{"id":37334,"date":"2018-09-26T14:21:25","date_gmt":"2018-09-26T14:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/164.68.121.224\/wrsc\/?page_id=37334"},"modified":"2025-09-11T06:16:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T12:16:12","slug":"frequently-asked-questions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/164.68.121.224\/wrsc\/frequently-asked-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Costa Rica Surf Camp \u2013 Frequently Asked Questions<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhere is Witch\u2019s Rock?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Witch\u2019s Rock Surf Camp is in Tamarindo, in the province of Guanacaste, in Northwest Costa Rica, on the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>

The famous Witch\u2019s Rock surf break is an advanced wave in the heavily protected Santa Rosa National Park, North of Tamarindo, near the Nicaraguan border. It takes about 2 hours to get to the surf spot from our camp in Tamarindo.<\/p>

There are no buildings or commercial development allowed in the National Park (a very good thing) so the best way to get to the break is by boat, which we\u2019ve been doing year-round since 2001.<\/p>

Tamarindo is the vibrant little hub of surfing in Northern Costa Rica, with great waves for surfers of all abilities<\/a>, over 40 different restaurants, shops, activities, spas, yoga, and easy access to the Liberia Airport (LIR) 1 hour away.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat airport should I fly in to?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Liberia (LIR) is the closest airport, and should always be the first choice. We offer free shuttle service on Saturdays, and it is only an hour\u2019s drive away. \u00a0If you arrive on a non-Saturday, we can pick up your whole reservation for $96.<\/p>

Sometimes flights into the capital city of San Jose (SJO) can often be much cheaper, so it is worth checking, and weighing your options. If you decide to fly into San Jose, there are several ways to get to Tamarindo: Regional Airlines: There are regional flights from the San Jose \u00a0International Airport direct to Tamarindo on the small planes of
Sansa Airlines\u00a0<\/a><\/p>

Sansa is often the easiest, since they fly out of the San Jose International Airport. Rates average around $100 per person, each way. Shuttle Vans: We can arrange to pick you up and drop you off in San Jose with one of our vans or a partner company. Vans have the advantage of being able to pick you up day or night (the regional airlines have limited schedules) and are generally cheaper for any group over two people ($300 total cost for the shuttle each way).<\/p>

We\u2019re also happy to combine shuttles with other guests where possible. Buses, Rental Cars, Etc: Of course, we can help coordinate whatever travel you may need. Many guests are coming from somewhere else in Costa Rica, or Central America, or headed off to another location afterwards.
Call us at 1-888-318-7873! We\u2019ll give you the straight advice and help you find the travel options that best fit your schedule and budget.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIs Costa Rica Safe?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Tamarindo is definitely a safe and easy destination for travellers.
We wrote a whole blog on this topic here<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShould I bring my board?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

We have a broad selection of boards ranging from Channel Islands thrusters and Hynson fishes to fun shapes and longboards. We also carry brands like Firewire, Catch Surf, Robert August, Walden, Torq, and many more. We currently have over 120 boards to choose from. Most surfers will find something sweet to ride, and can also try out different boards that you usually wouldn\u2019t ride back home.<\/p>

You can bring your own boards, but airline travel is always a risk with surfboards. They charge high fees but treat boards like crap.<\/p>

If there\u2019s a magic board you just don\u2019t want to surf without (we completely understand) then just make sure to wrap it up like a unicorn\u2019s egg. Extra bubble wrap, make pool noodle protection sleeves around nose, rails, and tail. Remember those old Samsonite ads with the Baggage Mangler Gorilla?<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCan I use American Currency?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Yes. No sweat. Everyone takes US Dollars. ATMs usually offer either Colones (the local currency) or USD. You will probably get change back in Colones, however, which is more fun anyway, because then you feel like you really went somewhere foreign.<\/p>

The exchange rate fluctuates, but generally stays in the neighborhood of 650 – 690 Colones per 1 USD. So if a beer costs 2000 Colones, that\u2019s about $3. It\u2019s easy to get the hang of it. Prices everywhere are usually listed in Colones, sometimes in Dollars.<\/p>

Some places will even accept Canadian Loonies\u2026but don\u2019t count on that. Other currencies can be exchanged at the Airport or bank.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDo I need to speak Spanish?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

No worries if you don\u2019t, but it adds to the experience if you do. Many Costa Ricans who work in tourism speak some level of English, many fluently. All of the employees at at Witch\u2019s Rock are bilingual and are willing to help you out.<\/p>

Try out some Spanish while you are here, folks are friendly and helpful about it, or let us know if you want to take spanish lessons at one of the excellent language schools right here in Tamarindo.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDo I need a special visa?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Not if you are from any of the countries listed below. All visitors are required to have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the dates of the trip.<\/p>

Visitors from the following countries are allowed to stay for 90 days without a visa:<\/p>

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, United States and all European countries except from Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Czech Republics, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia.<\/p>

Visitors from these countries are allowed to stay for 30 days without a visa:<\/p>

Australia, Belize, China, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, The Philippines and Venezuela.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDo I need any special vaccines?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

No, not unless you are flying into Costa Rica from one of the countries that has been flagged as at risk for yellow fever:<\/p>

AFRICA SUB SAHARAN:<\/p>

Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Saw Lioness and Sudan.<\/p>

SOUTH AMERICA:<\/p>

Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador.<\/p>

CARIBBEAN:<\/p>

French Guyana.<\/p>

AFRICA SUB SAHARAN:<\/p>

Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria,\u00a0Saw Lioness and Sudan.<\/p>

SOUTH AMERICA:<\/p>

Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador.<\/p>

CARIBBEAN:<\/p>

French Guyana.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat should I bring?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Coming down to our area, you really don\u2019t need to bring a lot, you could get by during the week with a swimsuit, flip flops, t-shirt & sunscreen but if you would prefer to be a bit more prepared, here is our suggested packing list:<\/p>