Crowd & Localism
The walk-in and the murky water keep the numbers down. Crowds arrive sometimes, not always. No reported localism pressure here, but common-sense lineup etiquette still applies.
Garabito, North Costa Rica, Costa Rica
Boca Tusubres
9.535, -84.555
Edited by Tom Jackson
Verified May 2026
Cross-referencedCross-checked against Stormrider
At a glance
- Boca Tusubres is a a-frame over point, punchy hollow rivermouth peaks.
- Suits intermediate surfers, working 2-6 ft.
- Peak year-round.
A-frame · PointIntermediate2–6 ftJan – Dec
A low-tide rivermouth peak on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast, Boca Tusubres punches above its size with hollow, shifting peaks and a legitimately eerie lineup. SE to NW swell window, 1-8ft, works best at low to mid tide when the rivermouth bar organizes into cleaner, punchier sections. NE offshores groom the faces. Intermediate surfers will find this rewarding when it's on, and the relative isolation means crowds rarely stack up. Bottom: rivermouth sandbar. Season: year-round with medium consistency. Optimum window: SW or NW push at low tide. One honest warning worth taking seriously: the estuary drains brown, murky water into the lineup, and crocs are not a hypothetical in this river system. Get in, surf, get out.
Wave fit
Skill suited
Intermediate
BegIntAdv
Best months
Jan – Dec
J
F
M
A
M
J
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A
S
O
N
D
Character
Punchy hollow rivermouth peaks.
Conditions
When it worksSwell window
SE
SE - NW
Offshore wind
NE
North easterly
Optimum tide
Low to mid tide
Size range
1-8ft
Medium
Hazards
No concerns
Trip planning
Quick facts
Wetsuit
Boardies
What to bring
- Shortboard 5ft 10in to 6ft 2in for punchy conditions
- Step-up for overhead+ days when the bar is firing
Lineup
Mellow lineup
Where it sits
Location
Loading map...
About this break
What it's actually like
Access & Facilities
Reach the break via a walk down from the road. No facilities on site, so bring water, wax, and first aid. The estuary drains into the lineup and water quality varies with rainfall. Crocodiles inhabit the river system. Do not linger in or near the river mouth.
Nearby Alternatives
Esterillos Oeste sits south with a long sandy stretch and outside lava reefs. Playa Hermosa to the north delivers powerful black sand beachbreak when Boca Tusubres is flat or blown out. Tivives has rivermouth rights worth checking on the same swell.
10-day swell, wind and tide
Boca Tusubres surf forecast
Loading forecast...
Forecast by Windy.app
Stay nearby
Camps within boat range
More breaks in North Costa Rica
If this isn't your wave
Playa Carmen
friendly A-frame beach break with reef at north end · A-frame · Mixed
Beginner → Intermediate
Roca Loca
powerful hollow right-hand submerged reef with exposed rock clusters · Right · Reef
Advanced
Tamarindo
sloppy rivermouth beach peaks with punchy reef sections · A-frame · Mixed
Beginner → Intermediate
Santa Teresa
hollow shifting A-frame peaks over sand and submerged reef · A-frame · Mixed
Beginner → Advanced
Ostional
punchy hollow beachbreak rights off rock outcrops · Right · Beach
Beginner → Intermediate
Avellanas
mixed beach breaks and reef peaks with rivermouth option · A-frame · Mixed
Beginner → Advanced
Marbella
fast powerful rocky reef · Right · Reef
Advanced
Playa Coyote
long semi-powerful A-frame reef with lefts and rights · A-frame · Mixed
Intermediate → Advanced
Guiones
punchy beachbreak peaks with fast walls and occasional barrels · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Advanced
Playa Grande
punchy beach peaks, left and right barrels or rippable walls · A-frame · Beach
Beginner → Advanced
Playa Flamingo
fickle left reef point with beginner beach peaks · Left · Mixed
Beginner → Intermediate
Playa Negra
hollow fast right-hand reef with draining barrels at low tide · Right · Reef
Intermediate → Advanced
Plan a trip
Build a trip around Boca Tusubres
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Frequently asked
What you need to know before paddling out at Boca Tusubres
What skill level is Boca Tusubres suited for?
Boca Tusubres is a point bottom, punchy hollow rivermouth peaks, break suited for intermediate surfers.
What size does Boca Tusubres work best at?
Working size is 2 to 6 ft. Below 2 ft the swell goes flat. Above 6 ft it tends to close out.
When is the best season to surf Boca Tusubres?
Boca Tusubres fires from year-round. Outside that window the swell window narrows and the lineup goes quiet.
What swell direction does Boca Tusubres need?
Boca Tusubres switches on with a se - nw groundswell. Offshore winds blow from the north easterly.
What are the main hazards at Boca Tusubres?
Main hazards at Boca Tusubres: no concerns.
What type of wave is Boca Tusubres?
Boca Tusubres is a a-frame-breaking wave over point. Punchy hollow rivermouth peaks.
Where can I stay near Boca Tusubres?
3 camps sit within easy reach. The closest is Surf Inn Hermosa, 7.1 km from the lineup.
Sources
- Stormrider
Boca Tusubres
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