Explore The Zona Norte
The waters of Laguna de Arenal make what would otherwise have been a pretty area into a very beautiful one – a fact exploited by the tourist board’s promotional posters showing a serene Volcán Arenal rising preternaturally out of the lake. Pretty as it is, it’s actually a man-made body of water created when the far smaller original lake was dammed in 1973; the resulting Arenal Dam now generates much of the country’s hydroelectricity. The lake is an excellent spot for fishing rainbow bass (guapote), an iridescent fish found only in freshwater lakes and rivers in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras, and for windsurfing; several schools operate out of Tilarán, on the southwest corner of the lake. Tourism has brought with it a sizeable colony of foreign residents, many of them Germans or Austrians attracted by the combination of a rather European-looking landscape with year-round tropical temperatures.
Read More-
Windsurfing and kitesurfing
Windsurfing and kitesurfing
Thanks to its unusually consistent conditions, Laguna de Arenal is the best place in Costa Rica for windsurfing and kitesurfing – the strong winds that buffet the surface of the lake from December to April can reach speeds of up to 25mph, drawing experienced riders from around the world. The wind peaks between mid-December and February, so aim for the late-season months if you’re looking to learn.
Operators
Ticowind About halfway between Nuevo Arenal and Tilarán t2692-2002 or t8383-2694, wwww.ticowind.com. Well-respected outfit with over twenty years’ experience. They rent quality equipment (from $50/$58 for windsurfing/kitesurfing for a half-day), while windsurfing classes cater for first-timers ($120) and those looking to improve their technique ($200). Their comprehensive beginner’s kitesurfing course includes nine hours on the water ($540).
Tilawa Windsurf Center Hotel Tilawa, 5km east of Tilarán t2695-5050, wwww.windsurfcostarica.com. Hotel-affiliated centre offering older windsurfing kit (from $45 for the half-day, $35 for hotel guests), plus a range of lessons, from gybe tuition ($30; 1hr) to jumps and loops (both $10; 20min).
