Surf. Travel.

  Have you ever wondered what a week in the Intermediate Surf Program is like? Well, who better to tell you than our return guests! Melany and Jimmy created an incredible vlog about their last experience with us in early April this year. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4sx6zyTd7Q We just love the rawness of it. Their vlog shows it all: from waking up in the morning for the surf tours, the van or boat rides, and stopping midway to grab some delicious empanadas. They capture the fun days in the water and those humbling moments when the waves are bigger than expected. Plus, they showcase the lively atmosphere of Tamarindo Town, where you can have a blast with old and new surf friends. Mel and Jimmy met Chris, Stephany, Sail, and John on pr...

Hey Everyone, Hopefully you've noticed that our new and improved website is up and running! Well now it's time for the blog to move to the website as well. All of our blogging content has been moved over and unpacked onto the new site so if your looking for something from days (or years) past it will all be there. As well as all of our new posts. The new address for the Blog is witchsrocksurfcamp.com/blog/ and you can add us to your RSS feed by adding http://witchsrocksurfcamp.com/feed/ . If you are signed up for the Witch's Rock blog through our Blogspot address, you will no longer be receiving any of our new content from this point on and all of our old content will soon disappear. So come check out the new site and we'll see you all at Witch's Rock Surf Camp! Pura Vida!

Hello world, if you are reading this blog post, that means you're on the new Witch's Rock Surf Camp website. Congratulations, you've made it this far! We took the elements that we liked from the previous website and combined them with new elements that we wanted to improve things. These items include: simple horizontal navigation along the top of the page (no more difficult drop-down menus) lots of big photos showing you what things really look like down here in lovely Tamarindo, Costa Rica text that is easy to read other cool shit Basically we've tried to deliver you a clean website that gives you as much information about what we do and why we do it. Yes, the website still hast some bugs. Yes, the website still doesn't show up in some countries because the DNS changes haven't yet been picked up by some internet providers. Yes, there are still things we wanted to include with the new website but didn't do because we've been trying to get this done fo...

PHONE HOME When you're travelling in a foreign country, little things can mean a lot: like being able to use your laptop to stay in touch and being able to make a simple call back home without some sketchy payphone charging you a mortgage payment to call your mom. That's why WRSC offers FREE Wi-Fi throughout the Hotel and Restaurant and FREE PHONE CALLS to the US with any purchase in the Surf Shop (and yes, a pack of gum counts). So if you called in sick to escape down to Costa Rica, or if your boss thinks you're "working from home" we got all the connections to cover you! It can be like you never left... but explaining your tan to your boss Is something you may want to think about ahead of time.

Witch's Rock Pirate Radio BOOKMARK THIS LINK: http://www.loudcaster.com/channels/381-witch-s-rock-pirate-radio-surf This Internet radio station is brought to you by your good friends at Witch's Rock Surf Camp. Let us help you make it through your stack of cubicle TPS Reports or daily traffic jam grind! Right now you can tune in by clicking here and the audio player will stream in a separate browser window. Good music and updated surf reports from Tamarindo, Costa Rica will play 24/7, all you need is a PC or a Mac. You can even tune in on your iPhone, Droid, or other smart phone with any internet connection! GREAT MUSIC Witch's Rock Pirate Radio is a collection of good songs from various WRSC staff and guests. I started by uploading tons of tracks that I always listen to with my headphones, others did the same. Music genres span old school punk, alternative, reggae, classic rock, folk, hip hop, blues and more. It really is a great mix and is getting better every day....

If you're like most surfers, you don't fantasize about riding giants, you'd just like to surf better (or suck less). Let's face it, most of us are intermediates, happy to rip ripples. Here at WRSC, we've helped turn scores of beginners into intermediate surfers through our surf school, much of the staff included. I fall squarely into that category myself; just trying to suck less. My goals are pretty earthbound--I'll be happy to improve my "old-man style", and judging by most of the folks in the lineup, I'm hardly alone. Those of us lucky enough to live and work here get to surf with great instructors all the time, and the little tips they give us make a big difference. Knowing how valuable that coaching can be, we've created a new program for all of our guests who are at that level--somewhere in the middle. Intermediate Guided Coaching: This new program combines some elements of our more advanced surf tours, but offers coaching in and ...

We have a lot of really fun beach breaks in this area, but sometimes you want to try something different. That is why we have trips to Nicaragua, Panama and Peru. Speaking of Peru, do you like that photo above? How about this one? You can be there! On November 6-13, 2010 Joe will be guiding the tour to Peru. It is $1400. Just fly into Lima on the 6th and fly out on the 13th and we will take care of the rest. We will announce a more detailed schedule later. Give us a call at 1-888-318-SURF or an email at witchsrocksurfcamp@gmail.com for more details and soon you can be experiencing the glory of some of the longest left point breaks in the world. In the meantime, Check out these pics!

Guests and staff at Witch's Rock Surf Camp might notice something missing. Over the last week or so we have heard the same question repeated over and over, "Where's Joe?" Right now, Joe is in Rhodes Island where David Levy is teaching him how to shape awesome surfboards. Pretty soon, Joe will be back in Costa Rica making custom boards here at Witch's Rock Surf Camp in our brand new shaping room. Any requests?

We recently got some new hats in our shop. There are a few other models but here is Maria modeling one:

The crew at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp is thrilled to announce the Weekly Cantina Night. The Camp will be taking guests to nearby Villareal for an authentic Tico night of Imperial, Karaoke and Bocas. Every week, WRSC guides and guests will climb into a minibus and travel 15 minutes to a popular cantina in Villareal. Karaoke will be available for the daring, but a quick warning, people here can sing. The shuttle will run between the cantina and Witch’s Rock Surf Camp as needed. Last week Owner Joe and GM Yana joined Flash, Alex (the dude who makes everything here work) and I for the fiesta. Rafa tagged along and took some photos. Marc- the former King of Karaoke (Sorry Dude) The new king of Karaoke There was pool too. Joe does things other than surf Dancemaster Alex and some guests Joe and Yana

I am in recovery. I sit here, alone, in the office at Witch's Rock Surf Camp recovering. You see, here in Tamarindo, we celebrated International Surfing Day yesterday. It was awesome! The morning started off pretty terrible with cold rain. I HATE cold rain. I left New York in part to avoid cold rain but some how it found me yesterday in the wee hours of the morning. Just as the guys from the Surfrider Foundation and I started thinking the day was going to be a wash, the Surf Gods smiled, the clouds parted and the sun came out, thus beginning a perfect beach day. The Surfrider dudes organized informal surf contests throughout the day, starting with the kids and ending with the Masters (aka the Surfrider dudes). There was music, Maria manning the grill, cold beer and soda and the guys from maintenance found the old volleyball net. Rafa posted photos of all the surfing and beach activities yesterday . After spending the day in the sun, it was decided it was absolutely nec...

Hey All, Saturday, June 19th is International Surfing Day (think Easter, Passover or Ramadan for surfers) and we at Witch's Rock Surf Camp are super excited for the celebration. Daytime celebrations will go from 8 am -2 pm on the beach in front of the camp. There will be a kids surf contest (entry is free and everyone gets a prize), Sand Sculpture contest and Beach BBQ. I can't speak for the rest of Witch's Rock Surf Camp but I am most excited for the last activity on our list, the Board Swap. Bring old boards from your quiver that you want to get rid of and see what you can get in return. Maybe a new board for a great deal, maybe cash. The camp will have some old rentals in the mix and we will definitely be looking to add some new boards to the rental fleet. Other surf shops in town will be getting in on the action as well so it looks like there is going to be a great selection. Again, individuals and shops are welcome and all negotiations and exchanges are between b...

Witch's Rock Surf Camp is hosting the annual CNS Tamarindo Surf Contest right here in our own backyard, this Saturday and Sunday March 13th and 14th . Registration is Friday evening in the Witch's Rock Surf Shop between 5pm-7pm. WRSC will be hosting t he official CNS surf contest party Saturday evening from sunset until 12AM. Costa Rica's premiere radio station 91.1 will be DJing the party before and after the live music set by Tamarindo's own Banana Kings. For more information about the Costa Rica National Surf Circuit visit the official CNS website. As always this is going to be an awesome event so we hope to see you there! pura vida Joe Walsh

Hola everyone, Witch's Rock Surf Shop is planning our official re-opening of the surf shop in 4 weeks, during the March 12th-14th CNS surf contest at the surf camp. Between now and then, we will be constructing the new surf shop signs and receiving most of our new products. What to look for in the new shop starting in March: Surfboards: Firewire, Channel Islands, Hynson, Stewart, Carton Clothing: Volcom, Rusty, Rip Curl, Dragon, WRONG, Ocean Minded Gear: Dakine, FCS, Headhunter, and more Here are some pics of the new shop. We still have the bus parked out in front, but next month it moves and the shop "officially" opens. We hope you can join us March 13 and 14 for the CNS contest, live music, food and drink provided by Eat @ Joe's. Pura Vida- joeW

Hi everyone, Here at Witch's Rock Surf Camp we are just now pulling out of the low season and straight into a really busy November. Our new surf shop will be open in the next couple of weeks and we're all ready for our first inventory shipments to arrive. In 7-10 days we will have 5 of our original t-shirt designs available to buy in our surf shop. Below are the final art proofs. If you are in the US or Canada and want us to mail you shirts, call us at 1-888-318-SURF or email us at witchsrocksurfcamp@gmail.com. Shirts are $20 each. PURA VIDA - joe

As you probably know, WRSC is currently expanding our surf shop. We're currently doing the ceiling, tile, and glass work. Next we're wiring the lighting, the speakers, flat screens, and internet cafe. Then some slat wall, some clothing displays, some counters and glass displays. Finally the new 2009/2010 inventory of WRSC t-shirts and rashguards, new surfboards for our demo rental center, Da Kine, Rusty, Electric, W.R.O.N.G.. We are SO STOKED to finally be moving into a space that will allow us to schedule our boat trips, surf lessons, and guided tours more effectively. Finally we'll have everything you need for your surf trip, food-to-go for those early mornings or late nights. More info to come soon. We figured we'd give you the updated plans, in case you were walking through the surf camp and were confused ;-) click to enlarge

The WRSC crew will descend on the Big Apple October 10th and 11th for The Adventures in Travel Expo at the Javits Center in Manhattan . Come check out our booth, chill at the Tiki Bar and look at the photo collage of the great breaks we have to play on (from right out front of our beachfront hotel in Tamarindo, to the famous spots like Witch's and Ollie's...not to mention all the secret spots). If you haven't visited us in awhile--we'd love to show you all of the new tours and surf school programs we have to offer, as well as the exciting changes to the camp like the new surf shop we're building. We're stoked on our expanding fleet of boats , including three surf pangas and our new 48' Grand Banks Surf Yacht . We'll have some killer show specials; like 1 week on the yacht for four people at just $1000/person all inclusive (boards, food, beer, fishing, guides, snorkeling--the whole enchilada). Actually, thats the rate we charge most e...

This past week a crew from Witch's Rock Surf Camp Tamarindo (including myself Joe Walsh, my father PK, Larrydoggy and Yana) flew to Orlando to represent WRSC at the Surf Expo. Although I had been to a few action sports trade shows in the past, this was the first time WRSC went big and hosted our own booth. The booth was designed by new WRSC employee Yana Farrally-Plourde (my new right hand man in surf crime), built by a friend of his in California, and shipped to Florida for the show. It was pretty crazy to show up to the convention center and see our booth hiding inside of these three giant crates. A few hours later we had the WRSC tiki bar and lounge built and it looked awesome! Until last week I didn't understand how busy we would be. There seemed to be no stop for three days straight, all day long, as we hung out and talked story with potential visitors, past visitors, people who want to book boat trips on the surf yacht, pro surfers, brands who might want to sponsor ...

Hey, today Witch's Rock Surf Camp has just gone further down the green path as we received our biodiesel reactor. This project is all about producing a greener fuel for our vehicles (shuttles, 4x4, boats, ...) but also offering an alternate solution to dumping. Have you ever wonder where the waste cooking oil of restaurants goes? Some restaurants in Tamarindo got into our program and started saving waste oil for us. Dan Casey, president of Dieselloverde , showed up yesterday night to deliver the 130 gallons reactor. He is staying 2 days to teach us the process to make biodiesel from waste cooking oil. Our 4 trainees, Pira, David, Luis and Francesco made their first mini-batch of biodiesel today, results are great so far and by tomorrow we should have refined almost 200 liters and be able to run our first eco-shuttle around Tamarindo! keep you posted!

Hi everyone! Here at Witch's Rock Surf Camp, everyone is grinning ear to ear. Why? Because we have our new 48 ft. surf yacht moored right here in front of the surf camp in Tamarindo , about ready to depart for two and a half months to the southern zone of Costa Rica! Click here for rates to reserve your spot on the WRSC Surf Yacht. On Thursday July 16 th the yacht is departing Tamarindo , heading south to the Osa and Burrica Peninsula. This is the southern zone of Costa Rica and across the border into Panama. There are awesome surfing waves including well-known as well as unknown point breaks and reefs/beaches that can only be accessed by boat. The Zori is a 48 ft. Grand Banks yacht. She has 3 staterooms with sleeping for 8 guests below deck + 2 more on the large folding dinette table. There are two bathrooms, a large galley and saloon area, and TONS of deck space. We are in the process of building a canopy over the aft deck and hanging some hammocks. Witch's Rock S...