Travelling with a board in central america

[waterlily]

Hey guys,

Has anyone travelled through Central America with their board?

I'm planning a three month trip next year and I want to go to Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. I obviously want to get a good amount of surfing in but also want to go to non-surfing spots too, hopefully including a few treks and some diving. I was thinking about buying a board anyway before i booked the trip, a 6'11 fish, so not the smallest of boards either. How easy is it to travel with a board or do you think i should wait until i get there and buy a board then?

Any help/advice would be great

Thanks!

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

We're on vacation in Costa Rica right now. Between my husband and myself we brought 4 shortboards in the 5'11" - 6'4" range. Flying on Continental from Hawaii it cost about $95 for the boards (we said there we only 2 boards in the bag and we the Sky Cab porter service so we just had to tip the porter. It might have cost double if we stood in line and checked in the regular way. Transporting the boards hasn't been a problem since we rented a 4x4. Just watch out for auto break ins. Don't leave your board or valuables in your vehicle and might be a good idea to just leave your auto doors unlocked so theives don't break your lock like they did ours.

You can also rent boards in most of the surf towns for about $15/day. Lots of epoxy pop out funboards & longboards available for rent that we've seen in both Tamarindo and Nosara.

That sounds like an amazing trip that you're going on. Wish we could do something like that but could only get 2 weeks off from work.

[earthgirl424]

I"m going to be in Guatemala for 6 months as of August 29th. Hit me up at earthgirl424@hotmail.com if you make it down there!

[surfex]

Waterlily, It all depends on what direction you go. If you go South to the North it would be easy to buy a board once you arrive there and save your self a heap on board fees. In either Panama or Costa Rica you will have easy access to plenty of shops with a decent selection of boards both new and used. However if you start in Guatemala or Belize you will have little to no selection of boards to buy and even a smaller selection of rental boards. Both Nicaragua and El Salvador there is a decent selection of boards to buy however it will be tough to find a board in the size you are looking for. Have a great trip, there will be plenty of waves.

[Fancy Nancy]

Buy a board in Costa Rica will be a good idea, for the same money you'll spend bring it on the plane round trip you can get a decent board there, and then re sell it before leave
<edit advertising removed. SP>
Good luck

[twerked]

check out this article on surfline for prices

http://www.surfline.com/travel/boardbag ... m?id=15425

[jethrodog]

Hey Waterlily.

It is real hard to travel on the buses with a board, even a short one. Most of them won't let you on with one. And if they do, they throw them up top and chuck the rest of the luggage on top of it. Ouch. Plus having to take it with you to all the cool places you will see is a drag.

Guatamala and honduras are not worth surfing unless you hire a boat and spend lots of time searching. El Salvador is the bomb, spend lots of time here, great waves. You can rent boards for reasonably cheap in El Sal, CR, and Nica, so unless you plan on surfing everyday, just rent, it will be much easier.

Just my biased opinion

[scsurf]

Hey Waterlily.

It is real hard to travel on the buses with a board, even a short one. Most of them won't let you on with one. And if they do, they throw them up top and chuck the rest of the luggage on top of it. Ouch. Plus having to take it with you to all the cool places you will see is a drag.

Guatamala and honduras are not worth surfing unless you hire a boat and spend lots of time searching. El Salvador is the bomb, spend lots of time here, great waves. You can rent boards for reasonably cheap in El Sal, CR, and Nica, so unless you plan on surfing everyday, just rent, it will be much easier.

Just my biased opinion

I would consider this option

pros
1. No risk of loss or damage to your own board
2. Most shops offer a weekly rate if you stay in one spot that long
3. If it's small or mushy you can get a bigger board
4. You get to try a wide variety of board shapes and sizes
5. Less limiting on travel logistics

sounds like win win