Those of you who have tried it know, there is no better way to spend the day with friends and family than on a paddle board at one of Guanacaste’s amazing beaches.

Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, looking for a flat water stroll, or on the lookout for local sea life, paddle boarding’s perfect. The stand up paddle (SUP) bug has hit Costa Rica hard, and there is no cure.




I moved to the Gold Coast area (Tamarindo/Flamingo) over two years ago, and have witnessed the growth of paddle boarding in the region first hand. Having already conquered snowboarding, wakeboarding, and skateboarding, I thought it logical to move on to the next board.







So, surfing it was… Bring it on! I wanted badly to shred with the best of them. I realized quickly, however, that I’m not 17 anymore. A wife, three little rug rats, and a full time job made polishing my surfing skills hard. On weekends the family prevails, conditions after work aren’t great, and early morning is, well, early morning.




Progress was slow. In all my frustration, chasing dirty diapers on the beach, I decided to rent a paddle board and give it a try. The whole family instantly fell in love. Now, paddle boarding has become our preferred family outing.







Stand up paddle boards are designed for the rider to paddle standing up rather than laying down. I prefer a bigger paddle board that allows me to cruise with a couple of kids on board. It can be a great full body workout. It allows for a more continuous surfing experience when surfing small waves.




It’s easy to ride a wave all the way in and paddle quickly back out. As you can see some even practice, uh, yoga on a paddle board. That’s talent!







If you don’t feel like dropping $1,000 on a new paddle board, just rent. With the increased popularity in paddle boarding, shops have opened up specializing in paddle board rentals. My personal favorite, Pura Vida Ride located on Playa Danta, a few minutes north of Flamingo and Potrero.







Pura Vida Ride specializes in the rental and sale of stand up paddle boards, mountain bikes, kayaks, and other ocean and mountain sports equipment in one of the most spectacular settings in Costa Rica. This area is perfect for paddle boarding and kayaking with near-shore islands within an easy paddle and small, manageable surf. At Pura Vida Ride they also offer guided coastal tours and other adventure tour services.

If you’re visiting, don’t pass it up! If you’re thinking about living or investing here someday, take a tour of our little area of northwest Guanacaste. There really is something amazing brewing out there.

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Written by Tom Burton & Becky Clower Tom is a teacher at Country Day School and his friend Becky Clower is our Recommended Realtor in this area. Becky grew up in Buffalo, NY and graduated from Arizona State University. Becky is fluent in Spanish, thanks to her mother who is Tica.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.