Jaco will be the epicenter of world surfing in August

Playa Hermosa Returns to the World Stage: Two International Tournaments Promise to Boost Garabito's Economy

The consecutive arrival of the World Surf League and the ALAS Global Tour in August makes Playa Hermosa one of the epicenters of Latin American surfing.

By Marco Montero / Surfing Republica

August 2026 could become one of the most important months in recent years for surfing and tourism in Garabito.

In a period of just ten days, Playa Hermosa will host two international surf competitions, bringing together national and foreign athletes, coaches, technical teams, family members, media, and fans in a region whose economy heavily depends on tourism.

First will be the Garabito Surf City PRO 2026, a men's and women's QS 2000 event of the World Surf League (WSL), which will be held from August 13 to 16.

Three days later, the ALAS Global Tour Garabito Pro will begin, scheduled from August 19 to 22, also in Playa Hermosa.

Two consecutive international tournaments that mean much more than points, heats, and results.

For Garabito, they represent tourism, hotel occupancy, consumption, and economic activity in the middle of the low season.

The WSL returns to Costa Rica

The Garabito Surf City PRO will mark the return of a World Surf League Qualifying Series competition to Costa Rica.

The tournament will be a QS 2000 category, for both men and women, and is part of the WSL's professional qualifying circuit.

Playa Hermosa will once again be the setting for international professional surfing and will have the opportunity for four days to showcase its waves to an audience that transcends Costa Rican borders.

But immediately after, a second contingent of competitors will arrive. The official calendar of the ALAS Global Tour confirms the Garabito Pro from August 19 to 22 in Playa Hermosa.

This even opens up the possibility for international surfers and those from other regions of the country to stay in the region for several days between competitions.

The real prize might be out of the water

The importance of organizing international events should not only be measured by the level of competitors or the points awarded.

It should also be measured by how much money stays in the communities that host these events.

Every surfer who arrives needs accommodation. They need to eat. They need transportation. Many travel accompanied by coaches, family, or friends. Some rent vehicles, buy products, repair boards, acquire accessories, visit restaurants, and do tourist activities during their days off. To that, we must add judges, technical staff, production, photographers, journalists, sponsors, and fans. The result is an economic chain that can extend far beyond the competition area.

August is part of Costa Rica's rainy season and traditionally represents a more challenging period for numerous tourism businesses in the Central Pacific. Therefore, hosting two almost consecutive international events can have special value.

The first beneficiaries are the hotels, hostels, apartments, and rental houses in Playa Hermosa and Jacó. An international tournament does not only generate nights corresponding to the competition days.

Athletes usually need to arrive earlier to scout the conditions, train, and adapt to the place.

In the case of Playa Hermosa, having two events separated by only three days can also encourage some competitors to stay in Garabito between both competitions. That means more nights of accommodation and more days consuming within the community.

Restaurants: every visitor has to eat

The second major beneficiary can be the gastronomic sector.

Restaurants, sodas, cafes, supermarkets, and small businesses directly receive the consumption generated by visitors.

A surfer who stays seven days in Garabito will likely make dozens of purchases during their stay.

When this dynamic is multiplied by competitors, companions, organization, and fans, the impact begins to spread throughout the local economy. This is precisely where the multiplier effect of sports tourism appears.

Furthermore, Garabito has been using its status as a Surf City as an element to differentiate and promote the destination around professional and sustainable surfing. 

An opportunity to sell Garabito to the world

The mayor of Garabito, Francisco González, has publicly highlighted that the arrival of the WSL event represents an opportunity to position the canton internationally and generate economic and tourism development. 

Playa Hermosa has a historic opportunity

For decades, Playa Hermosa has been recognized by surfers worldwide. Its waves already have an international reputation. Now the challenge is to transform that recognition into sustainable development for the community.

For Playa Hermosa, a global showcase.

And for Jacó and all of Garabito, an opportunity to demonstrate something even more important: that a good wave can not only produce great surfers. It can also generate tourism, employment, commerce, and development for an entire community.

Surfing Republica will be covering both events and providing all the information, results, and stories from Playa Hermosa.