Costa Rica Surf Report for March 23, 2000

Brought to you each Thursday evening by local surf businesses throughout Costa Rica. See http://www.crsurf.com/links.html for pics., forecast links, and tide charts. Check out the TIME MACHINE to see how it looked this week - Last Year!!!


FEATURES
National Stats:
Tides
Swell Direction
Area Reports:
Wave Heights & Conditions
Forecasts & Best Spot
Upcoming Events / Contests


SPONSORS by Area

1) Surfpati at Vista Villas / R.A. surf shop Tamarindo (506-653-0114) in Tamarindo - surfpati@racsa.co.cr

2) Louis at Hotel Las Tortugas (653-0458) in Playa Grande - nela@cool.co.cr

3) Steve at Tropicos Latino (640-0062) in Playa Santa Teresa
troplat@sol.racsa.co.cr

Kristian up in the North Nicoya Peninsula
surf_witch@hotmail.com

4) Martine at Hotel Café de Paris (682-0087) in Nosara
cafepari@sol.racsa.co.cr

5) Tommy at Fuego del Sol Hotel (in Playa Hermosa)

6) Chuck at Chosita del Surf (643-3328) in Jaco
chucks@sol.racsa.co.cr

Todd at Alacran Surf Tours in Manuel Antonio (777-1721)- alacran@sol.racsa.co.cr

David at Escuela D’Amore (777-1143) in Manuel Antonio – damore@sol.racsa.co.cr

7) Vida Verde Land Management & Sales (787-0116) in Dominical
vidaverde@sol.racsa.co.cr

8) Chris & Tanya at WWW.DOMINICAL.NET in Dominical

Paco at Hotel Rio Lindo (787-0078) in Dominical
hotelriolindo@sol.racsa.co.cr

Mel Baker at A.T.E.C. (750-0191) in Puerto Viejo - atecmail@sol.racsa.co.cr

Cabinas Casa Verde (750-0015 fax 750-0047) in Puerto Viejo
http://www.greencoast.com/casaverd.htm or atecmail@sol.racsa.co.cr


TIDES (for Puntarenas) – Mareas

** New Moon - March 4th, Full Moon - March 19th **

High tide (Friday) – Marea alta (viernes)
5:39 a.m. @ 8.7 ft. – 262 cm.

Low tide – Marea baja
11:37 a.m. @ 0 ft. – 0 cm.


SWELL DIRECTION -- DIRECIÓN DEL SWELL

Pacific – Long period swells will continue to funnel in from the NW and SSW which will make large surf (1-3 foot overhead) through the weekend. Early morning high tides next week will make for glorious morning sessions at most all beachbreaks.

Caribbean – The swell from the East has disappeared leaving surf under chest high at most beaches. Nothing new expected to arrive by next Wednesday. Use the website to see the daily weather conditions in Limon.


AREA REPORTS

NICOYA (N)

(1) From Patti at Best Western Vista Villas in Tamarindo -
AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
Early morning glassoff at dawn patrol, increase of wave height late Friday with a SW push 4'- 6'. Fun surf from Oli's Point to Playa Negra....Early morning glassy with choppy faces in the midday.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
Increase slightly of SW swell with offshores in the am and some onshore switch mid day. Possible glassoff at sunset.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
Playa Grande in the am, Playa Avellanes holding okay through low to midtide with some variable winds, Playa Negra headhigh am with onshore winds midday.

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
Triple shot of music at VistaVillas Wed- Ladies night with free margies and Bob Benjamin. Jessie Bishop rocks out on Thurs and Island Dreamers Jazzy / Blues on Friday. Sunset music and Pizza.......Watch for the newest Surfin Corner with Surfpati, coming soon in the Tico Times.....

(2) From Louis at Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande -
AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS: We've enjoyed overhead swell here now for weeks. For the last few days it has been running a few feet overhead and exceptionally clean. Yesterday it dropped a foot for an excellent daybreak session with light crowds - late onshores blew out the afternoon session which was stacking up to be a beauty.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves): With the tides high in both the morning and evening we are looking forward to great conditions. The swell has been typically consistent for March and the off shore winds are holding farely well, often all day long.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA: The waves in front of the hotel have been uncrowded and excellent from about half to three quarter tide.

(3) From Steve at Tropico Latinos in Santa Teresa -
AREA WAVE HEIGHTS & CONDITIONS:
Surf has continued consistent over the last week 2 -4' mainly SW but with enough angle for decent shape. This morning was head high and clean at Playa Carmen. Offshores are becoming more infrequent, though there was a good blow yesterday a.m.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND:
NW swell??

BEST PLACE TO SURF IN YOUR AREA THIS WEEKEND:
Tide is set almost perfect for double sessions at Playa Carmen.

(4) Martine at Hotel Cafe de Paris in Nosara -
AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
OVERHEAD SOMETIMES BIGGER IN THE HIGH TIDE, GLASSY IN THE MORNING

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
SAME WAY

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
CAMARONAL


JACO & HERMOSA
(5) From Tommy at Hotel Fuego del Sol in Hermosa - 3-23, 2000 - Tulin River mouth is real good in the morning Kinda big. The tide is low at 12Pm tomorrow . Tides are running about 9ft. Good wind all day so, it was one of those days whew!!!! Pura Vida!!! More Pictures at: www.fuegodelsol.com/page3.html

(6) From Chuck at Chosita del Surf in Jaco -
AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
Jaco - Thursday a.m. looks 2-4 ft but the tides are still large and dropping so could be a bit bigger in the p.m. wind onshore light but steady at 8:30 a.m.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
Great tides for the area sat. and sun. 2 high tides means 2 fun surfs right out front , clouds are building daily in the mountains but chances of rain are not good !

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
I probably will surf right out front but the masses will do Playa Hermosa!

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
Alvaro Solano once again overall champ in the Ecuador - Galapagos events! Way to go !


QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO
see National Report above


DOMINICAL & SOUTHERN PACIFIC

(7)From Sean at Montanas de Vida Verde in Dominical:
AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
Good head high to over head on sets. been low tides in the mornings but if you get up you may find some hidden barrels. Like always off shore in the morning and pretty mild wind all day. evening ses been good on up coming tides.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
Looks like there should be something coming for the weekend, we´ll see

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
Playa dominical is the place to be

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
Surf contest in playa dominical, held by Thrusters. Also- Gino and jen were married at the beach of roca verde on Friday March 17th..Congrats!!!

(8) From Chris & Tanya at Dominical.net -
AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
6-8 ft faces, some good peaks, otherwise big shoulder rides. Early morning/afternoon clean and offshore, then mushy and bumpy.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
A little push in swell adding a few more feet, 8-10ft faces, clear lovely weather

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
Playa Dominical

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
Surf contest soon $1000 prize, TV coverage, party, watch this space!!!


CARRIBEAN
See National Report above