, Costa Rica offers phenomenal surfing for advanced surfers year-round!

Requirements for Advanced Surfers

To ensure safety and success, we require participants of our advanced-level program to:

• Have no major injuries or health conditions.
• Be open to learning and having fun.
• Be on time and act responsibly.
• Be able to recognize surf spots, reef breaks, and point breaks.
• Feel comfortable with the board in big water.
• Complete a liability waiver.
• Complete a parental consent form (if under 18 years old).

We also ask that you arrive at your advanced surfing lesson already dressed in your swimsuit or board shorts and that you bring along a bottle of water, sunscreen, and hat. We will provide a rash guard and snacks (tropical fruit!).

Pricing and Package Deals for Advanced Surfing Lessons

Tico Mae Retreats offers a variety of advanced-surfer pricing options and package deals to suit your schedule and budget. The cost includes the use of our surfboards and rash guards, but you may also bring your own.

*TMR’s Surf and Fitness Retreat is an all-levels, all-inclusive surf vacation offered only in April. Learn more on all our upcoming surfing retreats for adults and families and keep up with latest (including surfing tips and earlybird discounts!) by subscribing to our e-newsletter.

Tico Mae Retreats also offers surfing lessons in Costa Rica for beginner and intermediate surfers as well as yoga on the beach. Led by Wendy De Rosa, TMR yoga perfectly complements a day on the water. Please inquire for private and group yoga rates.