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Surf Synergy Surf and Wellness Resort

Jaco, Costa Rica

5(183 reviews)

Family

Surf Synergy is a 14-room surf and wellness retreat on a hilltop above Jaco that sells one thing: a structured week designed to make you a better surfer. The model is five one-on-one coaching sessions, each reviewed on video afterwards, wrapped in daily yoga, breathwork, sauna and ice baths, with a professional photo team documenting the whole thing. Travel + Leisure named it one of the Top 3 International Wellness Retreats in its 2026 World's Best Awards, and the resort now runs a separate Flow healthspan programme built on VO2 Max testing and diagnostics alongside the surf retreat.

Things to Know

Alcohol not included
No TV

Traveler Insights

Pros

+Every surf session gets reviewed on video with your coach, and an in-house photo and video team shares footage daily, so you leave the week with visible proof of how your surfing changed
+Five one-on-one surf or SUP sessions per seven-night stay, each matched to a coach after the team reviews your profile before arrival, with boards, rashguards and transport to the break included
+Named one of the Top 3 International Wellness Retreats in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards for 2026, recognition that reaches well beyond surf media
+Genuinely inclusive of the logistics: private round-trip transfers from San Jose airport (about 90 minutes on paved roads), three organic meals a day, one off-site excursion and one bodywork session are all in the rate
+Coaches pick from six sand-bottom beaches within 20 minutes each morning based on wave height and your level, so a flat or messy day at one spot rarely costs you a session
+The recovery side is built in rather than bolted on: daily Vinyasa and Yin yoga, breathwork, sauna, ice baths and functional fitness classes on open-air jungle decks
+Real family credentials: under-5s stay free in a parent's room, kids 5 and up get the full programme including surf lessons, childcare can be arranged for a fee, and bungalows come in adjacent pairs
+Tiny scale with 14 rooms total, eight in the hilltop Casa Cielo Villa and six in three detached bungalows, every one with Pacific or garden views and a private patio or balcony

Cons

−Jaco has a well-documented reputation as a party and nightlife town, and the surrounding area is not the quiet surf village many people picture
−Check-in and check-out are Saturday only; the only flex is a five-night minimum that still starts on a Saturday, plus early arrivals or late departures when space allows
−Expensive by any measure: the 2025/2026 week runs $2,790 to $4,990 per person at double occupancy plus 13 percent tax, and solo travelers pay $3,590 to $5,700
−Alcohol is not in the package; drinks are sold at meals or can be pre-stocked in your room fridge for a charge
−Wednesday dinner is an unhosted night out in Jaco that you pay for yourself, and extra excursions and massages beyond the included one cost extra
−The rooms sit on a hilltop rather than on the sand, so every surf session starts with a drive to the chosen beach
−The beaches around Jaco are dark volcanic sand, which surprises guests expecting white Caribbean-style beaches
−No televisions in the guestrooms by design, which suits the unplugged concept but not everyone

Day to day, guests stay either in the eight-room Casa Cielo Villa, which shares an infinity pool, hot tub, firepit, outdoor kitchen, a 22-seat dining room and a game room, or in three detached two-room bungalows with hammock balconies; the Shaka House adds open-air dining and a garden pool. Meals are three organic, largely garden-grown plates a day tailored to dietary needs, except Wednesday dinner in town. Surf sessions rotate among six sand-bottom beaches within 20 minutes, chosen each morning for conditions, and gear and transport are included. Alcohol is extra and rooms have no TVs.

It suits intermediate surfers who have stalled and want focused coaching, beginners who would rather pay for one-on-one instruction than a crowded group lesson, and families with kids old enough to join the programme. Rates are the same all year, from $2,790 to $4,990 per person for the week at double occupancy plus tax, which puts it at the top of Costa Rica's surf retreats and well above group surf camps in Tamarindo or Santa Teresa. Jaco itself is busy and nightlife-heavy, and Playa Hermosa and Playa Herradura are a few minutes away.

Common Questions

What level of surfer is Surf Synergy designed for?

The resort welcomes all levels and matches each guest with a coach after reviewing their profile before arrival. Intermediate surfers who have plateaued tend to get the most from the video review, since there is consistent technique to pick apart. Complete beginners do well too because every session is one-on-one rather than a group lesson, though the price is steep compared with a basic surf school.

How much surf coaching is actually included?

A seven-night stay includes five one-on-one surf sessions, and you can swap some for SUP or other activities. Each session is reviewed on video with your coach, and the media team shares photos and video daily plus a recap at the end of the week. Boards, rashguards and transport to the beach are all covered.

Can I arrive on a day other than Saturday or stay less than a week?

Check-in and check-out are on Saturdays so everyone moves through the programme together. Shorter stays are possible with a five-night minimum, still starting on a Saturday. If your flights land a day early or leave a day late, the team will try to accommodate early arrival or late departure depending on availability, so contact them as early as you can.

What does the package include and what costs extra?

The rate covers accommodation, three meals a day, non-alcoholic drinks, private round-trip transfers from San Jose airport, five coached surf sessions with video review, yoga, breathwork, sauna, ice baths, fitness classes, one massage or bodywork session and one off-site excursion such as sailing, hiking or a cooking class. Alcohol, Wednesday dinner in Jaco, extra treatments and extra excursions are on you, and rates carry 13 percent tax on top.

Is the resort on the beach, and what are the waves like?

No, the rooms sit on a hilltop with views over the Pacific, and you are driven to the surf. The team chooses among six beaches within about 20 minutes each morning based on wave height, currents and your level. The breaks around Jaco are sand-bottom with no reef or rocks, and the water stays around 82 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit all year.

Can I bring kids, or a partner who does not surf?

Yes to both. Kids 4 and under stay free in a parent's room but do not join surf lessons, yoga, massages or the sauna, while kids 5 and up get the full programme at the adult rate, and childcare can be arranged for a fee. Non-surfing partners can fill the week with yoga, bodywork and excursions arranged by the concierge.

What's nearby

Playa Hermosa
15 min drive · 6.0 mi
Playa Jacó
8 min drive · 2.5 mi
Isla Tortuga catamaran day trip
14 min drive · 4.6 mi
Crocodile Bridge (Río Tárcoles)
35 min drive · 15 mi

More things to do (13)

Playa Herradura · beach14 min drive · 4.6 mi
Playa Blanca (Punta Leona) · beach30 min drive · 8.9 mi
Jacó lookout · viewpoint10 min drive · 3.9 mi
Marina Los Sueños · marina20 min drive · 5.3 mi
Sportfishing charter from Marina Los Sueños · excursion20 min drive · 5.3 mi
Rainforest Adventures Jacó aerial tram · adventure park20 min drive · 3.0 mi
Playa Agujas · beach25 min drive · 8.8 mi
Playa Tárcoles · beach30 min drive · 12 mi
Crocodile river boat tour on the Tárcoles · excursion30 min drive · 12 mi
Carara National Park · nature30 min drive · 14 mi
Playa Esterillos Oeste · beach35 min drive · 16 mi
Playa Esterillos Este · beach40 min drive · 19 mi
Playa Bejuco · beach45 min drive · 21 mi

Amenities

Hiking

Yoga Classes

Water Sports Rentals

Free Wi-Fi

Spa

Beach

Style & Rooms

Atmosphere

FamilyRomantic

Room upgrades

Villas

Seaweed & sargassum

Costa Rica gets sargassum, typically worst March through August on the Caribbean coast only; the Pacific coast is clear every month.See the month-by-month guide →

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Google Reviews★ 5 · 183 reviews

Kristine M.

2 weeks ago

“My family of four (ages: 19, 22, 56 and 58) vacationed for a week in January 2026, at SurfSynergy with other fun and interesting guests. The place is serene, beautifully designed and maintained, and ideal for people of all ages to relax and enjoy. Th...”

Dawn R.

3 months ago

“I think Surf Synergy is a 10 star place living in a 5 star world! It is the most unique experience I’ve ever had and hope to get back there soon. The customer service is second to none! The food is simply luxurious, delicious and healthy all at the s...”

X Z.

4 months ago

“My friend and I had an unforgettable experience at Surf Synergy last December, but I’m only getting the chance to leave this review now. The villas were beautiful, the food was exceptional, and everyone at the surf camp was incredibly friendly. We al...”