Mindful Waves

We had the best time taking surf lessons with Dani - we were immediately drawn to Mindful Waves because of the holistic approach to teaching women how to surf, and our experience exceeded expectations! Dani was thoughtful, experienced, and supportive. She demystified the process for us on the ground/sand first, before heading into the ocean with us to coach us as we both caught waves and had a blast. We left feeling incredibly inspired by surfing and we plan to come back! We'll certainly reach out to Dani again when we return. It is a uniquely special experience to learn an outdoor sport from another woman, especially a local who has been surfing for nearly a decade!

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!!

My 2 days with Dani were not only insightful, but really enjoyable. It was my first time surfing in 2 years and she made me feel at ease in the water with her knowledge of the ocean. I’ve gained a new level of surf awareness, and also my confidence back! I will definitely be back when I’m in Nosara!

The ocean is a place I deeply love and respect and it felt really special to have lessons with someone who leads with that same sentiment. I had three lessons with Dani and should have booked one more! My goals were to feel more confident paddling out in bigger waves and to have more confidence in the line up. Dani was an amazing coach and support person that balanced challenging me and checking in with me to see what my body and mind were ready for each day. If you have the opportunity to surf with Dani I highly recommend. Support women in the water and Costa Rican surfers 💙🌊

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. 💕🙏🏽

My 3 days with Dani and her team were 10X more valuable than the 4 years of surfing lessons I have had around the world. Her combination of grounded mindfulness and connection to the ocean is worth so much. I only wish that I had more time to spend with them and get even more comfortable and more practice on the beautiful waves of Nosara. I got my confidence and surf mojo back and that was my goal - thank you!!!!

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!

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! 🌊