Tips For Costa Rica

Costa Rica is known worldwide for its adventure tourism; however windsurfing in Costa Rica is one of the less popular extreme sports. Accurate information as it pertains to windsurfing in Costa Rica is hard to obtain, therefore we at Tips for Costa Rica have compiled a list of the top 3 windsurfing destinations in Costa Rica.

1. 1. Lake Arenal:  The Lake Arenal area of Costa Rica is a paradise for windsurfers, and it is considered one of the top spots in the world for high-wind boardsailing. The water is warm all year round, there are predictably high winds, moderate temperatures and excellent accommodations.  The lake offers 48 square miles of warm water (approximately 73F/23C), up to five foot swells for jumping, and easterly wind speeds averaging 25mph/40kph from December to March. The winds are very stable, and it is common to use only one sail size all day. The worst months for windsurfing at Lake Arenal are June and October.




2. 2. Bahia Salinas: Located in the province of Guanacaste on the northwestern coast of Costa Rica, Bahia Salinas offers calm, 80 degree water and side shore winds. These ideal conditions are comparable to that of Lake Arenal, making Bahia Salinas the second-best location to go windsurfing in Costa Rica. The surrounding hills and topography funnel the winds in a consistent pattern here, with the strongest and most reliable winds blowing from December through March. There is also a windsurfing school which offers lessons and rentals.




3. 3. Pacific Coast: Although not as popular, windsurfing equipment rentals can be found in Manuel Antonio beach as well as Tamarindo, both located on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Although the winds are not as predictable as Arenal Lake, the temperatures are moderate and the accommodations are excellent. Some hotels which offer windsurfing as an excursion are: Si Como No Hotel and Resort, Buena Vista Villas, Parador Resort and Spa, and Hotel Playa Espadilla. For a list of hotels and resorts offering windsurfing in Costa Rica click here.

Experienced windsurfers can rent gear in Costa Rica for approximately $70 per day. Rental shops offer a variety of sails for differing wind conditions, skill level and body weight. On colder days, it is recommended to wear a wetsuit, although waters are usually warm all year. A three-day beginner course costs approximately $300 with an additional cost for gear.

**A special thank you to VirtualDavis ( www.virtualdavis.com or @virtualdavis) for the topic idea of windsurfing in Costa Rica.

***If you have a question or idea for an upcoming blog, or if you would like to submit a guest blog post, contact us at Stephanie@answerswanted.com or send us a tweet @CostaRicaTips