JUST ANNOUNCED – Tamarindo International Surf Film Festival 2020

Tamarindo International Surf Film Festival

Last year, Tamarindo hosted the first annual Tamarindo International Surf Film Festival in March and it was a huge success. Events like this are awesome in Tamarindo because the whole community comes together to hang out, support the participants, and have a blast! Locals and tourists alike should come to check out this one-of-a-kind, fun-filled weekend. 

The goal of the international surf film festival is “to energize the multi-cultural surf community in Costa Rica through the magic of cinema and to celebrate the artists and filmmakers who take us there.” Jarry Hirsch and Friends, the Florida Surf Film Festival, Multicines Costa Rica, and the Robert August Surf & Turf event for the benefit of CEPIA all work together to make this event come to life as a creative and community-oriented weekend for all of Tamarindo to enjoy. 

This year, the Tamarindo international surf film festival will be held on the evenings of March 13th and 14th, 2020 at the Multicines movie theater. The two evenings will consist of surf films, food, music, raffles, and an awards ceremony on Saturday night for the Robert August Surf & Turf. And all proceeds go to benefit CEPIA! CEPIA stands for Culture, Education, and Psychology for Infants and Adolescents and is a Costa Rican nationally accredited non-profit organization that seeks to promote culture, health, sports and education for children and teenagers and their families from poor backgrounds in the communities of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. There is no better combo than an inspiring community event that also raises money for an incredible cause. It is truly a win-win! 

While the surf films and festivities will be in the evening, the weekend is jam-packed with other activities during the day to enjoy as well. There will be a golf tournament at Hacienda Pinilla during the day on Friday, and then a surf competition during the day on Saturday on Tamarindo beach in front of Villa Amarilla. On Friday night, there is also a film festival after-party that will be hosted at Monkey Bar at Vista Villas. The fun just doesn’t stop! 

Whether you are a long-time surf enthusiast or just getting into the sport, and whether you are a solo traveler, a group of friends, or even a family, this event will be a blast for everyone. If you are a golf fan, sign up for the tournament! If you are a surfer, join the surf contest! If you just want to come to hang out and party with the late-night crowd, come check out the after-party. But no matter what, the films are sure to be amazing and worth your while. And your money will be going towards an incredible cause. 

If you are coming to Tamarindo for the Surf Film Festival and need a place to stay, check out the Iguana Surf Beach Hotel for lodging options. The Iguana Surf hotel is perfectly located right across the street from the beach and the main surf break in Tamarindo, and on the main drag within walking distance to all of the restaurants, bars, and shops. It is on the side of town that is closest to Multicines, the movie theater where the film festival will be held, and also just down the street from Monkey Bar, the location of the after-party. Everything you will need for an incredible surf vacation in Tamarindo is extremely easily accessible from Iguana Surf. All of the staff can also give you helpful insider tips and tricks for where to go and other fun events going on for while you are in town to make the absolute most of your time. There are room options for every type of traveler as well. If you are traveling solo, try staying in the dorm-style room for affordability and the ease of making new friends! If you are a couple or a few friends, any of our loft-style rooms can sleep up to three people and are the perfect size for a small group. If you are a large group of friends or a family, the deluxe family suite has got you covered with multiple beds and a large living area that everyone can hang out in. 

The Tamarindo International Surf Film Fest is the perfect time to come down to try a Tamarindo surf camp as well. This would be the perfect combination of learning how to surf while being able to fully immerse yourself in local surf culture to truly experience everything that Costa Rica has to offer! Iguana Surf, Tamarindo’s top surf school, if the perfect place to try out a surf camp or even just take lessons during your stay in Tamarindo. There is a wide array of different options so that you can pick whatever best suits your style and how much time you have. From The Weekender package which includes two nights accommodation and two surf lessons (the perfect length to be able to just come for the Film Fest weekend!), to The Ultimate Package with 7 nights of accommodation and 5 surf lessons. At the surf camp, you could easily do your surf lessons during the day and then be free to enjoy the film festival activities in the evening. 

If you would like to pack even more into your experience, there are a number of add-on options to choose from to enrich your surf cam package even more. For example, there is a Spanish and surf option that adds a few Spanish language classes at one of the best local Spanish schools in Tamarindo to your package.

There is also an adventure package filled with exciting tours, so if you like to try new things, see animals and nature, and are a bit of an adrenaline junkie, then this is the option for you. For all of the wellness geeks and yogis, there are both a wellness package and a yoga add-on, where you will get yoga classes, fresh-pressed juices, a trip to see the largest labyrinth in the world, and lots more! The options are endless!

Check out our surf camp for all of the details on the surf camp and all of the different combinations that are offered and start planning your dream vacation. 

No matter what though, you can’t come to Tamarindo without at least taking a few surf lessons. At Iguana Surf, there are lessons daily at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm for all ages and levels. The lessons include a board, rashguard, and obviously the best of the best with our amazing instructors! Or if you already know how to surf, just rent a board for 10 bucks and head out on your own to catch some waves! The break-in Tamarindo is great for beginners and experts alike. There are no dangerous rocks, reefs, or strong currents to worry about, and the water is the perfect temperature year-round. So no matter what your ability level, you are bound to have a blast. 

Although the Film Festival is not until March, there is no time like the present to start planning your Tamarindo surf trip. And even if it isn’t possible for your trip to fall during the International Surf Film Festival, don’t sweat it. Events like this show the heart and nature of the town of Tamarindo, and there are always tons of events going on centered around community and surfing. The town is truly unique and there is no better place to take a trip! They call it the Pura Vida for a reason…. We will see you in paradise soon! 

Check out all of the details of the Surf Film Fest here: https://www.tamarindosurffilmfestival.org

Start planning today & give us a call!