Venus Surf Adventures, Pavones
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More information about Venus Surf Adventures, Pavones
Ratings (based on 3 reviews)
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posted by glissers-guest on 10/23/2007
Venus Surf Camp is THE BEST and you won't find better surfing or vacation hosts than Ingrid and Dean. I'm an adventurous solo traveler, but even for me, going to remote Pavones alone without knowing anyone or much about surfing was a bit of a stretch. Ingrid and Dean made everything so easy and comfortable, even before I got on the plane. They humored me over email and phone with all my questions, as I wanted to make sure I was getting into a situation I would be happy and satisfied with. And once I arrived, I felt welcomed, totally taken care of, and entertained (and challenged) to the degree that I wanted to be. Pavones is tiny, with very few people around, but I left feeling like I had spent time with many friends. There is plenty of time for relaxing (FABULOUS massage from Katie!), solitude, quiet reading, walks on the beach, but also plenty of exploring to do in the rainforest, in the *cantina*, and of course on the waves. We saw TONS of squirrel monkeys, right along the road, plus agouti, scarlet macaws, toucans, poison dart frogs, howler monkeys, actual 'pavones' (birds), you name it. I could write a dozen pages or more about the trip and, 5 months later, still talk about it all the time with my friends. I sent my 200 photos around to dozens of people and got the most jealous comments back! The photos that Ingrid and Dean take while you're there, especially while surfing, are invaluable!! How else would you get those shots?? My friends we're so impressed at all the times I stood up on the board, for such a beginner. I've been to Costa Rica to surf since then, in the Dominical area, just to try something different. After 1 day, I knew it was not going to be the same experience AT ALL! And it wasn't. It was ok and I met a couple nice people at the hotel, but suffice it to say that on my first day on the waves I broke 2 fingers, and the surf instructor wasn't even concerned. She looked at my bloodied, swollen hand and brushed it off as 'a minor flesh wound'. Well, not exactly!! Talk about not being taken care of! The instructors at Venus would never have put me anywhere near a situation where that might have happened. And if I had done anything stupid to injure my own self, they would have taken care of me and done everything to help make my stay as pleasant and comfortable as possible. In Dominical, I never saw or heard from that instructor again for the remainer of my 4 days there. Back to happy times... the accomodations, the food, the yoga, the excursions, the whole environment that Dean and Ingrid have set up are all fantastic. I find it amazing that they had the vision to 'structure' a camp out of such a laid back, unstructured village at the end of the road. Bravo, guys! It's a unique experience that you will feel priveleged to be a part of. I'm now planning to move to Costa Rica but I know there will be no place like Pavones, so I will definitely be visiting, and continuing to explore surfing and friendships with Ingrid and Dean and friends. PURA VIDA!!!
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posted by glissers-guest on 10/23/2007
If you want to get away from the tourists and surf some real waves this is the place. Pavones is home to one of the longest lefts in the world and is a gem of Costa Rica. It is one of the few places that have not been americanized in Costa Rica. The food and people are amazing. Everyone is very welcoming and as a single female traveling in another country everyone puts you at ease every step along the way. Surf lessons each day are based on the tides so some lessons can be early but thats when the waves are the best to learn on. Dean and Ingrid fill the day with so many fun activities that at the end of the week the last thing you want to do is leave! My personal highlights are tubing down the river and hiking in the rain forest and of course the surfing. If you don't want to take part in an activity that is fine its all up to you. And most important of all is the FOOD! Breakfast is filled with fresh fruit and eggs. Perfect after a morning in the ocean. Lunch is served at the same cafe which features a great quiche and also fresh veggie burgers. Dinner, Dean and Ingrid take you around to local spots in the little town. One of which plays movies and surf movies as you eat. I never had a bad meal the whole week. The cabina's which we were housed in were extremely clean with LOTS of hot water. It was great to leave the TV, Cell Phones, and city noise behind. If you want it all the cabina's have A/C. My favorite was falling asleep to the soft break of the waves (its less than 5 minutes to the beach) and also the monkeys up in the rain forest. This is truly an action packed week. If you like to be outdoors and want to head off the beaten path a little this is for you! Venus Surf Adventures is truly an adventure. It is truly a once in a lifetime week. I have recommended this Surf Camp for many of my friends and have been twice myself!
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posted by surfergrrrl on 06/28/2007
"Welcome to Pavones, Costa Rica, the 2nd longest left point break in the world, and to Venus Surf Adventures, aka Venus Surf Camp for women, although you may come to think Venus Boot Camp more apt. Please be at the beach house by 6:25 am tomorrow, because we will leave for the beach precisely at 6:30 for your surf lesson. If you haven't yet reset your watch from Pacific time, that's 4:30 in the morning. It's an 8 minute walk from your hotel, so plan your departure accordingly, and add extra time if you need to apply sunscreen, etc, once you arrive.
"We'll be exiting the water by about 8:10 because breakfast starts at 8:30. Yes, our website does promise a 2-hour surf lesson per day, but you don't want to be late for breakfast, do you?
"Now that we've finished breakfast, please hurry back to your hotel to shower and change. We will leave for our 2.5-hour long jungle hike in half an hour.
"Too bad we're running late. Did you really have to make the 5 minute walk to the only landline phone in town to call home? I'm afraid now we'll have to skip swimming in the waterfall pool. Well, maybe we can squeeze in a quick dip, just in and out, then we have to get walking again, because we must be back for lunch at 1 pm. Too bad we only saw some cows, no monkeys or sloths or other forest mammals. No, I don't think it's because sensible creatures are sleeping during the hottest part of the day instead of traipsing about under the blazing sun.
"I hope you enjoyed lunch. You now have half an hour to relax before we collect you to walk to yoga class. After yoga, you will have a whole hour to yourself! Then it's on to dinner at 5 pm. Don't dawdle or we'll miss the sunset.
"What a nice dinner. Here we are back at your hotel, and it's only 7:30 pm. No TV, telephone, or other people around to bother you, and no noisy bars or restaurants or anything else nearby to disturb the solitude. Really, you should have thought to bring a group of friends with you, as we can't guarantee there will be anyone else attending our surf camp during the week you chose. Please do enjoy sitting in you barren room alone, reading a book until you fall asleep. You'll want to get to bed early anyway, since you need to be at the beach house by 6:25 sharp tomorrow morning. Don't be late!"
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