Bodhi Surf School

Overview

Description

Bodhi Surf School offers individual lessons, group lessons, and various packages for every type of traveler, including our surf and yoga packages. We strive to balance amusement with enlightenment and be the perfect choice for the conscientious adventurer. If you take part in the Bodhi Surf School experience, you can expect to learn a bit about Costa Rica, ocean awareness, and even yourself!

Located in the beautiful town of Uvita-Bahía Ballena on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Bodhi Surf School provides personalized surfing experiences that connect individuals with nature and increase environmental and social awareness. The surf school focuses on inner awareness through yoga and on social justice through community work, and also incorporates conservation into its business practices. Uvita-Bahía Ballena is part of Ballena Marine National Park, one of Costa Rica’s many nature reserves. This park includes several kilometers of undeveloped coastline where visitors are likely to see some of Costa Rica’s famed wildlife.

This beautiful part of Costa Rica has been slower to develop, allowing you to not only experience nature in its purest form, but also to take advantage of this gorgeous and uncrowded area to practice your surf skills. The waves are slower than some of Costa Rica’s other surf spots and thus perfect for the beginner and intermediate surfer. Yet the expert surfer need not worry -- there are many surf spots in the area, both popular and unknown, that feature advanced waves.

Making a Difference

Number of employees: 2

Percentage of local employees: 100%

Bodhi Surf's mission is to provide memorable travel experiences that facilitate learning through exposure to the people and environment of the place we call home. Our company teams with other local businesses to develop, coordinate, execute, and participate in the following projects:

• Grupo Siempre Unidos para Reforzar nuestro Futuro (SURF) is a community-based organization that empowers youth as agents of change in the sustainable development of their communities. Grupo SURF is founded on the belief that young people are a fundamental resource in promoting responsible community development and creating a healthy future for themselves and their communities. Fundación KETO, Bodhi Surf, and Bahia Aventuras, and La Cusinga Ecolodge support this youth program.

  Read about a Grupo SURF volunteer's experience working with coastal youth.

  Read about Grupo SURF's participation in the Water Expo at the San Diego, California airport.

  Read about the Grupo SURF beach clean-up on World Coastal Cleanup Day.

• Bodhi Surf and Bahia Aventuras hosted GPS and GIS training sessions for community members and boat tour operators as part of a project with Holbrook Education, GISETC, and La Cusinga Eco-Lodge. More than 30 community members participated in the nightly trainings.
• Bodhi Surf, along with other local businesses, has collaborated in the ongoing GIS/GPS trash mapping project led by GEOPORTER. As of October 2013, the project has resulted in the strategic placement of eight trash centers within the community.
• The Thinking Beyond Borders eight-month global service learning program starts in Bahia Ballena. The program's mission is to inspire youth as agents of proactive change by developing consciousness of global issues. Bodhi Surf and Bahia Aventuras work with Thinking Beyond Borders to provide logistical support, tour services, and educational workshops.
• In 2006, the Community Credit Enterprise Bahia Ballena started providing opportunities for community members to take out small microloans. Bodhi Surf School owner Travis Bays, who at the time was a Peace Corps volunteer, started the initiative with key community stakeholders. The Community Credit Enterprise office is located in Bahia Aventuras and Bodhi Surf's main office.
• Since 2010, Bahia Aventuras and Bodhi Surf have been working hard to conserve the environment through recycling. We do our best to separate glass, aluminum, plastic, and cardboard/paper. Afterwards, this material is donated to our local elementary school, La Flor de Bahia.

Rates

Private surf lessons, group surf lessons, and surf clinics range in price from $55 - $180 per person. There are other inclusive vacation packages available.

Additional information about rates is available via the “Register Online” links on Bodhi Surf School’s website.

For more information about rates, please visit:

• www.bodhisurfschool.com/surf-lessons (available in English).
• www.bodhisurfschool.com/yoga/classes (available in English).
• www.bodhisurfschool.com/vacations/yoga-surf (available in English).
• www.bodhisurfschool.com/vacations/surfing-lessons (available in English).

Getting There

Nearest international airport: San José (SJO)

Nearest local/national airport: Quepos (XQP); Palmar Sur (PMZ)

Travel time to nearest airport: 45 minutes

San José (SJO) is approximately 3.5 hours driving distance from Bodhi Surf School.

You can fly to Quepos (XQP) and take the newly paved Costanera Sur to Uvita-Bahía Ballena (Costa Ballena). On average, the trip takes 45 minutes.

You can also fly to Palmar Sur (PMZ) and take the Costanera Sur and head north through Palmar, Cortes, and Ojochal, until arriving to Uvita-Bahía Ballena (Costa Ballena). On average, the trip takes 45 minutes.

Additional Information

Awards or Recognitions

• Lifeguard certified by the Association of Lifeguards of Costa Rica
• Surf instructor accreditation by the International Surfing Association (in process)

Additional Web sites

• www.facebook.com/bodhisurfschool (available in English and Spanish). Become a fan of Bodhi Surf and receive the most up-to-date information about Bodhi Surf news and highlights.
• www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g635755-d1918722-r85865730-Bodhi_Surf_School-Uvita_Province_of_Puntarenas.html (available in English and Spanish). Share and review comments about Bodhi Surf School on Trip Advisor.
• www.twitter.com/bodhisurfschool (available in English). Follow Bodhi Surf School on Twitter.
• www.flickr.com/photos/bodhisurf/ (available in English). Browse amazing photos from Bodhi Surf School. Check out photos of private surf lessons, group surf lessons, flora and fauna, sunsets, and the Uvita area.
• www.lacusingalodge.com/es/paquetes/25/6-Night-Holistic-Yoga--Surf-Package-at-La-Cusinga-Ecolodge (available in English). Learn more about the Holistic Yoga & Surf package offered at La Cusinga Eco-Lodge.
• www.lacusingalodge.com/es/paquetes/23/6-Night-Inner-Surfer-Package-at-La-Cusinga-Ecolodge (available in English). Learn more about the Inner Surfer Package offered at La Cusinga Eco-Lodge.
• www.sandiego.edu/about/news_center/usdmag/spring-2011/features-spring-2011/the-world-is-our-business/ (available in English). "The World Is Our Business." University of San Diego Magazine. Spring 2011. An article about entrepreneurship featuring Travis Bays, owner of Bodhi Surf School.
• www.yourtravelchoice.org/2011/05/bodhi-surf-school-costa-rica-building-awareness-and-promoting-change/ (available in English). "Bodhi Surf School, Costa Rica: Building Awareness and Promoting Change." May 4, 2011. An article about Bodhi Surf School on the International Ecotourism Society's website.
• www.bodhisurfschool.com/costa-rica-traveler-magazine-features-bodhi-surf-yoga-instructor (available in English). Costa Rica Traveler Magazine Features Bodhi Surf Yoga Instructor.
• www.perfilcr.com/node/6805#.ToCReVp43pg (available in Spanish). "Yoga and Surf – In Complete Harmony." June 18, 2010. Interview with Travis Bays and Pilar Salazar, founders of Bodhi Surf School, in Perfil Magazine.

Files

• Bodhi Surf School 2013 Sustainable Initiatives Report - More information about our sustainable initiatives and achievements in 2013.

Date This Information Was Provided

March 2014.

Photos courtesy of Bodhi Surf School, Costa Rica, for SustainableTrip.org.