The confirmation that Playa Hermosa, in Garabito, Puntarenas, has been chosen to host a stage of the World Surf League (WSL) QS 2000 from August 13 to 16 marks Costa Rica’s historic return to the elite of international surfing.

Additionally, the WSL has officially designated Playa Hermosa as the country’s Surf City—a prestigious recognition that opens the door to hosting future dates of the world’s most elite surfing circuit.

✈️ The Economic & Tourism Power of Surf

From a tourism perspective, this development is expected to have a massive impact. According to recent data from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), an impressive 17% of all tourists entering the country by air actively practice surfing.

The economic potential of capitalizing on high-profile surf competitions has already been proven regionally:

• The El Salvador Blueprint: El Salvador took on a leading role in global surfing after aggressively investing in organizing world-class tournaments.
• The Financial Return: This strategy translated into $18 million in foreign exchange earnings for El Salvador, alongside revenue increases of up to 70% in the tourism sector during event windows.

🌊 An Untapped Potential Reclaimed

This announcement marks a critical shift for Costa Rica, which had spent several years without hosting top-tier international competitions despite its world-renowned coastlines.

Global media outlets like Vogue have long cataloged Puntarenas as one of the best surfing destinations on earth, while National Geographic highlighted multiple Costa Rican beaches as ideal backdrops for the sport in its feature Adventure 101: Surfing Costa Rica.

“We used to host the ISA (International Surf Association) World Surfing Games, but it was an issue with previous governments that failed to see the tourism projection we were generating. Ultimately, other countries were waiting for the opportunity to host these types of events, and El Salvador seized it.” — Manrique Mata, Director of Family Fun RPMTV

Compounding this natural advantage is Costa Rica’s current powerhouse generation of professional athletes competing in the WSL, including world-class figures like Brisa Hennessy, Leilani McGonagle, and Carlos Muñoz.

“Costa Rica has always had world-class waves and a very strong surf culture, but for many years, that potential was not fully utilized. El Salvador’s example demonstrated the massive economic, tourism, and sporting impact surfing can generate when you commit to it seriously.” — Darshan Antequera, Costa Rican Surfer & ALAS Global Tour Champion

📈 Boosting Development in Puntarenas

Beyond sports, hosting the WSL event presents a vital opportunity to inject economic growth into Puntarenas—a province currently facing distinct challenges regarding regional competitiveness.

According to the 2024 Cantonal Competitiveness Index (ICC) developed by the University of Costa Rica’s School of Economics:

• Garabito currently ranks 30th nationally, placing it at a medium competitiveness level.
• Surrounding Areas face much sharper economic lags, with neighboring cantons like Parrita ranking among the least competitive in the entire country.

Bringing international focus and infrastructure to the area offers a direct economic lift to these vulnerable local communities.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the country to showcase the incredible level of waves and surfing we have. It’s amazing that we are now starting to bring back these international events to inspire future generations,” stated Sam Reidy, a gold-medal surfer at the South American Championship and a native of Dominical, Puntarenas.

🚀 A New Chapter Begins

Hosting the WSL QS 2000 is more than just a tournament; it is a strategic starting point to evaluate how competitive sports can sustainably uplift coastal infrastructure, build local sports legacies, and directly enrich the communities hosting them.

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