Swell Cabin › Dominical › Playa Matapalo
Playa Matapalo: surf spot in Dominical
Suits all levels.
- Wave
- Reef break, right-hander
- Level
- all levels
- Faces
- SSW (offshore wind: NNE)
- Best tide
- mid to high (from surfnerd.com, checked 2026-11-05)
- Best season
- Mar – Nov: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
- Water temperature
- 26–30°C (boardshorts)
- Location
- Dominical, Costa Rica (9.3163, -83.9611)
Other surf spots in Dominical
- Playa Dominical: Beach break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces SSW (offshore wind: NNE), best tide: mid to high
- Dominicalito: Beach break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces WSW (offshore wind: ENE), best tide: mid to high
- Punta Dominical: Beach break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, best tide: mid to high
- Punta Uvita: Reef break, right-hander, all levels, best tide: all tides
Places to stay near Playa Matapalo
- The Imiloa Institute (6.9 km away): Resort
- Lapazul (7.1 km away): Hotel
- Kalon Surf (7.5 km away): Resort
- Cabinas Alma de Hatillo (7.5 km away): B&B
- Villas San Fernando 5 minutes from Dominical (7.8 km away): Holiday rental
- Casa Azur, Paradise Breezes (8.1 km away): Hotel
- Los Elementos Costa Rica (8.1 km away): Holiday rental
- Villa Encantada (8.5 km away): Villa
Surf schools near Playa Matapalo
- Dominical WaveRider (13 km away)
- Surf Side Costa Rica (13 km away)
- Sunset Surf Dominical (13 km away)
- Tico Surf School (13 km away)
- Pacific Coast Surfing (13 km away)
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf Playa Matapalo?
Playa Matapalo is in Dominical, where the best surf season is Mar – Nov (March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November). It works best at this tide: mid to high. The wind is offshore there when it blows from the NNE.
What wind is offshore at Playa Matapalo?
Playa Matapalo faces SSW, so wind from the NNE blows offshore and grooms the waves, while wind from the SSW blows onshore and makes them choppy. The forecast on this page rates every hour with its wind.
What is the best tide to surf Playa Matapalo?
The best tide at Playa Matapalo is mid to high, from published surf guides (surfnerd.com, checked 2026-11-05). The forecast on this page weighs each hour’s tide and shows the best window each day.
Is Playa Matapalo good for beginners?
Playa Matapalo suits all levels on an average day; check the size in the forecast before you go out.
Where can I stay near Playa Matapalo?
The nearest places to stay are The Imiloa Institute (6.9 km away), Lapazul (7.1 km away), Kalon Surf (7.5 km away) and Cabinas Alma de Hatillo (7.5 km away). Swell Cabin lists 80 places to stay within 10 km of Dominical.
What is the surf forecast for Playa Matapalo?
Swell Cabin rates Playa Matapalo hour by hour for the next 7 days (Flat, Poor, Fair, Good, Great, Epic) from the way it faces, its level and its best tide, with the swell and wind forecast, and shows the best time each day.
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