About Bodhi Surf
Bodhi Surf S.A. is located in Bahia Ballena, Osa, Costa Rica. This small town is still relatively untouched by the development that has taken place in other regions of Costa Rica. Here, you can experience the “Pura Vida” way of life amidst the breathtaking scenery, where the jungle, the ocean, and the mountains meet.
The word “bodhi” is Sanskrit for “awareness”, and that is exactly what we at Bodhi Surf hope to illuminate for our students: the importance of a mind-body-earth awareness. Through surfing we aim to bring you closer to nature and by sharing our experiences and knowledge of the area, we hope to instill an appreciation for this small town that Bodhi Surf calls home.
Mission of Bodhi Surf
Provide personalized surfing experiences that connect individuals with nature and increase environmental and social awareness.
What We Do
We are a surf travel company specializing in family and small group surfing vacations.
Our vacation packages consist of the following:
We also offer surf lessons for drop-ins:
Why We Do It
The South Pacific coast of Costa Rica has some of the country’s most bio-diverse and important terrestrial and marine conservation areas. This not only provides a great attraction for visitors to the area, but it also gives Bodhi Surf a one-of-a-kind learning environment. While the activities that we provide are fun and satisfy the various expectations visitors may have, we consider the most important element to be a guest’s opportunity to learn. Whether this learning experience comes from riding waves, a yoga class, snorkeling off Cano Island, or watching whales breach, we believe the experiences will reconnect individuals with nature.
Background of Founders
Gibran Garcia and Travis Bays met in 2002 during a study abroad program in Madrid, Spain. Although it was nearly the end of college for both, they began a friendship based on mutual values and interests: ecotourism, community development, social equality, and of course, surfing. While they were rarely living in the same place at the same time, they found the time to hang out in some of Latin America’s prime spots: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; San Blas, Mexico; Bahia Ballena, Costa Rica. These adventures contributed to the development of a mutual dream: to establish a micro-enterprise from which they could make a living and contribute to the well-being of the communities around them.
In 2010, Gibran and Travis’ paths finally coincided. Together, along with their respective spouses, they set out to develop their life project. These four individuals offer their relative perspectives in the development and implementation of the company: though they are all very worldly and aware of different cultures and viewpoints, it is helpful to have a Canadian, an American, a Mexican, and a Costa Rican frame of reference in the formation of this multicultural team.
Development of Bodhi Surf
Bodhi Surf is the culmination of many hours of discussion and thought about how to best make a small but meaningful impact on the world. Instructed by books like The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Prophet by Khalil Gibran, and Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered by EF Schumaker, the four founders believe that the best way to do this is to follow their own passions and talents and to share them with the world in a responsible and sustainable way. An important underlying point in the development of Bodhi Surf School has been to develop a company that does more than just teach the basics of surfing or cash in on an opportunity. As a surf school, Bodhi Surf utilizes and depends on the ocean as its grounds for surfing experiences, so it is only fit that we give back by working to build awareness for important issues such as marine conservation. As hosts, our goal is for our guests to experience Costa Rica, be exposed to the sport of surfing, and leave with a profound sense and understanding that it is important for places like Bahia Ballena to be developed in a responsible way.
