Live wind
Water & wetsuit
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About this spot
Tico Wind has operated at the west end of Lake Arenal on Route 142 near Tilarán since 1991. The lake sits in the mountains and funnels the north-easterly trade through the gap: Kite Insider logs planing-strength wind on about 90% of days from November to April, typically 20+ knots building past 25 in the afternoon.
The school runs a complete beginner kite course — nine hours ending in an IKO card — with jet-ski support for the launch and recovery. That means beginners are taught here, but the open-lake conditions themselves are rated intermediate to advanced once you leave instruction: freshwater chop and wind swell build through the day, the school is the only spot of its kind within 40 km, and there is no external rescue backup beyond Tico Wind's own jet ski.
This is a freshwater lake, so no marine temperature model applies — the water stays warm, and the school is open seasonally for the November–April window. Kite Insider lists several rider-reported hazards for the spot it does not detail publicly; get the current on-site brief before your first unaided session.
3-day forecast
Speed / gusts in knots. Colour = rideability for this spot. Bottom row = recommended kite size for your weight — not recommended outside this spot's 16–32 kn range.
Conditions
- Water
- choppy
- Depth
- Deep freshwater lake; launch from the school beach
- Seabed
- sand, rocky shoreline in places
- Skill
- beginner, intermediate, expert
- Beginners
- Beginner friendly
- Wind range
- 16 kn – 32 kn
Access & parking
Tico Wind centre on Route 142 at the west end of Lake Arenal, near Tilarán; about 50 minutes from Liberia airport.
Parking: School-centre parking; current arrangements need local confirmation.
Amenities
- Tico Wind lessons (IKO card course) and gear rental since 1991
- Restaurant and centre facilities on site
- About 50 minutes from Liberia airport
Needs local verification: Sources: https://www.ticowind.com/ (operator since 1991, Route 142 west end of Lake Arenal) and https://www.ticowind.com/CostaRica/kitesurfing-classes-lake-arenal (complete beginner course, 9 hours, IKO card, jet-ski support), https://kiteinsider.com/spots/tico-wind-lake-arenal-west-end-costa-rica (Nov–Apr season, NE–ENE funnelled wind 20+ kt building past 25, planing wind ~90% of days, spot rated intermediate–advanced, remote, rental notes). Coordinates are approximate, not a surveyed launch. Confirm current lessons, fees and the on-site hazard brief locally. Adjacent wind sectors are caution estimates. Lake water values are estimates, not measurements. Windy links are searches/maps, not verified local webcams.
Local hazards
- Open-lake chop and wind swell build through the afternoon
- Jet-ski-supported launches imply drift risk once off instruction
- No other spot within 40 km — rescue backup is the school's own jet ski
- Kite Insider logs rider-reported hazards it does not detail publicly — get a local brief
- Seasonal school — closed outside November–April