Customer Reviews

The Surfer's Guide to Costa Rica & SW Nicaragua

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I took this book with me to Costa Rica a couple of years ago and it was worth every penny and them some. Everything including the tips on packing, where to stay, and where to surf was good, solid, useful information. The maps were a little crude, but there are driving instructions on how to get to the breaks. (To be fair, the author does not claim that this is a map book and recommends a company that specializes in road maps.) The book focuses on those issues and needs from the perspective of a traveling surfer, nothing in here about kayaking or bird watching. There are several charts, organized by location, showing dozens of places to stay with information about prices and amenities. Like most surfers, I don't like to commit to a place and time weeks in advance, so it really helps to have a handy reference to local lodging (especially in a foreign country). Given how hard it is to describe how a spot will break at all times on all tides, the description of the surf breaks was generally accurate (at least on the dozen or so spots I did visit). If you're traveling to Costa Rica to surf, take this book.

It's nearly impossible to put a price on the value of the information in this book if you surf. So at $21, it's an absolute steal.

The book is simply crammed with detailed, up to date information on where to surf, stay and eat in Costa Rica. And in a country that's tough to get around, Parise's information can save you tons of wasted travel time.

I can't recommend this book enough if you're planning a trip to Costa Rica to surf. Trust me...you'll be thankful to have this incredibly informational resource in your possession.

My hat goes off for Mike Parise, job well done. A super book for anyone wanting to ride waves. a lot of other great information as well about being able to survive in a different culture. Made my trip much more enjoyable and was a book that I picked up the first day in Costa Rica at a surf shop. Great work period.

it is written in common parlance, and therefore it is easy to understand. I can tell when reading this that the author speaks from experience. he mentions many things to avoid, and important handy tips that will make your surfing stay much more enjoyable. he also realizes the importance of getting as much "surf time" as possible by delineating routes that will minimize the time driving, and maximize time in the tube.
also it is written in a lighthearted fashion that reminds you that you are on a surf trip, and helps you forget the stresses of being in completely different country.
on the downside, there are a few comments in this book that are not the most considerate. for example, this book somehow assumes that the reader is a man and tackles the subjects of jock itch, balls (testicles), and lugging your girlfriend/wife around. a female friend who surfs found this aspect a tad inconsiderate. however, these trespasses are a mere annoyance, which does not discredit this from being an overall very good book.

If you're planning on going down to Costa Rica to surf, the only two books you need are this one (a must have to learn about all the breaks) and the Moon Handbooks: Costa Rica by Christopher P. Baker. Forget the others. I bought them and found them useless.

this is a great book if you are going to costa rica, it has great detail and maps, nothing to detailed but it tells you what maps to buy, would reccomend

This book is extremely informational and the seller also added some useful tips. Great service and fast shipping. Highly recommended

This book definitely made our trip to Costa Rica much easier. The good thing about it is that he lists surf spots without telling you too much about them so you still have the element of exploration in your trip. And you still get to discover your own. I would recommend reading this before you go and Costa Rica is an amazing place to surf!

I've been surfing Costa Rica for 9 years and bought one of the earliest published versions of this book. While growth was slow and things weren't changing quickly, the book was very good. Now, the book gets outdated almost as soon as it goes to print.

The book gives accurate information on all of the major breaks in CR, even though it does leave out some of the out of the way places. (I gave the book an extra star for that.)

If you are looking for information on places to stay at the different breaks, the book is marginal, due to the changing conditions, but if you use it to plan your trips to different breaks, it's worth the price.

This book was a lifesaver. You gotta read it BEFORE you go out, because at one spot we hit, turned out to be alligator infested.
But this book is essential and tells spots that would normally be a mystery. Breaks on and off the beaten path.