Salsa Brava, Costa Rica
Also within 20 km of Cocles
- Playa cocles Surf spot · 0.5 km from Cocles
- Playa negra Surf spot · 4.1 km from Cocles
- Punta Uva Surf spot · 4.9 km from Cocles
- Playa grande Surf spot · 6.3 km from Cocles
- Manzanillo Surf spot · 9 km from Cocles
Watch this spot We email you when Salsa Brava is worth the trip.
About Salsa Brava
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces N (14°), so it takes swell from the N. The wind blows offshore from the S (194°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 550 m out (1 in 57). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 28°C in January, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 30°C in September, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually February and December, with about 4 good days in 7; in September and October, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Cocles, 3.1 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 3 surf spots.
Water about 30°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Saved: this link opens the same trip
The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 14 h 15 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to SJO, direct.
See flights ORD → SJO · Skyscanner from about £255 returnAdGetting there. 5 h 15 from the airport to Salsa Brava.
Accommodation.
Stay in CoclesAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Cocles (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Cocles 5 min by car · rooms from £65 a night · 66 places to stay · where Salsa Brava stays
Places to stay in Cocles · Booking.com AdManzanillo 20 min by car · rooms from £65 a night · 28 places to stay
Places to stay in Manzanillo · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Cocles · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Cocles · GetYourGuideAd
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Luxury 
Where it is
Salsa Brava on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 21, too small | 4 ft6 smushy | 92kJ | wind from the north, 1 knot | 28°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 15, too small | 3 ft6 smushy | 42kJ | offshorewind from the south-west, 5 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 11, too small | 2 ft5 smushy | 22kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 2 knots | 28°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 11, too small | 2 ft6 smushy | 26kJ | wind from the west, 4 knots | 29°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 9, too small | 2 ft5 smushy | 18kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 4 knots | 29°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 8, too small | 2 ft4 smushy | 10kJ | wind from the north-west, 3 knots | 28°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 5, too small | 1 ft5 smushy | 5kJ | offshorewind from the south-west, 5 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 5, too small | 2 ft3 smushy | 6kJ | wind from the north-west, 5 knots | 29°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 8, too small | 2 ft3 smushy | 7kJ | wind from the north, 2 knots | 29°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 7, too small | 2 ft4 smushy | 7kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 1 knot | 29°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for expert surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to SJO, then 5h 15 by road. About 14h 15 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to SJO, then 5h 15 by road. About 14h 15 door to door
The plan picks the best of 3 spots near Cocles each day: Playa cocles, Playa negra, Salsa Brava.
Rough cost
About £760–£1,415 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to SJO, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £255–£530 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £70–£120 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £170–£280 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £160–£300 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £70–£120 |
| Total | £760–£1,415 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Cocles
- La NenaCaribbean · 0.1 km from the centre
- La Pecora Nera RistoranteItalian · 0.1 km from the centre
- Zaika Indian Cuisine Bar and GrillIndian · 0.5 km from the centre
- Que QuilomboArgentine · 1.8 km from the centre
- GIGI BEACH Puerto Viejo0.3 km from the centre
- Noa Beach Club0.3 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.