Tamarindo Costa Rica?

Occupied Columbia · Since 12 Nov 2011 376 Posts Columbia City Obsessed

Traveling light to Costa Rica. We're going there to surf in January. I thought I'd bring one kite... 12 wave sst.
Anyone with experience there?
I know north 1.5hrs is kiteable with schools and such. If I go there I could probably rent gear.

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1487 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Many years ago I spent a winter in CR and traveled all up and down the Pacific coast in January.
There was no wind at any of the surf spots. Zero - didn't see a white cap except up north at Witch's Rock and Bahia Salinas.
IMO - it's more fun to focus on surfing. Jaco was a cool spot to visit.

markamcclure · Since 20 May 2011 172 Posts Portland, OR Stoked

my family did a 6 week trip to CR a few summers ago. There is a lake (north part) that is known for windsurfing. It needs to be dry season I think. Some kiters went to an ocean spot (upper NW corner). Lots of surfing possibilities and its the warmest water I have ever swam in...

shred_da_gorge · Wed Dec 20, 17 8:38 pm

Wow, set the way back machine. Did a windsurf trip to Lake Arenal in 1996 or so, was more like water ski weather but enjoyed the volcano eruptions and NYE partying. Had two nuking days after we got back from road trip to Tamarindo for long boarding and Playa Hermosa. Seemed pretty wind-sheltered in Tamarindo but we enjoyed the beaches and waist- to chest-high breakers.

butch simones · Since 30 Sep 2016 59 Posts N.H.

A couple of years ago we went to Lake Arenal in Costa Rica And it blew the 10 days we were there . We rented gear and sailed with an outfit called Tico Winds and the equipment and owners were great . The owners names are Peter and Crystal , super nice people . It's pretty remote so you'll need to rent a car . WE have friends that went to Bahia Salinas for 2 months and it was windy quite often also very remote and you'll need a car . I would go back to Tico Winds in a heartbeat On the hill behind the launch site are hundreds of wind turbines , usually a sign of good winds .
Butch

moondog · Thu Dec 21, 17 6:55 am

Liberia, in the NW part of Costa Rico is famous for it's very strong winds.

KOF · Since 30 Mar 2011 51 Posts Seattle

No wind in Tamarindo but great surfing!

kiterbiker · Since 12 Jun 2010 65 Posts

Bahia Salinas had super strong wind, bring a 5 or 7m. I flew a 9m once in the evening when it was getting light(My go to gorge kite...). Super gusty, but lots of wind and was lit on my 7 for about 4 days straight. The beach was pretty good for launching, but a little on the narrow side during high tide. If you're on the more East end of the bay, watch out for the trees that are reaching out waiting to rip some kites up, because water line to tree branches is less than a normal kite line length. And do the sting ray shuffle, but overall was a decent spot, especially at low tide and you can find some pretty flat water spots. Also a decent spot for people having a hard time staying upwind, as it has a good J shape of a beach with a bail out zone. There are no waves, so surf searching peoples will not have find this a great destination spot if you're hoping for waves.

Lake Arenal was super choppy, the launch was mostly clear, but there is a steep bank to the water was a pretty steep mud bank. Didn't seem like a big watch out for each other vibe you get at most spots. My girlfriend got stuck holding her overpowered 7m for about 10min before I had to come in, self land to catch her kite because one else seemed to care to help a cute girl tapping her head to land a kite. Not a good spot if you can't go up wind or have issues, not great downwind bail out areas.

Occupied Columbia · Since 12 Nov 2011 376 Posts Columbia City Obsessed

Great info. Thanks for the replies.

shred_da_gorge · Mon Dec 25, 17 11:28 am

Yes, Tico Winds at Lake Arenal was great, but again that was back in the 90's so it's sad to hear about the negative kiting experiences there. Super choppy when windy, but we just had bad luck with no wind when we were there.

In Tamarindo we rented longboards from Iguana Surf. I imagine these days there are plenty of surfboard rental opportunities there.

Favorite conversation with Costa Rican police officer:
"Senor, the fine for speeding is twenty American dollars."
"But Officer, I only have a $5 bill left for cash."
"Senor, the fine for speeding is ten American dollars."
"Do you take a credit card? Or a traveler's cheque?"
"Senor, the fine for speeding is five American dollars."

docwild · Since 02 Sep 2015 106 Posts Stoked

I kited two days at Salinas Bay, flatwater, good beg-int spot. There are two kites schools that you may be able to rent from (one at Ecoplaya and the other at Blue Dream). It's the same wind that comes off the Arenal volcano and across Lake Arenal. otherwise, there doesn't seem to be an decent setup for wind until you get down to Panama.