Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica — Surf Cam & Hotels

Playa Hermosa sits just five minutes south of Jacó, but the vibe couldn't be more different — this one belongs to surfers. It's one of Costa Rica's most consistent surf breaks: a black-sand beach with powerful beach-break waves that hosted the World Surfing Championship in 2009. It's not a beach for casual swimming, real rip currents included, but for surfers it's a must. A few minutes away are Jacó, with all its nightlife, and Herradura, with its calm bay and marina — together they make up the full Central Pacific corridor.

The area is also part of the Playa Hermosa Wildlife Refuge, which protects olive ridley sea turtle nesting along the same stretch of coast. The pace here is far more relaxed than Jacó — fewer hotels, fewer people — but close enough to dip into Jacó's nightlife in minutes. With LocalView, you can check real wave conditions and see what's happening at the handful of local restaurants and bars before you head to the beach.