Playa Avellanas has five named peaks strung along its beach, and only one of them earns a nickname borrowed from the Pacific's most famous reef break. Little Hawaii sits at the north end, a right hand reef that can hold double overhead swell, and it is the reason this stretch of Guanacaste shows up in surf movies instead of just surf guides.
Why Little Hawaii?
This is the north end peak at Playa Avellanas, a right hand reef break that handles real size, up to double overhead on its day, while the rest of the beach stays far more forgiving. It is the wave locals point to when they say Avellanas is where the better surfers in this corner of Guanacaste actually go.
→ Best swell comes from the north, northwest, west, or southwest, and the wave holds up from about three feet to well over eight feet.
↳ Offshore wind and either the early morning or late afternoon light give the cleanest conditions, which is also when it is easiest to actually see the reef underneath you.
Getting There and Getting Around
- Fly into Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, then drive south to Tamarindo, the usual base for an Avellanas trip.
- → From Tamarindo, Playa Avellanas is roughly 19 km away, about a 20 to 30 minute drive depending on road conditions. A 4x4 or SUV makes the local roads easier.
- ↳ There is no public transit directly to the north end of the beach, so a rental car or an arranged taxi from Tamarindo is the practical option. Local surf etiquette in this corner of Guanacaste follows the same unwritten rules as the rest of Costa Rica, be friendly and patient in the water, hire a local instructor or guide for your first look at the reef, and remember that real local status here is earned by sticking around through the quiet, rainy months rather than claimed on a single trip.
When to Surf
Costa Rica's Pacific green season, roughly May through November, brings the biggest swell to this coast, while December through April is cleaner and smaller. Advanced surfers chasing size should target May through October. Water is warm year round, no wetsuit needed. Hazards: rocky patches on the reef itself, which Little Hawaii specifically flags for extreme caution, plus the regional reality that river mouths along this stretch of Guanacaste, including the Avellanas estuary, sit in crocodile habitat. It is a genuine, well documented hazard at nearby river mouths in this part of the coast, so give any river mouth a wide berth rather than surfing right on top of it. Rip currents and hidden rock under darker sand are also worth watching for.
Surf Breaks
- Little Hawaii: The north end reef peak.
Wave: Powerful right hander, holds up to double overhead.
Level: Advanced. - Avellanas beach break (the other four peaks): The friendlier stretch south of Little Hawaii.
Wave: Fun, shifting beach break peaks.
Level: Beginner to intermediate.
Where to Stay
→ Prices below are approximate and were seen in November 2026, based in Tamarindo, the realistic base for an Avellanas trip.
Budget ($)
Pura Vida Hostel, Tamarindo
A straightforward backpacker hostel in town. Rooms run from approx. $44/night, seen on Kayak.
Mid-Range ($$)
Cabinas Las Olas, Tamarindo area
A comfortable mid range option convenient to the Avellanas road. Rooms run from approx. $107/night, seen on Expedia.
Beachfront/Luxury ($$$)
Capitan Suizo Beachfront Boutique Hotel, Tamarindo
A well known beachfront boutique hotel. Rooms run from approx. $218/night, seen on Expedia.
Food and Drink
-
Beachfront spot: Lola's, Playa Avellanas
→ A long running beachfront restaurant known for seared ahi, ceviche, and smoothie bowls. Current menu pricing could not be confirmed, so budget for a sit down beachfront meal. -
Food stalls: La Esquina de Avellanas, main beach entrance
↳ A cluster of stalls serving tacos, empanadas, seafood, and pizza, generally reviewed as good value, though an exact dish price was not confirmed. -
Sandwiches and cocktails: Barumis, Avellanas area
Sandwiches, burgers, and cocktails reviewed as reasonably priced, though a specific dollar figure was not confirmed. Worth calling ahead to check current prices.
Photographing Little Hawaii (Surf Snaps)
A double overhead right spitting off the reef at the north end of Avellanas is exactly the kind of image that is hard to capture from the beach and easy to sell once you have it. Upload a gallery once at surf-snaps.com/upload and it stays live as a shoppable set, with no subscription, listing fee, or storage bill, and nothing owed until a photo actually sells. Surf Snaps takes a 10% revenue share and pays the rest out monthly, and the photographer keeps copyright throughout. Surfers can browse without even creating an account at surf-snaps.com/explore, with photos listed from $8.
FAQ: Surfing Little Hawaii, Playa Avellanas
Is Little Hawaii good for beginners?
No. It is an advanced reef peak that can hold double overhead swell. The other four peaks along Playa Avellanas are far more beginner and intermediate friendly.
Are there really crocodiles at Avellanas?
River mouths along this stretch of Guanacaste, including the Avellanas estuary, are documented crocodile habitat. Give any river mouth a wide berth rather than surfing directly on top of it.
How do I get to Little Hawaii from Tamarindo?
It is about 19 km, roughly 20 to 30 minutes by car depending on road conditions. A 4x4 or SUV handles the local roads more easily than a standard sedan.
When is the best time to surf Little Hawaii?
Roughly May through October, during Costa Rica's Pacific green season, when the biggest and most consistent swell reaches this stretch of coast.
Where can I find photos of my session at Little Hawaii?
Check surf-snaps.com/explore, where photographers shooting Playa Avellanas list their galleries by spot and date, so you can search for your own session without needing an account just to browse.
