Bahia Salinas

Bahia Salinas sits in the far northwestern corner of Costa Rica, and its character comes from the wind: from November to April the northeast trades funnel across the low ground from the Caribbean side and blow across the bay almost every day, often at twenty to thirty knots, which has made it one of the most reliable kitesurfing and windsurfing locations in Central America. Schools and board hire operate at Playa Copal and Playa Papaturro on the southern shore, with flat water inside the bay and chop further out. The landscape is dry forest and scrub with islands offshore. Outside the wind season the bay is calm and very quiet.

What you actually see

• The trade wind - the near-daily blow across the bay in the dry season.
• Kitesurfing - the schools and riders at Copal and Papaturro.
• The dry bay - the scrub and dry forest shore with its islands.
• Flat water - the sheltered inner bay used by beginners.

When to go

November to April for the wind, which is what almost everyone comes for; it blows most days through that period. May to October is calm, green and empty, with no wind and little happening.

Honest expectations

Outside the wind season there is essentially nothing here. The wind is strong and constant, which is unpleasant for anyone not on the water. Accommodation is limited to a few hotels and camps. The area is remote from other destinations.

Nearby

La Cruz lies east; Santa Rosa national park is south.