Wakeboarding en Nicoya

Greetings friends and friends of Costa Rica Surf and Sup. I’m thinking about creating a series of articles of activities that can be done in the Nicoya Peninsula apart from surfing.
I take advantage of the fact that a relative of mine participated in a “wakeboarding” event near Tortuga Island. The waters of the Gulf of Nicoya are very calm, almost as calm as those of a lake. That’s why this area is widely used for water activities such as kitesurfing, kayaking and windsurfing.

What is the Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding is perhaps the youngest of the water sports brethren. Faced with windless conditions, surfers were looking for a way to continue practicing without waves. During the 60’s wake surfing was developed, the characters were propelled by a boat or a jet sky. When they reached a certain speed, they would let go of the leash and surf with the momentum.
However, wakeboarding didn’t really come into its own until the 1980s, when the first special boards were developed for this activity. These boards allowed for less water resistance and at the same time more speed.
The practitioners of this discipline began to do pirouettes and jumps without letting go of the boat. The motor of the boats created waves that allowed these pirouettes.

In 1995, the first wakeboarding championship was held. This was a turning point for the sport as many more companies began to develop boards and accessories exclusively for this activity.

The Gulf of Nicoya for Wakeboarding

The whole area of the east coast of the Gulf of Nicoya has very calm waters. This favors the formation of mangroves and marshes, as well as some small beaches.

Sadly, this activity is not being developed in this area, so you will not find tours.

This does not mean that you do not have options. The first option would be to talk to some of the operators that offer tours to Isla Tortuga and ask if they can add wakeboarding time to the program.
The second option would be to rent the services of a local with a boat in Montezuma or Tambor.

For both options it is recommended that you bring your own wakeboard from home.

Wakeboarding in Costa Rica

Wakeboarding is practiced in Costa Rica, but it is limited to the Lake Arenal area. Tours are offered and there is even a store that sells and rents accessories for the practice of this sport.

They also offer the possibility of doing this activity in an inflatable boat. You literally lie down on the inflatable and let yourself be carried by the boat. It seems to be very relaxing for those who are not used to water sports.

However, it’s only a matter of time before wakeboarding spreads to more places, as both gulfs in Costa Rica are characterized by low wind speeds and calm waters.

If you want to explore more of the Nicoya Peninsula, feel free to stay with me! Check out the Casa Bus and Casa Mandorla.