Surfing Costa Rica - Isla Pájaros: The new queen of the Costa Rican Caribbean?

Since last year's Caribbean surf season, the Isla Pájaros wave has been getting a bit more attention. It was first surfed by local surfers and bodyboarders from Limón, such as Martin Artavia and Kevin Varela, who named it Isla Pájaros. However, it gained more popularity a year ago thanks to a visit from the filmmakers of the movie Snapt 4, led by director Logan Dulien, surfers Seth Moniz and Benji Brand, and Costa Rican photographer Christian Díaz.

This year, several Costa Rican surfers, faced with so much excitement and anticipation, decided to go surf it and experience its power.

In this article we interviewed three of the top national surfers who visited this Caribbean gem this year: Carlos Muñoz - Athlete, Darshan Antequera and Martín Artavia.

Martin Artavia (local): “Isla Pájaros can't be compared to Salsa Brava, since Salsa is a long wave with both lefts and rights that open up; it's really good. But what Isla Pájaros has is that it's a slab. You start paddling for the wave, and just when you think you've got it, it drops deep and creates a hole. If you manage to get down there, you can catch a great barrel, but if not, you can get a nasty wipeout, which is almost like falling from a second story. Of course, it depends on the size of the swell, but whether it's small or big, it always creates that slab, which is truly scary. Many have come, but many get scared. It's a very good wave, but you have to be brave to surf it. It's somewhat similar to a Silverback style. Another thing about this Isla Pájaros wave is that it's a right-hand wave that comes right up against the island, and you have to get barreled and get out. If another wave comes in, you shouldn't paddle straight at it, as it can hit the coral. The best thing to do is…” try to leave the island.

Darshan Antequera: This wave is completely different from any other. It's a slab in front of an island that creates a perfect right-hand barrel. It's a wave that requires not only courage but also a high level of surfing skill. It's very big but also very heavy, with a pretty critical drop where there's no room for error. Salsa Brava and Isla Pájaros are completely different. I would say that Salsa is a longer and more perfect wave, while Isla Pájaros is bigger, stronger, more dangerous, and heavier. We all know that Salsa is a heavy wave, but it's nothing compared to Isla Pájaros. I think it's the heaviest wave I've ever surfed. Not just anyone can surf this wave. The first time I went, Christian Díaz took me, and Jack Robinson, Benji Brand, Balaram Stack, Leo Calvo, and I were also on the boat. That day it wasn't very big, but it was a good opportunity to get to know the wave a little. The second time I went with Christian Díaz, Dennis Picado, and Ricardo Castillo. This time it was much bigger, I'd say the wave was about 10 feet high. I was a little nervous, but Martín Artavia (a local from Limón) explained a bit about how the wave worked. I gained confidence and went in, without fear. I remember seeing the first wave of the set and thinking, "It's impossible to do a drop," but I did. On my first wave, I went down headfirst, but I was fine. After that, I gained more confidence and started catching more waves. I had a couple of good drops and a really good barrel to finish the session.

Carlos Muñoz: “The wave is a slab style, quite heavy but with a very good barrel. I think it's a world-class wave. It's a mix of Hawaiian style, and the barrel is similar to "The Box" in Australia, which I've never surfed, but the way this wave breaks at Isla Pájaros is very similar. I've surfed waves similar to this one in places like the Canary Islands, Hawaii, and El Gringo, which has that same downward movement, creating a hollow. It's a wave we have right here at home, and it's a good place for Costa Ricans to get experience and learn to surf heavy, challenging waves.”

What do you think, is there a new queen in the Costa Rican Caribbean or does Salsa Brava still reign supreme?

Written by: Enrique Hernández

Photos: Christian Díaz