About Limón Surf Travel
The main highway from San Jose to the port of Limon is a two-lane road winding through green peaks before a 30-minute straight shot to the coast. There are reef breaks to the north, the south, and even right offshore if you can find a boat to get you there. There are also black and tan sand beaches that attract thousands of international visitors — not just people, but also endangered sea turtles. Sunny mornings and rainy afternoons are the norm, so dawn patrols and sunset sessions get the best winds. The uniqueness of this region is the people: Jamaicans who came to build the Panama Canal more than a hundred years ago and stayed to enjoy fishing, farming, and a fresh start. The bars blast reggae music, and the smell of jerk spices and seafood simmer in the humid evening air.
Surf Crowds
Because the takeoff spots at the reefbreaks are sketchy, the pack sticks right on top of it. Resident surfers always get the first waves of the set; the rest are shared in a loose pecking order based on experience. Weekends are worse, when the San Jose crews drive east if the swell is on. The beaches both north and south of Puerto Viejo still hold plenty of peaks to enjoy solo, but don’t go out alone.
Surf Hazards
The beaches north of Playa Bonita and just south of Limon have more sharks than swimmers. Crocs also roam the rivermouths. Mosquitoes are a bother at dawn and dusk. At night, do not travel alone due to the risk of getting harassed by thieves or drug addicts.
Best Surf Seasons in Limón
1) Spring
Although the surf isn’t huge every day, the months from February through April are the best for surfing here. The powerful northeast storms leaving the east coast of the United States push long-period surf south of Cuba and under the Lesser Antilles each week. Wave size ranges from head high to triple overhead, barreling at the reefbreaks and closing out the beaches.
2) Winter
The first swells arrive in late November from the northeast. Wave size ranges from waist high most of the week to two-foot overhead on the best days of the month. As the year ends the swells arrive more frequently and the rains subside — great weather and surf for the many European visitors this time of year.
3) Fall
When hurricanes pop up, the swell is sure to follow, depending on the storm’s direction. This inconsistent time of year can see surf from knee high to two-foot overhead breaking over the reefs. There’s usually a short rain shower in the morning and another longer one in the afternoon, so the only consistent, glassy conditions are at dawn.
4) Summer
During these months the waves are at their smallest. It’s better for snorkeling, fishing, and scuba diving than surfing. Wave sizes run from dead flat to a rare head-high windswell crossing the Caribbean Sea. These swells last only a couple of days; luckily there are a lot of adventures to be had while waiting for the next one.