Don't forget the essentials.
What to load into the cart before you roll out, what to leave at the villa, and where to rent a board or get a lesson once you're here.
The essentials
Six things that make or break a beach day
Learned the hard way, mostly. The sun and the rocks are the two things people underestimate.
Sun defense, non-negotiable
You are 10 degrees off the equator. Reef-safe SPF 50, a hat, sunglasses with a strap, and a long-sleeve rash guard for the water. Reapply after every session — the offshore breeze hides how hard the sun is working.
Water, then more water
Two liters per person minimum for a beach day, and agua de pipa beats sports drinks in this heat. Add Koko Wata coconut water to your booking and we'll deliver it cold with your cart.
Boards & paddle gear
A soft-top is the right call for the Avellanas beach break, and our Bote paddle boards strap onto the cart with paddle, leash and pump included. Wax or traction pad, plus a leash you actually trust.
Reef shoes and a dry bag
Playa Negra and Los Pargos are rock and reef — bare feet lose. A dry bag keeps phones, keys and cameras alive against salt spray and cart dust.
Shade and the cooler
There is very little natural shade on most of this coast. A pop-up or umbrella, a towel per person, and a hard cooler with ice in the back of the cart turns a good day into an all-day.
First aid and cash
Reef cuts, sea urchin spines and sunburn are the common three. Antiseptic, tweezers, band-aids, aloe. Bring colones for the beach bars and a trash bag so you pack out what you brought in.
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The pack-the-cart checklist
Run down the list before you leave. Sixteen items, five minutes, zero regrets.
- ✓Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50
- ✓Hat + strapped sunglasses
- ✓Rash guard / long sleeve
- ✓Reef shoes
- ✓Two liters of water per person
- ✓Agua de pipa in the cooler
- ✓Dry bag
- ✓Towel per person
- ✓Board + leash + wax
- ✓Paddle board, paddle, pump
- ✓Cooler with ice
- ✓Pop-up shade or umbrella
- ✓Basic first aid + aloe
- ✓Cash in colones
- ✓Phone mount or dry pouch
- ✓Trash bag — pack it out
Gear locally
Where to rent, learn and repair
You don't need to fly with a board. Everything you need is within a few minutes of the sand.
Surfboard rentals at the beach
The stands and shops near the Avellanas beach access rent soft-tops, funboards and shortboards by the day or week, and the same folks run lessons. Board racks fit on the cart — just strap it down and keep speeds low on the dirt.
Paddle boards from us
Two Bote inflatable-hybrid SUPs available by the day or week, delivered with your cart or on their own. Best spots: Playa Mansita, the Avellanas lagoon at high tide, and Playa Blanca on a calm morning.
Lessons & guides
Avellanas is one of the better places in Guanacaste to learn — sand bottom, forgiving beach break, and instructors who live right here. Ask us and we'll point you to whoever's teaching this season.
Ding repair & wax
There are repair guys in Avellanas and Playa Negra who will patch a ding overnight for cash. Wax, leashes, fins and sunscreen are available at the beach shops and the bigger shops in Tamarindo.