SURF RANCH · SAN JUAN DEL SUR
San Juan del Sur or Tamarindo?
Both trips can include surfing. Choose Tamarindo for a small hotel across the road from the Pacific. Choose San Juan del Sur for pool days, skating and surf lessons with a beach ride. The coast in the cover photo is Tamarindo.
COSTA RICA · NINE ROOMS
Cross the road to Tamarindo Beach
Tamarindo is the easier choice if seeing the waves on foot is part of your morning. The hotel sits across the main road from the beach. You can look at conditions before breakfast and decide how much time to spend by the water.
All nine rooms have A/C, Wi-Fi and private bathrooms. Direct bookings include breakfast at Café 13 from 8 to 10 am. Check-in starts at 3 pm and checkout is by 11 am. Use the Tamarindo room search for prices and the option to add an airport shuttle.
NICARAGUA · POOL AND SKATEPARK
Stay inland and make the beach an outing
In San Juan del Sur the pool, waterslide and concrete skatepark are on the resort grounds. For a first surf lesson, the SJDS Surf & Stay package includes board use during the lesson and the return beach ride. This works well when one person wants to surf and the rest would prefer pool time.
Standard rooms sleep two. Condos and villas sleep up to four. Breakfast comes with direct stays, and you can add the SJDS all-inclusive meal plan. Check-in starts at 2 pm and checkout is by noon.
ONE TRIP OR TWO STOPS
Compare the day you actually want
For a short stay centered on walking to the beach and heading out for meals, look at Tamarindo first. For two adults and two children who want a single unit, resort activities and flexible surf lessons, compare the SJDS condos and villas. Use identical dates and guest counts when comparing accommodation totals.
If you plan to stay in both countries, check both calendars before paying and arrange the transfer between stops separately. Allow time for the international border and confirm your ride before leaving either hotel. Direct stays earn 2% back in Surf Ranch Rewards after checkout and full payment. Use the same email for both.