Windsurfing

From Costa Rica Travel Guide: Vacation and Travel tips

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Windsurfing

During the dry months, the tradewinds blow with a consistent and incredible force across Costa Rica. This creates some ideal windsurfing conditions in the northwest part of the country, specifically, the western end of Lake Arenal. This part of the lake is one of the world’s premier surfing destinations and has even been compared to Italy’s, Lake Garda, as well as the Columbia River Gorge. The wind speed averages 33 miles per hour on Lake Arenal during the dry season, a speed only the most experienced windsurfers can negotiate. Obviously, as the winds increase the lakes becomes rather choppy, but for the expert windsurfer this is just an opportunity to catch some serious air off the waves.

As stated, through the dry season the winds are just too strong on Lake Arenal, but the rainy season is a perfect time for a beginner to take part in the sport. There are several hotels near the western end of the lake that can supply all of your windsurfing needs and provide private sessions as well. Lake Arenal is not the only place you can take part in the sport, there are also some windsurfing spots along the Pacific coast that have ideal conditions for practicing and honing your windsurfing skills. Golfo de Papagayo is one of those spots with its calmer waters and less intense wind and the windsurfing expert can also be put to the test in Puerto Soley near the border of Nicaragua.

Beginner equipment can be rented at many beach resorts in the Papagayo area, as well as along the Central Pacific Coast, where the dry season winds tend to be less intense and a perfect opportunity to learn and practice the sport.