Mindful Waves

I stumbled across Mindful Waves on Instagram whilst searching for the right surf camp/retreat to learn to surf in a supportive and positive female environment. What initially drew me to the service was the very clear passion and authenticity that Dani has poured into her business. And wow am I happy to have continued the search until I found Mindful Waves! My week learning to surf with Dani was everything I had wished for. I was stretched and challenged, but only because I felt inspired, safe and supported by Dani to step out my comfort zone. Dani has the most down to earth, calming and generous nature - and this completely shines through her coaching style. She also brings her sweet dog Cocowa to sessions, and is more than willing to help with restaurant, yoga class or any other experience recommendations to make the most of your time in beautiful Nosara. 10/10 would recommend! Thank you Dani!!

As always, I had the most amazing surf experience with Dani and her Mindful Waves team. After a week spent surfing and learning with them, I feel much more confident reading and riding the green waves- and catching them on my own!! That had been my goal coming into this surf season, and a week spent with Dani boosted my confidence and surf proficiency. I cannot thank her enough for this surf sisterhood and the soft, kind, balanced, skillful guidance. 💕🙏🏽

I took three surf lessons with Dani and she was hands down the highlight of my time in Nosara! From the very first lesson, she made me feel calm, supported, and totally at ease in the water. She’s so good at breaking things down and helping you work on the small details that make a big difference—I could feel my surfing improve every session. I also felt super comfortable sharing how I was feeling, both physically and emotionally, which made the whole experience even better. Dani is Costa Rican, so it felt amazing to support a local business, and her warmth and encouragement made me feel welcome in a brand-new place. Can’t recommend her enough!

Dani is such a gifted, calm, and knowledgeable teacher. I took a few lessons with her in early 2024 and as a woman in my mid40s who is brand new to surfing I felt comfortable in the water with Dani providing guidance. Last month I returned to Nosara and as part of her 13th birthday present I gifted my niece 3 lessons with Dani. My niece had an amazing time and said that surfing was the best thing she has ever done! Dani was very good at assessing my niece’s progress and recognizing when to move to a new skill like turning or turtle rolls. We are both already talking about when we can return for more lessons with Dani!

If you're looking for the best surf instructor in Costa Rica, look no further than Dani! I’m a year late posting this, but that’s how unforgettable my experience was with her. As a total beginner who had only surfed a handful of times, I was nervous and unsure if I could ever really learn to surf—especially starting in my 30s. But Dani's patience, deep knowledge, and contagious passion for the sport completely changed that. She doesn't just teach you how to surf; she teaches you the why and the how, breaking it all down in a way that makes it approachable, fun, and inspiring. Dani gave me the confidence I didn’t know I had, and thanks to her, I actually got up on the board (!!!). She has this amazing way of making you feel supported while also pushing you to grow, and it’s honestly so motivating. Even though I still have a long way to go, Dani lit a spark in me to keep learning and embracing the challenge. Learning something new as an adult is intimidating, but with Dani, it felt like pure joy. I’ll never forget this experience, and I really hope I get to surf with her again someday. She’s hands-down the best instructor I’ve ever had. Don’t hesitate—book a session with her! Thank you, Dani—you’re a legend and I’m sorry this review is a whole year later! 🌊

I highly recommend a surf experience with Dani and Mindful Waves! As a teacher and psychologist, I am picky about how I am taught. Dani met me beautifully right where I was at in my surf journey. During booking she was super responsive to my questions. She had a good array of board options. Before we got in the water she gently yet quickly assessed what I was working on and what my relationship was to the ocean. She seemed to intuitively know when I wanted instructions and when I enjoyed quiet. Because I booked multiple sessions we were able to build and go deeper. I had a fabulous experience! And I’m grateful to have an amiga in Nosara :)

My bachelorette party and I did a beginner surf session with mindful waves during our weekend stay in Nosara. I started my surf journey in the last year and wanted to share it with my friends who were completely new to it. Right from reaching out to Dani, I knew we were in amazing hands - she was so kind and accommodating to the group needs. We had a wonderful sunrise session with girls - it included the sweetest exercises that got us to open up and cultivated a safe space for all of us. Then we split up into groups so we were safely spread out and attended to in the waves. All of them loved it and said it was perfect for a single session. Some are even interested in starting their own surf journey after loving it so much! I can’t thank Dani and her team enough for such a perfect moment on my bach trip

I absolutely love surfing with Dani! I hope to take her approach to surfing with me into my regular life, where I still need to overcome fear and stress on land. She's simply the best and a beautiful person inside out out. I will happily surf with Dani and any of her team members.