Frank Bauer

Co-owner of Shaka since its inception in 2008, Frank grew up in Florida and began surfing at the age of 12. “Surfing is not just a sport to me, it's a lifestyle."

He is passionate about helping families with children in wheelchairs and does this through the OHG adaptive surf camps held yearly at Shaka.

Frank lives in Aspen, Colorado with his wife and two daughters. He describes building and opening Shaka as his "dream come true.”

Frank takes care of the bookings. He's your first point of contact for your vacation, availability, and travel enquiries. But don't forget, we've answered most of your questions on our Q&A page.

Mike Bienz

Mike became co-owner of Shaka in 2013. Having previously lived in Costa Rica for many years while working at Shaka, when the opportunity came up to buy into the business Mike said, 'of course!' with little hesitation.

Originally from Montreal, Canada, Mike worked as a stonemason for many years before quitting his job to go travelling and surf the world. He found his way to Costa Rica, then to Shaka, and the rest is history.

Mike is a fountain of knowledge about everything you might need to know to make your stay here awesome. From surfing, to touring, to dining out and socialising, there isn't much Mike can't tell you about. And if he doesn't know it, he'll go out of his way to find out about it for you.

Both Mike and Frank are passionate about surfing, about surfing in Playa Hermosa, and about ensuring that during your stay at Shaka you experience the lifestyle they love - warm water, great waves, fresh local produce, breathtaking sunsets, and the perfect balance between relaxation and adventure.

They're just waiting to share all this with you!

the Shaka Familia