Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re just starting to pick up surfing, swimming skills are not required. Beginner lessons will take place in whitewash where the water level likely won’t go above your ribs. Plus, your feet will be on the sand and your instructor will always be by your side to make sure you are safe and comfortable.

Our intermediate programs, however, do require some swimming ability. While you will mostly have the buoyancy of the surfboard under you, you don’t want to be dependent on the board to stay afloat. There will be times when you come detached from your board, and if a dire situation arises you need to be able to safely swim to the beach.

Your swimwear and the openness to experience something new! Sunscreen and water are great essentials as well. If you forget either, don’t worry, we got you covered! 

We will also provide you with the right surfboard. However, if you have your own and would like to use it, you are more than welcome to do so.

We encourage you to leave anything valuable or important in your hotel room or at home.

We recommend you book travel insurance that covers you in the event of injury and/or forced cancellation due to any unforeseen circumstances, such as COVID-19 and natural disasters.

Surfing knows no age limits. Whether you’re seven or seventy, we are here to welcome you with surfboards and waves ready to go!

Mindful Waves started as an all-women’s experience and still is at its core. However, as we’ve grown, we’ve learned that men who resonate with our values make strong allies and we welcome them in our community of Wavemakers. Therefore, we have opened up the space to offer a family-friendly experience where you can bring along your supportive husband/boyfriend/brother/best guy friend and, of course, your kids. 

The beauty of Nosara is that you can surf throughout most of the year. The best season, however, is the dry season, which goes from December to April. This time period is known for its small, consistent and predictable surfing conditions. The rainy season spreads from May to November, with the rainiest months being September and October. During that time, surfing is possible but less predictable.

Yes, bookings are required. We encourage you to contact us [link to contact us] to confirm availability for your desired dates, then book here 

No. You can spread the sessions out over your desired period of time. Please make sure to share your preferred schedule with us ahead of time and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. 

We understand that life happens and things don't go as planned. 

If you need to cancel or reschedule your booking, you should contact us as soon as possible. We ask for a notice in writing via email at info@mindfulwaves.com or WhatsApp at +506 8531 0462 at least 24 hours before the scheduled lesson. Please note that all cancellation/rescheduling requests will incur a $40 USD reprocessing fee. In case of cancellations, the fee will be deducted from the final refund. In case of rescheduling, the same fee applies and must be paid before the lesson can be rescheduled.

Cancellations and reschedules made within 24 hours of the scheduled lesson will be charged in full for the lesson. No show = no refund. 

Please review our detailed cancellation policy here.

We schedule our lessons with the daily tides and ocean conditions in mind, so our lesson times may change from day to day. When you make a booking you will be shown the approximate time options. However, the exact final time will be confirmed a day ahead of your lesson, depending on the weather and ocean conditions. 

Everyone learns at a different pace but most people do stand up on their first lesson. If you are a first-timer, we recommend you take a package of at least three lessons to really experience the feeling of surfing.

Yes! Our Surf Therapy program is built to intentionally meet you where you are and build from there. We have tons of knowledge to help you learn about the ocean and how to befriend it. Whatever your fears are, we are here to address them and build your confidence. At your own pace.