If you are a surfer or have always promised yourself you would learn one day–Costa Rica is the place for you. The ISA chose the Jaco Beach area of Costa Rica to host the World Surfing Games of the International Surfing Association over other hot surfing destinations like Brazil and even South Africa.

The 2009 Billabong World Surfing Games was held in Costa Rica at Hermosa Beach in the Jaco area. These world-renowned surfing associations chose Jaco Beach, Costa Rica, both because of the superior waves here and Jaco’s infrastructure to house many visitors.

Living in Jaco, myself, I can fully appreciate “the best of both worlds” that this area has to offer. Jaco is a great city with all the comforts of home. Yet, traveling just a few miles in any direction can lead you to exotic rainforests, incredible uninhabited beaches, and beautiful mountains. And as both the ISA and Billabong have so graciously pointed out, Costa Rica has the best waves anywhere in the world.

The cost of living here is meager, especially compared to the United States, and I have been advising clients for years to consider buying an affordable home or condo in Costa Rica for any one of three great reasons:

• It makes a great vacation or second home, especially if you love to surf
• It is a great “plan B” if things get terrible in the US.
• It’s an incredible place to live; new jobs are coming here all the time, the cost of living is low, and it is gorgeous here.

Any avid surfer would do well to consider relocating or at least having a vacation home in Jaco. Many of our friends have relocated here and spend a good part of each day surfing while working remotely, and none of them, myself included, would trade this life for anything in the world.

Photo by Pacific Photography CR