Kurt Van Dyke was a 66-year-old American surfer, expatriate, and hotel owner originally from Santa Cruz, California, where his family was deeply rooted in the surf culture.
He came from the well-known Van Dyke surfing family, his father Gene Van Dyke was an early Northern California surfing pioneer and his mother Betty Van Dyke helped promote the sport in its early decades.
Kurt grew up surfing from a young age, developing a reputation within California’s surf scene before moving abroad.
In the mid-1980s, Van Dyke relocated permanently to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica Province.
There he became a prominent figure in the local surfing community, known for riding the powerful waves of Salsa Brava and earning regard among surfers and travelers.
He also owned and operated Hotel Puerto Viejo, a popular hostel-style lodging that attracted visitors from around the world.
Tragically, on Saturday morning, February 14, 2026, Van Dyke was killed during what local authorities are treating as a violent home invasion and robbery at his Costa Rican residence.
According to investigators, two armed men forced their way into the home, threatened Van Dyke and the woman with him, bound them, and stole valuables before killing Van Dyke.
He was later found under a bed, with multiple stab wounds and signs of asphyxiation, with a sheet over his head and a knife nearby.
No suspects have yet been arrested and the case remains under investigation by Costa Rican authorities.
At the time of the attack, Kurt Van Dyke was living with a 31-year-old woman identified in reports by her surname, Arroyo and is widely described as his girlfriend or partner.
She was present in the apartment when the intruders entered.
As per authorities, she had been showering when the attack began. The suspects then bound her hands and feet with zip ties and assaulted her during the robbery.
She survived the ordeal and was not seriously physically injured beyond the assault and restraints.
Later, she provided investigators with crucial details about the sequence of events leading up to Van Dyke’s death and the taking of their vehicle, which was seen on security footage driving away after the crime.
As of the recent updates, she has been cooperating with authorities and has spoken about the incident to police.
Leave a Comment