Lake Arenal, Costa Rica

During the main windy season from December through May, it is mainly a high-wind destination. Bring your 6 sqm kites because you will need them. Some locals have never flown bigger than a 9 sqm kite. The frequency of the nuking days starts falling off in March, but still it is 9 sqm kites conditions most days. In the months from April through June it becomes summer-like weather, really dry for the region. When this happens the weather is mostly calm and hot. You still get wind, but for a few days at-a-time when fronts pass through. Then is July and August another windy period as it tees up for the rainy season. This is less windy.

Definitely the best period to visit Costa Rica and to surf is during the winter time, between December and April. These are the months where the wind reaches its highest average and the sun is guaranteed, specially on the north Pacific beaches. This is also the dry season. During the day it's hot but dry and the nights are cooler. You can spend hours in the warm water. All year around the temperature is between 22 and 34°C. Water in the lake around 72°F. It is super-windy and does have some rain in the beginning of the season, but it is patchy and you get hours of sun in between for the most part. As the season progresses the rain tapers off and by January it is mostly sunny and still cranking.

The water is sweet and clean. Due to strong winds it gets nice waves. Staying upwind is recommended.