Best kitesurfing spots by month
“From November to March the wind is in the Southern Hemisphere and the Caribbean: South Africa, Colombia, Cape Verde, Brazil. From April to October it moves north to Tarifa, Portugal, the Canaries, Egypt, Dakhla and the North Sea. Pick the month first, then the spot.”
Kitesurfing has exploded over the past decade, and the list of places to ride has exploded with it. From bustling beaches to hidden lagoons where you might only meet a goat or two, there is a spot for every kind of kiter. The catch is timing. A world class spot in the wrong month is just a very expensive beach holiday with a kite bag you never open.
So here are the best kitesurfing spots, sorted by when the wind actually blows. Season, wind speed and vibe for each one.
When is the best time to kitesurf where?
There is always wind somewhere. Roughly: November to March belongs to the Southern Hemisphere and the Caribbean trade winds, April to October belongs to Europe, North Africa, the Red Sea and the US, and Brazil sits in between, from August to January.
| Spot | Season | Wind speed |
|---|---|---|
| Aruba and Bonaire | May to October | 15 to 25 knots |
| Cabarete, Dominican Republic | January to March, June to August | 15 to 25 knots |
| Canary Islands, Spain | May to September | 15 to 30 knots |
| Cape Town region, South Africa | November to March | 20 to 35 knots |
| Cumbuco, Brazil | August to December | 20 to 30 knots |
| Dakhla, Morocco | March to October | 15 to 30 knots |
| El Gouna, Egypt | April to October | 15 to 30 knots |
| Gafanha da Nazaré, Portugal | May to October | 16 to 25 knots |
| Hood River, USA | May to September | 15 to 25 knots |
| Isla Holbox, Mexico | November to April | 10 to 20 knots |
| Jericoacoara, Brazil | August to January | 20 to 30 knots |
| Klitmøller, Denmark | May to October | 15 to 25 knots |
| Lo Stagnone, Sicily | April to October | 15 to 20 knots |
| Maui, Hawaii | April to October | 20 to 30 knots |
| Perth and Safety Bay, Australia | November to March | 15 to 25 knots |
| Sal and Boa Vista, Cape Verde | November to March | 20 to 25 knots |
| Salinas del Rey, Colombia | January to April | 18 to 28 knots |
| Scheveningen and Brouwersdam, Netherlands | May to September | 12 to 25 knots |
| Tarifa, Spain | April to October | 15 to 30 knots |
| Turks and Caicos | November to April | 15 to 20 knots |
| Watamu, Kenya | June to September, December to March | 15 to 25 knots |
| Zanzibar, Tanzania | June to October, December to February | 15 to 25 knots |
Where can you kitesurf from November to March?
Go south or go Caribbean. While Europe is grey and the North Sea is for the brave, the Southern Hemisphere summer and the Atlantic trade winds are at full strength.
Cape Town region, South Africa
Season: November to March.
Wind speed: 20 to 35 knots.
Vibe: Adrenaline charged with epic landscapes.
Cape Town is not for the faint hearted. Known for thrilling winds and big waves, it is where you find top pros pushing their limits. Bloubergstrand, with Table Mountain as the iconic backdrop, draws seasoned kiters who crave strong winds and big kickers. Expect gusty winds, strong currents and an energised crowd of kiting daredevils.
Drive north and the region opens up. An hour and a half up the R27, the Langebaan lagoon is the flat water answer to Bloubergstrand, with shallow water at Shark Bay and more space at Main Beach. Everything you need to know is in kitesurfing Langebaan, worth it? Keep going to Paternoster for raw West Coast waves, southwest wind and a beach that stays quiet. Not one for beginners, and kitesurfing Paternoster explains what the forecast needs to show.
Sal and Boa Vista, Cape Verde
Season: November to March.
Wind speed: 20 to 25 knots.
Vibe: Wild, windswept and rugged island adventure.
Cape Verde is perfect for kitesurfers who want to escape the crowds. Sal and Boa Vista offer consistent trade winds and, especially on Sal, some impressive wave spots. Ponta Preta is known for its powerful waves and is a favourite among advanced riders. Beginners can find calmer water around Kite Beach.
Isla Holbox, Mexico
Season: November to April.
Wind speed: 10 to 20 knots.
Vibe: Slow island life with flamingos and flat water.
Isla Holbox is a sanctuary for anyone who wants a slower pace. Flat, shallow water makes it ideal for beginners and laid back riders. Fewer crowds, more flamingos, beautiful sunsets.
Turks and Caicos, Caribbean
Season: November to April.
Wind speed: 15 to 20 knots.
Vibe: Luxurious, crystal clear Caribbean.
Long Bay Beach is a beginner’s paradise, with shallow turquoise water and sandbanks for miles. Caribbean kiting with a touch of luxury, posh resorts included. Like stepping into a postcard.
Perth and Safety Bay, Australia
Season: November to March.
Wind speed: 15 to 25 knots.
Vibe: Aussie sunshine with endless sandy beaches.
Safety Bay is a flat water haven, and with steady sea breezes it is perfect for beginners and freestylers alike. Laid back locals, travelling kiters, endless blue skies. Bring sunscreen.
Salinas del Rey, Colombia
Season: January to April.
Wind speed: 18 to 28 knots.
Vibe: Raw Caribbean wind machine with a real local community.
A former GKA World Tour stop on the Colombian coast, with trade winds so steady they feel mechanical. The beach is small and the community takes some effort to earn, which is exactly why it rewards a longer stay. The full story is in Salinas del Rey, still worth the trip.
Cabarete, Dominican Republic
Season: January to March and June to August.
Wind speed: 15 to 25 knots.
Vibe: Party central Caribbean, with a side of steady wind.
Trade winds and warm water make Cabarete a playground for all levels. Kite Beach is the main hub, where beginners and pros mix in a scene full of energy, and the beach bars are never far away. The kiting and the nightlife compete for the spotlight.
Where is the wind from April to October?
Europe wakes up. Thermal winds kick in as the land heats, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea get their summer patterns, and suddenly you can kite without a long haul flight.
Tarifa, Spain
Season: April to October.
Wind speed: 15 to 30+ knots.
Vibe: Electric and energetic, with a beach party on the side.
The kiting capital of Europe. Playa de Los Lances is the go to spot, and Valdevaqueros is the escape when it gets too crowded. Everyone from world class Big Air riders to beginners in wetsuits two sizes too big, and the nightlife keeps going after dark.
Gafanha da Nazaré, Portugal
Season: May to October.
Wind speed: 16 to 25 knots.
Vibe: Portugal’s overlooked thermal spot.
An hour south of Porto near Aveiro, Gafanha da Nazaré runs on a reliable afternoon thermal. Calm mornings, wind after lunch, waves on the Atlantic side and a lagoon upriver that almost nobody rides. More in Gafanha da Nazaré, my kite secret.
Dakhla, Morocco
Season: March to October.
Wind speed: 15 to 30 knots.
Vibe: Remote desert kiting with a side of camels.
A kiting oasis in the Sahara, where flat water and strong wind make it a dream for freestylers and beginners alike. The lagoon is sheltered and smooth, surrounded by endless dunes and pink flamingos.
El Gouna, Egypt
Season: April to October.
Wind speed: 15 to 30 knots.
Vibe: Desert oasis with a luxury twist.
Perfect lagoons and year round sun. Mangroovy Beach suits all levels with shallow, flat water and reliable wind, and you can go from shredding the lagoon to a poolside cocktail in minutes.
Lo Stagnone, Sicily, Italy
Season: April to October.
Wind speed: 15 to 20 knots.
Vibe: La dolce vita, with steady breezes.
A warm, shallow lagoon that feels like a giant playground for freestylers and beginners. Off the water, Sicilian wine, food and views. You leave with better kiting and serious pasta cravings.
Maui, Hawaii
Season: April to October.
Wind speed: 20 to 30 knots.
Vibe: Surf culture with a splash of aloha.
Kanaha Beach Park has reliable trade winds, warm water and waves for intermediate and advanced kiters. A strong local community and breathtaking scenery. Watch out for surfers, the water is shared.
Canary Islands, Spain
Season: May to September.
Wind speed: 15 to 30 knots.
Vibe: Laid back island time with a reliable breeze.
Fuerteventura and Tenerife are the stars. Sotavento on Fuerteventura is a huge flat water playground for freestylers, while El Médano on Tenerife attracts wave riders and a chill crowd.
Scheveningen and Brouwersdam, Netherlands
Season: May to September.
Wind speed: 12 to 30 knots.
Vibe: Dutch charm with cosy beach bars.
Not warm, but full of character. Brouwersdam’s flat water is a favourite among beginners, while the North Sea waves at Scheveningen attract more experienced riders. Afterwards, everyone huddles in the beach bars with hot chocolate or beer, depending on the hour.
Hood River, USA
Season: May to September.
Wind speed: 15 to 25 knots.
Vibe: Mountains meet river.
The Columbia River Gorge has strong thermals, crisp water and postcard scenery. Flat water near the launch, choppier further out, and hiking trails and craft breweries for after the session.
Aruba and Bonaire, Caribbean
Season: May to October.
Wind speed: 15 to 25 knots.
Vibe: Friendly Caribbean island simplicity.
Calm, shallow water and year round sun make both islands beginner friendly. Fishermen’s Huts on Aruba and Atlantis Beach on Bonaire are the favourites. No big waves, just steady breezes.
Klitmøller, Denmark
Season: May to October.
Wind speed: 15 to 25 knots.
Vibe: Tranquil, wild Scandinavian serenity.
Known as Cold Hawaii, and it lives up to the name with steady winds and wave riding galore. Best for experienced wave riders, but the calm, natural vibe welcomes everyone.
Where can you kitesurf in October?
October is the in between month. Europe is fading, South Africa has not properly started, and that gap is exactly where Brazil and East Africa shine.
Cumbuco, Brazil
Season: August to December.
Wind speed: 15 to 25 knots.
Vibe: Social, sporty and packed with energy.
The Cauípe Lagoon is the freestyle hotspot, with smooth water and plenty of space for tricks. Beginners and pros mix on the same water, and the post session gatherings, food and music keep going all night.
Jericoacoara, Brazil
Season: August to January.
Wind speed: 20 to 30 knots.
Vibe: Bohemian, laid back and windswept.
Jeri is a haven for kiters who like a bohemian vibe. Strong, steady wind and flat, shallow water for learning and progressing. Beachside capoeira, sunset sand dunes and enough caipirinhas to keep you dancing after dark.
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Season: June to October and December to February.
Wind speed: 15 to 25 knots.
Vibe: Tropical paradise with a chilled out African flair.
Paje Beach has waist deep turquoise water and warm, steady breezes. Beginners love the calm lagoon, advanced riders head out to the reef for waves. Easy to lose track of time here.
Watamu, Kenya
Season: June to September and December to March.
Wind speed: 15 to 25 knots.
Vibe: Safari meets beach.
Warm, shallow lagoons for beginners and reef waves for advanced riders. A small, laid back town, with the option of adding a safari to the trip. Lions and lagoons.
Closer to home, Tarifa, Egypt and Dakhla still deliver in October, and the North Sea starts sending autumn storms. If nothing works out at all, there is always when the wind takes a holiday.
How do you check a spot before you book?
Do not trust a season table alone, including this one. Look up the historical wind statistics for the exact month, check the forecast models in the weeks before you fly, and read recent reports from riders who were there.
Check the wind direction, not just the strength. Twenty knots offshore is a very different holiday from twenty knots side onshore.
Look at how the wind builds through the day. Thermal spots are often dead in the morning and powered in the afternoon.
Pack for the whole range. One kite for the light days, one for when it cranks.
For reading the models, see how to read a kitesurfing forecast. Why one stretch of coast blows harder than the next is explained in why some places are windier than others. And before you book anything, read the dark side of kitesurfing trips.
From winter in Cape Town to summer in the Netherlands, there is always a spot ready for kiting. Pick the month first, then the spot.
And know that the wind does not care about your vacation days.
xox Berito
Quick answers
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It depends on where you go. November to March is best for South Africa and the Caribbean, April to October for Europe and North Africa.
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South Africa, Colombia, Cape Verde, Brazil and the Caribbean all have their main season from November to March.
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Brazil is at its best, and Tarifa, Egypt, Dakhla and Zanzibar still have wind. South Africa usually starts in November.
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November to March, with Cape Town, Langebaan and Paternoster all at their best.
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August to January on the Ceará coast, home to Cumbuco and Jericoacoara.
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Tarifa for wind and atmosphere. Portugal, the Canaries and Sicily if you want fewer people.
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Nowhere is perfect all year. Egypt and Dakhla come closest, with long seasons from spring to autumn.