Kiteboarding in Costa Rica
Learn in this article everything you need to know about kiteboarding and where and when to do it in Costa Rica to spend the best vacations.
What is kiteboarding?
Kiteboarding is a water and gliding sport that consists of using a traction kite to glide over the water on a board.
Therefore, to practice it, the athlete pulls the kite by means of 4 to 5 lines fixed to the steering bar, while the remaining 2 or 3 lines pass through the bar and hold the body with a harness.
Kiteboarding can be practiced in several modalities. There are jumps and maneuvers (freestyle), races between buoys (race) and wave surfing (surfkite).
It is a sport full of adrenaline, excitement and can be adapted to the modality you like the most.
Kiteboarding in Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s scenery and good climate allow this sport to be practiced on its coasts.
When is the best season for kiteboarding?
In fact, Costa Rica has a long season of good winds to practice this sport.
Thus, the main season runs from November to May and reaches its peak between December and March (dry season).
During this time, there are daily winds blowing 18 to 23 knots on average (quite strong), and in hot spots they can exceed 25 knots on certain days (see Beaufort Scale).
Also, because of Costa Rica’s consistently warm climate, you probably don’t need a wetsuit. In fact, some people prefer a shorty to stay cool.
Where can you kiteboard in Costa Rica?
There are several places where kitesurfing is practiced, from beaches to lakes.
One of the best places is Bahía Salinas. It is located on the northwest coast of Costa Rica, next to the border with Nicaragua. The bay is crescent-shaped and is protected from the open sea by a reef, which at the same time keeps conditions quite calm. There are also waves and winds to suit everyone’s taste and level.
Within the bay, there are different beaches such as: Playa Papaturro, Playa Coyotera and Playa Copal, where there are kiteboarding schools.
In addition to Bahia Salinas, there is Lake Arenal.
This lake is located only 2 hours from the bay and is the largest lake in the country. Here you will experience strong winds of up to 25 knots that are suitable for any level.
In this area, the wind is very reliable and it is considered one of the best lakes for this sport. You will find many kitesurfing facilities and, of course, a beautiful view of the volcano.
Besides, there are other beaches to enjoy this activity such as Santa Teresa, Malpaís, Playa Pavones and Puerto Caldera.
Sensorial Sunsets
Navigate articles
