Bahía Salinas – Playa Copal
A horseshoe bay on Costa Rica's far north-west Pacific coast near the Nicaraguan border and the country's premier spot, with around 300 wind days a year: the north-east trade wind is funnelled through a mountain venturi off Lake Nicaragua and arrives side-onshore, often stronger than forecast, 17–40 knots from November to May with January and February averaging 23 knots and wind on 80 % of days from December to February. It comes in gusty sets that can swing 15–35 knots within minutes, so size down. Islands and a headland keep the water flat to choppy even when it nukes; the 3 m tide leaves a shallow shelf with rocks and shells at low water, so wear booties, and shrinks the launch at high water. Playa Copal and Papaturro have shallow entries, no strong current and several schools.
Source: kitecorner.com · checked 2026-09-24