Witch’s Rock or Roca Bruja
in spanish provides world
class surfing and has to be considered one of Costa Rica’s
most famous breaks. It is the landmark of Santa Rosa National Park in
the northern part of Guanacaste and you can only access it by boat or
with a 4x4.
If you’re planning a surf trip to Costa Rica, chances are
that you already know about the infamous wave that was etched in
surfer’s minds after the movie the Endless Summer II.
Witch’s Rock
is
a hollow and perfect
beach break that
benefits from off-shore winds year round due to the Lake Nicaragua wind
effect. The main peak peels off of a river mouth and works best from
mid to high tide while rising. Depending on the sandbar, the wave is
usually fast and hollow going right and long with hollow sections going
left. Witch’s Rock still breaks
on low tide, however the waves get
much hollower and some tend to closeout. There are many peaks up and
down this beach that all break left and right with amazing form and
consistency. Witch’s
Rock
is known for big, hollow barrels that
you will never forget!
The year
round consistency of this wave makes
it a prime surf
destination at any time. Witch’s
Rock
can handle a swell direction
from Southwest all the way to Northwest.
The summer season (November to
April) has all day off-shore wind and an average wave size of 4-6 feet.
This perfectly groomed wave has hollow but rippable walls all day long.
From May to October there are bigger southern swells that average 6-8
feet, however this spot has been known to hold swell over 10ft. In this
season there are off-shore winds until mid day that are generally
followed by an afternoon glass session.
The wave
gets its name from the massive rock sticking out of the sea
behind the waves. Locals call this place “Roca
Bruja” which translated into English means Witch’s
Rock. The legend of Roca Bruja states that the rock was
created by an
old Witch, and that the sounds of the waves crashing off of the rock on
a big swell are her thunderous cries. A volcano actually shot this rock
out and deposited it into the ocean and created heaven on earth for
surfers. Located in the Santa Rosa National Park, this break is on a
secluded beach with nothing but waves, sun and a pristine ecosystem.
Ollie’s Point or Potrero Grande
in Spanish is
a right hand point break located only a few miles north of
Witch’s Rock. Ollie’s Point
breaks with such consistency that you will
think a machine is creating the waves.
This right hand point break is
so perfect that most consider it to be the best wave in Costa Rica, and
many think that it is one of the best in the world. The ruler edged
walls can run up to 500 meters offering fast and barrelling sections
that can handle up to triple overhead swells. Even though
Ollie’s Point offers fast and
fun rides, it is still relatively
easy to surf and has a sand bottom. The predictability of the wave
makes it ideal for dialling in manoeuvres and practicing some new
tricks.
Ollie’s Point is blessed with
the same off-shore wind pattern
as Witch’s Rock and works best between low and mid tide, both
rising and falling. The optimal swell direction is from the Southwest,
which is the direction the majority of swells come from in Costa Rica.
The point peels perfectly year round, however the bigger swells occur
during May to October.
The name “Ollie’s Point” comes from
Military General Oliver North who used the location to smuggle weapons
into Nicaragua during the war in the eighties. It was discovered by a
surfer who was watching an interview with North and spotted a perfect
point break in the background. What an amazing find!
This wave is even more remote than Witch’s Rock and the only
way to reach it is by boat. The unspoiled scenery induces a majestic
feeling that you are surfing in an uncharted part of the world. Paired
with Roca Bruja which works on an opposite tide, this is the ultimate
experience: to surf perfect waves with beautiful surroundings all day
long.