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Chapter 5

Beach, Activities & Emergencies

Cocles beach is one of the best surf beaches in Costa Rica. You'll interact with surf instructors, wildlife guides, yoga teachers, and kayak rental shops. You should also know basic emergency phrases — the nearest hospital is in Limón city, about an hour away. The local clinic (CAJA) is in Bribrí.

📚 Vocabulary

la ola/lah OH-lah/
the wave
surfear/soor-feh-AR/
to surf
la tabla de surf/lah TAH-blah deh SOORF/
surfboard
la clase de surf/lah KLAH-seh deh SOORF/
surf lesson
el guía/el GEE-ah/
the guide
el kayak/el KAY-yak/
kayak
snorkel/SNOR-kel/
snorkel
el sendero/el sen-DEH-roh/
the trail / path
el mono/el MOH-noh/
the monkey
la rana/lah RAH-nah/
the frog (poison dart frogs are everywhere!)
la pereza/lah peh-REH-sah/slang
the sloth
💡 'Pereza' means laziness — and sloths are named for it. Muy apropiado (very appropriate).
la corriente/lah koh-RYEHN-teh/slang
the current (ocean)
💡 Rip currents (corriente de resaca) are dangerous in Cocles. Know this word: '¡Hay corriente!' = There's a current!
¡Auxilio! / ¡Socorro!/owk-SEE-lyoh / soh-KOH-roh/
Help!
¡Llame a la policía!/YAH-meh ah lah poh-lee-SEE-ah/
Call the police!
¡Llame a una ambulancia!/YAH-meh ah OO-nah am-boo-LAN-syah/
Call an ambulance!
Me duele.../meh DWEH-leh/slang
...hurts me / I have pain in...
💡 'Me duele la cabeza' = I have a headache. 'Me duele el estómago' = I have a stomachache.
Estoy perdido/a./ehs-TOY pehr-DEE-doh/
I'm lost. (male/female)
Necesito un doctor./neh-seh-SEE-toh oon dok-TOR/
I need a doctor.
la farmacia/lah far-MAH-syah/
the pharmacy
el seguro/el seh-GOO-roh/
insurance
Me robaron./meh roh-BAH-ron/
I was robbed.
¡Tuanis!/TWAH-nees/slang
Cool! / Great! / Awesome!
💡 'Tuanis' is pure Tico slang for 'cool' or 'awesome'. Origin disputed — some say it's from English 'too nice'. Say this and locals will love you.

📐 Grammar Notes

Reflexive: 'Me' — Things That Happen To You

In Spanish, many experiences use reflexive pronouns. 'Me duele' literally means 'it hurts me'. 'Me robaron' = 'they robbed me'. You don't need to master reflexives — just memorize these patterns for emergencies.

Me duele la cabeza.
I have a headache. (My head hurts me.)
Me corté el pie.
I cut my foot.
Me mareo en el agua.
I get dizzy in the water.

Querer (to want) & Poder (can/to be able) — Essential Irregular Verbs

These two verbs are irregular in the present tense but you NEED them constantly. Quiero (I want), quieres (you want), quiere (he/she wants). Puedo (I can), puedes (you can), puede (he/she can).

Quiero alquilar una tabla de surf.
I want to rent a surfboard.
¿Puedes enseñarme?
Can you teach me?
No puedo nadar bien.
I can't swim well.
¿Podemos ir mañana?
Can we go tomorrow?

🗣️ Key Phrases

¿Dónde puedo alquilar una tabla?
Where can I rent a surfboard?
¿Cuánto cuesta una clase de surf?
How much is a surf lesson?
Nunca he surfeado antes.
I've never surfed before.
¿Está seguro nadar aquí?
Is it safe to swim here?
¿Dónde está el baño más cercano?
Where is the nearest bathroom?
¿Hay corriente hoy?
Is there a current today?
¿Puede tomar una foto de nosotros?
Can you take a photo of us?
¡Qué tuanis está esto!
This is so cool!

💬 Sample Dialogue

Y
You
Hola. ¿Dan clases de surf aquí?
Hi. Do you give surf lessons here?
I
Instructor
Sí, mae. ¿Alguna vez has surfeado?
Yeah, dude. Have you ever surfed?
Y
You
No, nunca. Es mi primera vez.
No, never. It's my first time.
I
Instructor
¡Tuanis! Tenemos clases para principiantes. Son veinte dólares por dos horas.
Awesome! We have beginner classes. It's $20 for two hours.
Y
You
Perfecto. ¿Está seguro el mar hoy?
Perfect. Is the sea safe today?
I
Instructor
Sí, hoy está calmado. Hay olas pequeñas — ideal para aprender.
Yes, it's calm today. Small waves — ideal for learning.
Y
You
¡Qué tuanis! Quiero hacer la clase.
How awesome! I want to do the class.
I
Instructor
Listo, pura vida. Empieza en diez minutos.
Great, no worries. It starts in ten minutes.
🎯

Ready to practice?

You're on Cocles beach and you want to book a surf lesson. Find an instructor named Felipe, ask about lessons, check safety conditions, and sign up.

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