Vela centers are the perfect locations for you to learn and enjoy watersports and other activities in the best destinations of the world.
Since our beginning in 1987, we have been perfecting the services at our centers to make your active vacations the most memorable.
Each center offers the perfect gear for the spot, experienced instructors, and most important: local management by the center owner. All Vela centers are owned by local residents, so you can be sure of the attention to detail and commitment to your satisfaction.
Our history
Vela started 34 years ago from the dream of the visionaire Buck Lyons, who saw the opportunity to make windsurfing vacations something easy and fun: no hassle, no dragging boardbags in airports, no international calls to find a hotel in the perfect windy spot: just one call to Vela reservations, and you were set. Flights, hotel, equipment, lessons... All booked in one toll-free call to the Vela USA office.
Aruba was the first center, and soon the network expanded to more destinations, following the same quality and standards.
Vela started when communication was thru telephone and fax. Before internet and emails existed... We have evolved, and now operate under a direct reservations model, where you contact directly our local experts at each center thru e-mail, chat, whatsapp, and get the latest updates and the best rates for all the services you need... (accommodation, transfer, equipment rental, lessons...)
Our founder Buck Lyons continues to invent new businesses connected to the wind and watersports. After creating Vela, he started iwindsurf / ikitesurf offering accurate wind reports to windsurfers and kitesurfers, later evolving into Weatherflow, a company dedicated to offering precise weather measurements and forecasts with the aid of artificial intelligence. Buck's latest toy is inventing his own revolutionary weather station with no moving parts.
Our center managers are the best experts in each of our destinations. They have been living in the spot for several years and understand how to make things work in each of our exotic destinations, and as owners, they are the most interested persons in ensuring your smile and your return in the next season.
So get in touch now and get ready for your next adventure in paradise.