Surf Simply

From the moment I arrived, it was clear that everything at Surf Simply is impeccably thought out. The coaching team bring a level of structure, professionalism and knowledge that you rarely encounter in surf instruction. I was incredibly happy during every session at Playa Guiones, it's a truly magical place. The whole place is a vibe, the accommodations are very cool and clean, the food is delicious, and the entire team is super friendly. I'll be back - no question.

My week at Surf Simply just wrapped up and, I'm still processing how good this experience was. So my flight got completely messed up - delayed, then canceled, the whole thing. I rolled in super late and missed an entire day, feeling like that person who shows up when everyone's already settled in. But the driver who picked me up was genuinely nice about the whole situation, and the next morning people were greeting me by name. Staff, coaches, other guests - like I'd been there the whole time. That just doesn't happen usually. Before I even arrived, they had me fill out this detailed questionnaire that actually mattered. Once I got there, my coach watched me catch a few waves in the whitewater to get the full picture of where I was at, then basically tailored everything from there. The coaching went way beyond just "bend your knees more" - we did safety drills, breathing techniques, even theory sessions about wave forecasting and board design. Here's the thing though - they completely rebuilt my approach from the ground up. I'm talking about YEARS of bad habits that I didn't even know I was doing wrong. With my pop-up, it was actually just a small tweak, but the effect was huge - suddenly it actually worked properly. They fixed my stance and my board control, - some were minor adjustments that had massive impact. All of it gave me a completely solid foundation and opened up a whole new world of surfing for me. My confidence increased, not just for this trip but for my home break and beyond. I can actually feel the difference in how I approach waves now. The location itself is beautiful - serene, green, peaceful. Just a short walk to the beach break and close to everything in Nosara. I loved how quiet it was and even spotted some wildlife. The facilities were excellent - wide selection of boards that my coach helped me choose, and that hot tub after sessions was perfect. Meals were varied, healthy, and actually delicious, with thoughtful attention to detail. Plus two fun cocktail nights with a mixologist who knew what they were doing. The other guests were genuinely encouraging and focused on surfing. Quick to cheer each other on, real camaraderie. As a solo female traveler, I felt completely safe and cared for. Everything was so well organized, communication was excellent, and I always felt comfortable asking questions. All the logistics - scheduling, transport, communication - were seamless. Even when my original flight got canceled and everything went sideways, they just handled it. No stress, no drama, just "we got you" and they made sure I didn't miss anything. I'm leaving with video footage of my sessions, some homework to keep working on things, and this feeling of deep gratitude for everything I learned. The empathy, care, and passion from everyone at Surf Simply is obvious. I would 100% recommend this to anyone, regardless of level or whether you're traveling alone. The coaches meet you exactly where you are, and you learn and grow together with the other guests. Thank you for everything, Surf Simply. This trip was a dream come true for me.

Wow! Wow! Wow! I can’t praise Surf Simply enough for their hospitality. Accommodations, food, scheduling, location, lectures and ALL staff were beyond excellent. I was a beginner and got paired up with Justin and I’m so glad I did. He was excellent in his instruction, attention to detail, and professionalism. As a newbie, I didn’t know what to expect but I found myself smiling and laughing after every surf session because of him. Getting up and riding the waves was exhilarating, and I can’t wait to come back again; I am hooked!

This was one of my favorite experiences ever! The people, food, accommodations, everything was absolutely first class!!! I will 100% be back soon and cannot wait! Thanks again to the entire team!!!

We just spent an amazing Surf Simply week with this crew. My expectations for this trip were high, but the Surf Simply team somehow exceeded those high expectations! I was impressed by the thoughtfulness, thoroughness, and professionalism of each and every person on this team, including the surf and stretch coaches, chefs, concierge team, media team, massage team, and cleaning crew. What a special place and a special community. I've had a rough time with surf coaches in the past. Getting to work with Derek and Daner was such a breath of fresh air. Thanks to them, this week was full of new experiences and new skill development for me -- first turtle roll, first turtle dive, first paddle all the way out back to the bigger waves, first (intentionally) angled take offs, and first trims on the high line. Derek and Daner pushed me out of my comfort zones with care, stuck by my side to help me get out of tough situations, and made the skill building challenges fun. The pool drills and theory sessions made our surf sessions more productive... and made surfing just make more sense. If you're looking to build more confidence and skill in surfing, this is a great team to learn from!

I had an incredible experience at Surf Simply. The staff, the coaching, the accommodations, and the food were all top notch! I've been surfing most of my life, and I found the coaching to be very helpful (Hat Tip to Jessie Carnes - my coach). It was a luxury learning experience, coupled with a tremendously hospitable staff. I would highly recommend it for any level surfer--from beginners through advanced!

Surf Simply is the best. The surfing, the instruction, the accommodations, the food, the massages, the service, the EVERYTHING. But, most of all, the best part about Surf Simply is the people. The week was like summer camp for adults. Everything was taken care of. It was the perfect balance of being pushed a little outside of your comfort zone and also total pampering of comfort. What a great week.

Heading into my trip, I was admittedly curious how all these 5-star reviews were possible. Once I arrived, it started to make a lot of sense. The resort and location is amazing, the food was excellent and the accommodations were 1st class. Jessie was my coach and her enthusiasm for providing clear/structured methods for improving your surfing was so valuable ... and also really fun. Blending tangible improvement without stress/pressure is a difficult thing to pull-off but they do it routinely. It was really clear that the staff at Surf Simply has a lot of options and they have chosen to do this because they love it. If you're looking to improve your surfing while also gaining a better understanding of why/how you're improving, I can't imagine there's a better option than Surf Simply. If you can make it happen, you should.