The Blue Surf Sanctuary/Safari Surf School was one of best 'specialized' travel experiences of my life. In short, both the hotel and surf school based on site; (Safari), captures the true essence of the sport.
Long before I even arrived on the grounds I had numerous conversations with both Gloria Armond (owner of the hotel) and Tim Marsh (owner of the surf school). Both of them were incredibly hospitable, helpful and warm. They accurately described the experience, property and location and when I arrived I was not disappointed.
For people interested in the experience, I really encourage you to spend some time talking to either of them. They are both terrific and honest people and will answer any questions you might have about their product, a rarity when it comes to this sort of thing.
Upon arrival at the hotel I was instantly struck by the warmth of the place and the people staying there. It might sound cheesy, but as there are so few guests (7 total during my stay) everyone becomes instant friends and u end up spending a lot of time chilling with each other. Although I am a very friendly guy who doesn't have problems meeting people, i never really expect to hang with strangers on vacation. At this place, its not only inevitable, its actually one of the perks of your stay.
Blue Surf Sanctuary does an amazing job creating a great overall 'vibe'. Its hard to explain, but you will feel it the moment u arrive. So much of the appeal of surfing to me is not just the activity itself (which is completely transforming and addictive) but the lifestyle that accompanies it. This hotel completely fosters that feel with the Balinese style 'cabinas', the flora, the open air kitchen, and the staff they employ. I felt completely at home and completely relaxed.
A typical day begins with a 6:30 AM wake up call (some dude starts knocking on your door) to get you up in time for a quick and tasty costa rican coffee before u take the short walk down to the beach for your first lesson of the day. Although at first one might be surprised by the forced wake up, you will be totally grateful for it when u hit the empty beach and see the pristine waves at high tide. Each morning a light offshore breeze had groomed the surface to perfection and we enjoyed crisply defined 4-6 ft waves.
Your lesson lasts just over an hour (i usually kept my board and surfed for an hour more on my own) at which point you walk back to the hotel for breakfast which is included in your package. Breakfast is simple but really good, especially after a few hours in the water. We were usually served fresh eggs, yogurt, fresh tropical fruits, granola, etc. It was exactly what you wanted after an early morning in the water.
The rest of the day (depending on tides you will be due back sometime between 3-4:30) you spend doing what you want. There is no shortage of things to do. We rented Quads (the 4 wheeled ATVs) for the duration of our stay and they were a total blast to ride around. We took them on the beach, through the mountains, into the jungle, etc. It was so much fun. I really do recommend that anyone going to the hotel do invest in an ATV rental as the 1/2 mile walk to town does get a little tedious if you are surfing 2x/day. Don't be scared to drive them, if u can drive a car u can ride a quad.
Activities between surfing can include yoga, pilates, hiking, zip line tours, the nature preserve, eating at the many excellent and affordable restaurants in santa teresa or just chilling at the hotel by the small but attractive pool. We engaged in a combination of all of the aforementioned activities.
A few word about the instruction and staff: uniformly excellent! Pia who manages the place runs a very tight ship and is a terrific host (and surfer). She knows everything and everyone in santa teresa and can help you with whatever you need. She handled our ATV rental and also booked by transfers, had advice for restaurants, etc. She was also my favorite surf instructor as she possessed the best technical skills in my opinion. This is not to say the rest of them were not great too, as I did learn something different from each. That has largely been my experience with surfing instruction: every one has a different style of riding, thus every teacher has something different to offer.
Another excellent feature of the hotel is Maureen, their resident massage therapist. INcluded in your package are 2 massages (Which are completely necessary as just about anyone who surfs will take their lumps regardless of skill level). 'Mau' as they call her had magic hands. A highly experienced and skilled surfer herself, Mau knew exactly how to help you heal and unwind after 4 hours in the surf. I usually feel asleep for a moment or two during my massages and felt so relaxed afterwards it was otherworldly!
We really loved all the restaurants too. They are so inexpensive, (dinner is usually around $10 including a few beers) and while simple: grilled chix, fresh fish, etc., the food is delicious and very healthy.
I don't think you can have a bad time at this hotel. I have stayed at many 5 star hotels around the world (I usually travel at the Four Seasons level when on vacation) and to be honest this was as wonderful an experience as any I have stayed at--for 1/5th the price. I am an avid surfer, but even if you have never touched a board, I think your experience could be equivalently great.
The Blue Surf Sanctuary/Safari Surf school are proof that you do not have to spend a lot of money or stay at some contrived corporate name brand hotel to experience true hospitality and the best a tourist region has to offer. I recommend this hotel unreservedly and I encourage anyone who is interested to feel free to reach out to me with questions. I look forward to my return!!
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This TripAdvisor Member:
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Liked — The gorgeous scenery and wonderful staff
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Disliked — No complaints really
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