The reef break called Salsa Brava is Costa Rica's most famous Caribbean wave and one of the country's heaviest. It breaks fast, hollow, and very close to the reef — only a thin layer of water separates the surfers from the coral. The wave faces north, so it picks up north Caribbean swells from December to March, peaking with serious 3-metre-plus days.
This is not a learner's wave. Locals and visiting pros usually have it to themselves, and the line-up can get tense. Watching from the shore, however, is wonderful — the wave breaks right in front of town, easily visible from the bars and restaurants strung along the main road. Even non-surfers come to sit on the seawall in the late afternoon to watch the show.