We'd been wanting to try surfing so we booked some lessons through the Manuel Antonio Surf School. Our lesson started at 8:30 at the public beach. When you're driving in to the beach area, there will be folks on the road telling you that you need to park along the main road and walk to the beach. Don't listen to them, keep driving and, at the bottom of the hill, you'll come to what looks like an narrow street lined by souvenir vendors. You can turn down this street and drive your car between the vendor stands. At the end, you'll be on the beach where there is plenty of parking. There are a couple of small bars and restaurants along this stretch of beach as well.
Our surf lessons started with the guys showing us how to jump up from a laying down position to get on your feet on the board. We practiced the four steps a few times and then grabbed boards and walked into the water. They surf school is taught using long boards which are more stable than the shorter boards that the pros use. We stood in waist high water while the instructors held the boards steady. When a decent looking wave came along, you'd lay down on the board and the instructor would push you into the front edge of the wave as it passed. It looks a whole lot easier than it is. I got bounced around under the water more times than I can remember. We practiced on some small waves for a while and then took a break for some fresh fruit and water. All in all, I think I actually "rode" maybe 2 waves during our lessons. It takes a great sense of balance as well as quick reflexes to be able to hop up on the board.
When our lessons were done, we rented a couple of beach chairs and an umbrella from a guy on the beach for about $10 USD. There are vendors along the beach selling shaved ice so we had one of those made with coconut milk. If you want a beer, there are a couple of places that sell them for about $2 USD a piece. I got inspired and rented a surfboard from a guy for $5 per hour and tried to surf on my own. Marcela borrowed a body-board from the guys at the surf school and did that in the waves for a while. There's a consistent break at this part of the beach so catching waves was pretty easy. They came along every 15 seconds or so.
We relaxed until the early afternoon and then headed back to the villas for dinner at the on site restaurant.
Here's a slideshow of photos from Day 7.
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