Costa Rica Surf Report for April 20, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 - April 4th, Full Moon - April 18th **

High tide (Friday) – Marea alta (viernes)
4:47 p.m. @ 9.1 ft. – 277 cm.

Low tide – Marea baja
10:30 a.m. @ .2 ft. – 6 cm.

SWELL DIRECTION -- DIRECIÓN DEL SWELL

Pacific – A slight swell from the NW is keeping the chest to head bumps around, but expect a bigger swell to arrive from the SSW. Waves in the overhead range will continue to increase by Monday to 1-2 feet overhead by next Wednesday at south facing beaches.

Caribbean – A small SE swell will push in over the next two day and bring some chest to head set waves. Otherwise expect small surf, waist to occasional chest.

AREA REPORTS

NICOYA (N)

(1) From Patti at Best Western Vista Villas in Tamarindo -
AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
It's been light surf throughout the week, however as of late Thursday, the swell line is starting to show from the southwest with some fun sets coming in at high tide. Current conditions: Waist to shoulder high and some light offshore winds.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
Looking for an increase from the west/southwest to bring in some headhigh surf at southwest facing breaks. Winds, offshore with a possible onshore flow as the swell comes up late Friday.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
All beaches are packed so best bets: Playa Negra Dawn patrol ***Playa Grande lots of swimmers at the break, try dawn patrol or right before sunset*** Witch's and Oli's - best day Sunday and Monday.
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
Tamarindo is jammed packed and music is happening all over town - Vista Villas Sat night early for some good rock & roll and then on to Pasatiempo for great salsa music....Drive careful and watch your stuff at the beach!!!!!

(2) From Louis at Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande -

AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
Tues. was one of the most amazing surf days I've seen at Playa Grande in some time. The wind was off shore all day long and very light at times. The swell was well overhead and perfect- a penchant of afternoon surf when the wind holds. There was some backwash at dead high tide, but hardly noticible on most of the good sets. I got my best rides in front of the hotel on the tourquois right barrels that put you under the lip or deeper on almost every ride. The crowd was working the abundant peaks at the main break and was too busy to notice what a small group of us were doing nearby.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
The tides are moving into the early morning slot and should be excellent conditions for our area.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
Try daybreak in front of the hotel.

(3) From Hotel Cafe de Paris in Nosara -
AREA WAVE HEIGHTS AND CONDITIONS:
GREAT WAVES ALL THESE DAYS .OVER HEAD AND GLASSY IN THE MORNING. HOPE IS NOT RAINING TOO MUCH TO CHANGE THE CONDITIONS.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND (weather and waves):
IT WAS RAINING THE AFTERNOON THIS TWO LAST DAYS. TODAY SUNNY DAY. HOPE IS FOLLOWING LIKE THAT.

BEST PLACE TO SURF THIS WEEKEND IN YOUR AREA:
THE TRADITIONAL PALM TREE IN GUIONES BEACH. IN HIGH TIDE PLAYA PELADA WITH HIS RIGHT IS NOT SO BAD.

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
CONCERT AT CAFE DE PARIS THURSDAY. FREE ENRANCE! COME AND ENJOY WITH US.

JACO & HERMOSA
(4) From Tommy at Hotel Fuego del Sol in Hermosa -
Big hello from Hotel Fuego del Sol ! We are waiting for something to come in from the west and today (Thurs) we seem to have the start of another Westie. The beaches down by Tulin were firing over six foot solid. We have a high tide again in the late afternoon, early morning (pretty large Easter tides) We should have waves through the weekend and the Billabong Contest in Panama and Cali should be good. Have Fun, Peaceful and Happy Easter!!! PURA VIda!!!! More Pictures at: www.fuegodelsol.com/page3.html

QUEPOS & MANUEL ANTONIO
see national report

DOMINICAL & SOUTHERN PACIFIC
see national report

CARRIBEAN
see national report