Meet the Iguana Surf Crew of 2023!
We are kind of like a little family at our Tamarindo surf camp. That’s why it is so important to us that you feel at home when you stay with us! It takes a team to run our surf shop in Tamarindo Costa Rica, not to mention our surf camp, lessons, rentals, tours, and hotel! We invite you to meet the staff and hope that one day we can meet you, too!
Meet the Iguana Surf Crew of 2023!
Meet Paris Anagnostopoulos!
Paris is our general manager and the leader of our motley crew. He has worked with us for five years. Originally from Athens, Greece, Paris has a strong passion for surfing, working, and music. If you want to win him over just bring him cookies!
Meet Christian Retana!
Christian is our surf shop manager. A local from nearby Villareal, Costa Rica, he has worked with us for an incredible 18 years! Christian always has a smile on his face because he loves his work. The best part of the job for Christian is meeting new people and making new friends. While he is a very funny guy, he is always professional and strives to give the best customer service to our clients.
Meet Douglas Furniss Mena!
Douglas is our assistant general manager and resident “car guy”, especially when it comes to classic cars. Father of a 12-year-old daughter, Douglas originally hails from the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. While he loves animals and his classic car, he lets it be known that he hates onions.
Meet Marcela Castro Polonio!
Marcela is one of our beach-loving reservation agents. Originally from San Jose, Costa Rica, Marcela moved to Tamarindo 20 years ago to escape the colder weather and traffic. She now spends her days enjoying her cats, the sun, and the hot weather. Just don’t call her outside to listen to the eerie sound of the locusts because she hates them!
Meet Hannah Mikles!
Hannah is one of our outdoorsy reservation agents. Originally from California, USA, Hannah has lived in Costa Rica for four years now. Hannah began as an intern at our Tamarindo surf camp in 2019 but loved the Iguana family so much that she decided to officially rejoin the team in 2021. While Hannah loves working with people and the surf culture in Tamarindo, she says she has tried surfing but will stick to soccer for now!
Meet Alejandra Marin!
Alejandra is one of our sales agents in our surf shop in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. This proactive go-getter originally hails from Alajuela, Costa Rica. She is very enthusiastic and always has a big smile on her face. Alejandra is fairly straightforward and likes to tell it like it is. She loves ice cream and hates liars.
Meet Rigoberto Retana (Tablon)!
Rigoberto is also one of our sales agents at the surf shop. Another local guy from Villareal, Costa Rica, he has worked with us for seven years. An ocean lover who lives to surf, he likes to meet new people and make all of our clients laugh.
Meet Camila Campos!
Camila is our adventure-loving tours expert. Originally from the big city of Heredia, Costa Rica, she now calls Tamarindo home. Always looking to advance, she loves to create new professional pathways for herself. For instance, she used to be an artist…now she is turning into a mermaid!
Meet Miriam Reyes!
Last but definitely not least is Miriam who is our amazing housekeeper. Originally from Managua, Nicaragua, Miriam is a hard-working mother of four who has been with Iguana Surf for three years. Another cat lover in the group, Miriam also loves the beach and her job – we love you too Miriam!
Life at Iguana Surf
Now that you’ve met the crew, let’s take a look at life at our surf shop in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.
Life at Iguana Surf can get busy, with hundreds of surfers coming and going every year. As one of the first surf camps to set up shop in Tamarindo Beach, Costa Rica, we have taught over 125,000 surf lessons since 1989!
At the Iguana Surf Shop, you will meet other surfers that are trying out their very first surf lessons or week-long campers testing their skills at the surf camp. People travel from all over the world to try surfing in Tamarindo so you never really know who you are going to meet, which can be pretty exciting. People here are always making friends with people they never would have met anywhere else. You may even meet the love of your life!
Basically, people come to hang out at the shop to find out the latest in town, get the scoop on the daily tides and best surf spots, and take a fun photo for their Instagram page on our Iguana Surf Wave. Sometimes folks just come to make use of our handy lockers which you can rent for $5. This is very helpful if you plan to surf and want your valuables protected since we are directly across the street from Tamarindo Beach. The restaurant right upstairs is another great meeting point to check out the waves on Tamarindo’s main surf break and grab a coffee, smoothie, or a hearty breakfast.
While we provide surfboard rentals and surfing gear, such as signature rash guards, beach towels, and locally-made zinc-based sunscreen that is perfect for surfers, we are not just a surf shop. You can come here to book group, private, or semi-private surf lessons. You can also book a tour with Camila and see the nearby beaches from the back of a horse or an ATV, and even book a trip to visit a volcano for an adventure-filled day. You can talk to one of the crew members about booking a stay at our surf camp, boutique beachside hotel, or vacation rentals. Hannah, Marcela, or any of the crew on site are ready, willing, and able to help!
Take a 3-D tour of our surf camp in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
One of the best parts about our surf shop at Tamarindo Beach Costa Rica is its location. It is right across the street from the main surf break! That means we are at the heart of all the surf action in town. You can leave your flip-flops in a locker at the shop and dash across the street to surf! Plus, when you’re done surfing, you don’t have to carry your board far to drop it off. And you can enjoy a nice rinse-off in our shower immediately after surfing.
If you are staying with us, you can enjoy all the excitement of the downtown area in Tamarindo, all while having a quiet, clean, and modern place to come home to. You will not need to rent a vehicle when you stay with us because everything you need is within walking distance – restaurants, bars, clubs, yoga studios, shops, grocery stores – you name it. Plus, if you book a tour through us the shuttle will pick you up right here at the surf shop. It couldn’t be more convenient!
From surfboard rentals to lessons to tours to beachfront accommodations to the latest surfer chit chat, our Iguana Surf crew is ready to serve you. If you find yourself near our surf shop in Tamarindo Costa Rica be sure to stop in and say Hola!
Written by Jennifer LaCharite
