Cóbano shines in Latin American sports tourism and prepares to host the 2025 Banco LAFISE National Surfing Circuit.
The District of Cóbano, located on the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica, has taken a momentous step in its tourism development by joining the Latin American Sports Tourism Network. This initiative, founded in 2022 by Chilean engineer Andrés Sarmiento, seeks to promote destinations through sports, fostering both recreation and competitiveness in various disciplines. Cóbano thus joins a select group of municipalities in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, and Uruguay that share a sustainable and innovative vision of sports tourism.
The incorporation of Cóbano into the Network represents an invaluable opportunity to strengthen its international positioning and boost its local economy by hosting high-level sporting events. In this context, the district has been chosen to host the second round of the Banco LAFISE 2025 National Surfing Circuit, which will take place from March 14 to 16 in Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa. This event, presented by Garabito Sports City, will be a key meeting point for surfers from across the region, who will compete for 1,500 points in the overall ranking.
For Andrés Sarmiento, executive manager of the Latin American Sports Tourism Network, Cóbano's participation in the Network and its selection as the host of this prestigious surfing event represent a major step forward: "Sports tourism is a powerful tool for local development. In Cóbano, we have found a destination with great potential, not only for the quality of its waves, but also for its community's commitment to a sustainable and inclusive tourism model. We are convinced that events like the National Surfing Circuit will be essential to consolidating its image nationally and internationally."
The event has also been enthusiastically received by local authorities. Ronny Montero, Mayor of Cóbano, emphasized that this competition is a "golden opportunity to promote our natural beauty through healthy lifestyles, aligned with our goals as a local government." He added: "Our commitment is to continue promoting sports tourism as an engine of economic and social development. We firmly believe that initiatives like this strengthen the identity of our community, foster inclusion, and generate opportunities for local entrepreneurs. Furthermore, surfing is an essential part of our culture, and we want more young people to have access to these spaces for competition and learning."
Mike Castro, general coordinator of the Banco LAFISE 2025 National Surfing Circuit, emphasized that "Cóbano has become a benchmark for surfers thanks to the quality of its waves and its growing infrastructure, which guarantees an unforgettable experience for competitors and visitors."
The 2025 Banco LAFISE National Surfing Circuit will also include other dates at Dominical Beach in Osa, Guiones Beach in Nicoya, and Hermosa Beach in Garabito. However, the stop in Cóbano takes on special significance, consolidating its position as an epicenter of surfing and sports tourism in the region.
The calendar will feature the following five dates:
• Cieneguita Beach (Limón) : February 15 and 16 (2000 points).
• Santa Teresa (Cóbano) : March 15 and 16 (1500 points).
• Guiones Beach (Nosara) : April 12 and 13 (1500 points).
• Dominical Beach : May 24 and 25 (1500 points).
• FINAL Hermosa Beach (Jacó) : June 20, 21, and 22 (2000 points).
By joining the Network and organizing high-impact events, Cóbano is positioning itself as a model destination for Latin American sports tourism, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable development, inclusion, and innovation in the sector.
Learn more about the Latin American Sports Tourism Network:
The project, led by Sarmiento, aims to contribute to the development of sports tourism through associative initiatives that strengthen the sports and tourism ecosystem in Latin America. These initiatives will be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will seek to become a global example by incorporating key themes such as local development, sustainability, inclusion, innovation, sports heritage, and peace.
Currently, the Network is comprised of 19 municipalities in San Luis Potosí and Taxco (Mexico); Puchuncaví and Pica (Chile); Ibarra (Ecuador); Puerto Madryn, Esquel, Villa de Merlo, Salta, Las Heras and Dolores (Argentina); Medellín, Puerto Salgar, Cota, Juan de Acosta and Mosquera (Colombia); Montevideo and La Paloma (Uruguay); and now Cóbano in Costa Rica.
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