Kitesurfing and Windsurfing

Blue Dream Kitesurfing School. Ideally situated near windy Playa Papaturro (11 km [7 miles] west of La Cruz, turn left at sign for Papaturro), this kitesurfing school is run by Nicola Bertoldi, a multilingual instructor with lots of experience; private lessons cost $45 per hour. Nine hours of beginner's kitesurfing private lessons cost $360, including equipment. But the best deals are all-inclusive packages starting at $499 that include five days of lessons, lodging, and meals at the school's Blue Dream Hotel, on a ridge with ocean views. Check their website for wind conditions and closure dates, as the school often shuts down once the breezes stop. 60 m east Playa Papaturro entrance, Bahía Salinas, Guanacaste. 8826–5221; 2676–1042; www.bluedreamhotel.com. Private lessons $45 per hour.