With all the news about Costa Rican surfer Leilani McGonagle and her recent bronce medal at the ISA Junior World Championship, we can’t help but wonder where in Costa Rica Leilani and her brother Noe Mar have learned to surf; the answer: Pavones in Puntarenas.

According to La Nacion Revista Dominical, Sean McGonagle and Jamie Cada, Noe Mar and Leilani’s parents, met in a surf trip in Costa Rica and came back years later to settle in this country, more precisely in Pavones where they could enjoy surfing anytime they wanted, their kids were born here and they learned how to surf in the beach of Pavones.

Pavones is in the South Pacific of Costa Rica, in the Golfo Dulce a long drive from San José, approximately 7-8 hours, you can drive there or take a domestic flight to Golfito which is about 1 hour from Pavones. This beach is known as a surfer’s paradise, Red Bull actually filmed Robby Naish surfing a wave in Pavones for 2 minutes and 15 seconds (you can watch the video at the end of this article).

But is not all about surfing in Pavones, there’s also sports fishing, horseback riding, bird watching, or simply relaxing in the beach, the area is beautiful, remote and quiet, but sometimes if the conditions are right the place will get packed with surfers looking for that perfect wave. The town is small but it has several options for restaurants and hotels, many of which are owned by expats that have settled here, like the McGonagle’s.

If you want to do some ecotourism while you are visiting Pavones you can take a trip to the Osa Peninsula or the Golfito area, where you can find other beautiful beaches and impressive wildlife in the close by National Parks.