Windtown Brazil
Hotel rooms and apartments on the beach, with a kite and wing centre on site: walk from room to rig.
Brazil
Sep · 99% rideableWhat it's actually like
Wingers launch from the village beach or Lagoa do Cauípe, and the schools hire wing kit. The sea out front is choppy, so head for the lagoon's flat water. August to November is the heart of the season.
Cumbuco is a fishing village on a long sandy beach north-west of Fortaleza, about an hour’s drive from Fortaleza airport. The beach runs for more than six kilometres, with coconut palms behind the sand and dunes behind the village. From August the sky over it fills with kites. Bora pra água! That is Brazilian for let’s get in the water.
The trade blows from the east-south-east and hits the beach cross to cross-onshore from the right. The season runs from July to January, August to November is the heart of it, and September is the pick, with nearly every day rideable. It is lighter first thing, filled in by about ten, then holds through the afternoon. At 15 to 25 knots you are powered up for hours. March and April sit right down, so do not fly in for them. The water stays at 26 to 28°C all year.
Out front the sea is choppy over sandbanks, with a small shorebreak. You wade out through the white water, and the chop hands you ramps to boost off. Low tide widens the beach and flattens the water a little. High tide pushes the sea up towards the palms and brings more chop. The beach is more cluttered nearest the village, so go further along for your own piece of water. Lose too much ground downwind and it is a long walk back along the sand.
When you want it flat, Lagoa do Cauípe is downwind to the west, about 7 km from the centre of the village. Allow 15 to 30 minutes on a fast downwinder, or one to two hours if you stop to ride Pico das Almas. The lagoon is flat fresh water, shallow in places, with room for about 30 riders. It is often packed by noon, so go early or late. When the lagoon is small it can be almost impossible to ride, so ask at your stay before you go.
Cumbuco is a popular starting point for the long Brazilian downwinders, with trips heading north up the coast from here. November and December are the busiest months, with the Christmas and New Year holidays. Aim for September, the first two weeks of December or the end of January for water that is less crowded and still windy. Near the village the beach fills with swimmers and fishermen at weekends: give them space and keep well clear of their boats.
Kiters have the village beach, and the schools spread along it to find room. Beginners go where their instructor takes them, a quieter stretch of sand or the lagoon, and first-timers are welcome. Wingers find the sea choppy, so look for more sheltered water. Pros often ride Cauípe, and after a session you can watch their tricks from a beach restaurant on the western shore.
You are never short of a lesson, and the schools on the beach rent kite and wing kit. Indiana Kite runs downwind trips, including one that goes all the way to Jericoacoara for riders who have already done a downwinder of at least 30 km. Tell your school your plan before any downwinder and sort the buggy back before you go. On a day off, buggy tours run over the dunes, some out to Lagoa de Parnamirim at Tabuba beach, where you can try sandboarding.
Fly into Fortaleza and take a taxi or a ride-hailing car to Cumbuco. Stay on the beachfront and you can walk everywhere in the village. The lagoon is a buggy or taxi ride away.
Rules and safety. NORMAM-211 gives the area for kitesurfing as from 200 metres beyond the line where the waves break. A class V life jacket (colete salva-vidas classe V, made for sports use) is obligatory, so wear one and ask a school what applies. Check the signs on the beach. The village beach is shared with swimmers and fishermen, most of all at weekends. Buggies and 4x4s drive the sand, so always have someone spotting traffic when you rig and launch. Do not leave kit or valuables alone on the sand.
LevelNot checked yet
Beginners start on the lagoon, in its southern part, then move to the sea.
LevelBody dragger
Learn at the beginners’ end of the lagoon, then step out to the choppy sea.
LevelNot checked yet
Wingers find the sea out front choppy, so ask a school about sheltered water.
WaterMillpond to bump and jump
Flat at Lagoa do Cauípe, choppy at sea with a few sandbar waves.
WaterMillpond to chop and swell
Choppy ramps to boost off at sea, or flat lagoon water at Cauípe.
WaterMillpond to rolling bumps
Choppy out front, so head for the flat fresh water at Cauípe to foil.
LaunchBarefoot
More than six kilometres of sand, wide enough to launch without a fuss.
LaunchBarefoot
Over six kilometres of sand, wider at low tide, so the schools find room.
LaunchBarefoot
Launch your wing from the village beach: wide at low tide, narrow at high.
WetsuitBoardies
Sea about 28 °C in September: boardies weather, with a rash vest at most.
WetsuitBoardies
Sea about 28 °C in September: boardies weather, with a rash vest at most.
WetsuitBoardies
Sea about 28 °C in September: boardies weather, with a rash vest at most.
AprèsGoes off till sunrise
4 bars, 1 club and 16 places to eat within 5 km: the night's yours.
AprèsGoes off till sunrise
4 bars, 1 club and 16 places to eat within 5 km: the night's yours.
AprèsGoes off till sunrise
4 bars, 1 club and 16 places to eat within 5 km: the night's yours.
CostR$300 for two hours, kite rental, LeoKite
LeoKite rents by the hour: R$230 for the first, R$300 for two.
CostR$300 for two hours, kite rental, LeoKite
Hire a kite from LeoKite for R$230 the first hour, R$300 for two.
CostR$300 for two hours, kite rental, LeoKite
The schools on the beach hire wing kit; LeoKite kites are R$230 an hour.
Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.
Sandy beach in front of the village where the schools set up.
For kite, wing. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Flat freshwater lagoon downwind to the west of the village, reached by buggy or 4x4 along the beach, or by kiting down.
For kite, wing. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Full details for every place are in the Pocket Guide.
Hotel rooms and apartments on the beach, with a kite and wing centre on site: walk from room to rig.
Beachfront hotel on the village beach, with a large kite school, a shop for spares and repairs, and a compressor free for guests.
Boutique kite hotel on the beach, with its own Duotone kite centre teaching out front and somewhere to store your kites.
Dorms and private rooms thirty metres from the sand, with a pool and kit storage with a compressor.
Pousada with a pool about 300 m from the village beach, with space to rinse, dry and store kites. Lessons can be arranged.
Small yoga and kite hotel a few steps from the beach, with kite and wing classes and yoga morning and afternoon.
Beachfront spa resort with its own kite school, Carmel Kite, which is for hotel guests only.
Lessons, kitecamp packages with the hostel, and downwind trips when you want to cover some distance.
Beginners start on the Cauípe lagoon, about 1.2 m deep, then move to the sea in front of the school. Most take about three days.
One-to-one lessons on Duotone kit, on the beach in front of Vila Coqueiros, from instructors certified by the Brazilian Kitesurf Association.
Duotone kite and wing kit at the centre on the beach, so you can grab it and go.
Hire single items or complete sets, with storage and a compressor on hand.
Kites, boards, harnesses and spares on the shelf, with repairs and used kit for sale if you need a fix or a bargain.
Duotone kite rental at the centre on the beach in front of Vila Coqueiros, about 1 km east of the village.
Book links to Booking.com and Agoda may earn WindChaser a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Pocket Guide
Everything you need on the beach in one PDF. Save it to your phone and it works with no signal.
Spots that blow in January for kite.
Lancelin Western Australia, Australia 29 rideable days in Jan Photo: Bahnfrend
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 29 rideable days in Jan Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Bulabog, Boracay Western Visayas, Philippines 28 rideable days in Jan Photo: Roman Nuritdinov
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 27 rideable days in Jan Photo: dronepicr Spots that blow in February for kite.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 27 rideable days in Feb Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 26 rideable days in Feb Photo: dronepicr
Sal, Kite Beach Sal, Cape Verde 26 rideable days in Feb Photo: Tbo47
Bulabog, Boracay Western Visayas, Philippines 26 rideable days in Feb Photo: Roman Nuritdinov
Tiree Inner Hebrides, United Kingdom 25 rideable days in Feb Photo: Gordon Hatton Spots that blow in March for kite.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 30 rideable days in Mar Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Bulabog, Boracay Western Visayas, Philippines 28 rideable days in Mar Photo: Roman Nuritdinov
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 28 rideable days in Mar Photo: dronepicr
Sal, Kite Beach Sal, Cape Verde 27 rideable days in Mar Photo: Tbo47
Lancelin Western Australia, Australia 26 rideable days in Mar Photo: Bahnfrend Spots that blow in April for kite.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 29 rideable days in Apr Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 28 rideable days in Apr Photo: dronepicr
Sal, Kite Beach Sal, Cape Verde 27 rideable days in Apr Photo: Tbo47
Dakhla Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Morocco 25 rideable days in Apr Photo: Lärchenholz Spots that blow in May for kite.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 31 rideable days in May Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 30 rideable days in May Photo: dronepicr
Sal, Kite Beach Sal, Cape Verde 29 rideable days in May Photo: Tbo47
Kanaha Hawaii, United States 28 rideable days in May Photo: Kirt Edblom Spots that blow in June for kite.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 30 rideable days in Jun Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 30 rideable days in Jun Photo: dronepicr
Kalpitiya North Western, Sri Lanka 30 rideable days in Jun Photo: Chanaka Palliyaguru
Kanaha Hawaii, United States 29 rideable days in Jun Photo: Kirt Edblom Spots that blow in July for kite.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 31 rideable days in Jul Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Kanaha Hawaii, United States 31 rideable days in Jul Photo: Kirt Edblom
Pozo Izquierdo Canary Islands, Spain 30 rideable days in Jul Photo: Nathalie Cools
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 30 rideable days in Jul Photo: dronepicr Spots that blow in August for kite.
Sakalava Bay Diego Suarez, Madagascar 31 rideable days in Aug Photo: Chirocca77
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 31 rideable days in Aug Photo: Fabiobarros
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 31 rideable days in Aug Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 31 rideable days in Aug Photo: Otávio Nogueira Spots that blow in September for kite.
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Fabiobarros
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Sakalava Bay Diego Suarez, Madagascar 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Chirocca77 Spots that blow in October for kite.
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 31 rideable days in Oct Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 31 rideable days in Oct Photo: Fabiobarros
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 31 rideable days in Oct Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Sakalava Bay Diego Suarez, Madagascar 28 rideable days in Oct Photo: Chirocca77 Spots that blow in November for kite.
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Nov Photo: Fabiobarros
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 29 rideable days in Nov Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 29 rideable days in Nov Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Lancelin Western Australia, Australia 27 rideable days in Nov Photo: Bahnfrend Spots that blow in December for kite.
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Dec Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 30 rideable days in Dec Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 29 rideable days in Dec Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 29 rideable days in Dec Photo: Fabiobarros Spots that blow in January for windsurf.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 29 rideable days in Jan Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Lancelin Western Australia, Australia 28 rideable days in Jan Photo: Bahnfrend
Bulabog, Boracay Western Visayas, Philippines 26 rideable days in Jan Photo: Roman Nuritdinov
Mui Ne Binh Thuan, Vietnam 26 rideable days in Jan Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg Spots that blow in February for windsurf.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 26 rideable days in Feb Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Bulabog, Boracay Western Visayas, Philippines 25 rideable days in Feb Photo: Roman Nuritdinov
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 24 rideable days in Feb Photo: dronepicr
Tiree Inner Hebrides, United Kingdom 24 rideable days in Feb Photo: Gordon Hatton
Sal, Kite Beach Sal, Cape Verde 24 rideable days in Feb Photo: Tbo47 Spots that blow in March for windsurf.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 29 rideable days in Mar Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 26 rideable days in Mar Photo: dronepicr
Sal, Kite Beach Sal, Cape Verde 25 rideable days in Mar Photo: Tbo47
Bulabog, Boracay Western Visayas, Philippines 25 rideable days in Mar Photo: Roman Nuritdinov
Dakhla Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Morocco 24 rideable days in Mar Photo: Lärchenholz Spots that blow in April for windsurf.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 29 rideable days in Apr Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 25 rideable days in Apr Photo: dronepicr
Sal, Kite Beach Sal, Cape Verde 25 rideable days in Apr Photo: Tbo47
Dakhla Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Morocco 23 rideable days in Apr Photo: Lärchenholz Spots that blow in May for windsurf.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 31 rideable days in May Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 29 rideable days in May Photo: dronepicr
Sakalava Bay Diego Suarez, Madagascar 28 rideable days in May Photo: Chirocca77
Dakhla Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Morocco 27 rideable days in May Photo: Lärchenholz Spots that blow in June for windsurf.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 30 rideable days in Jun Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Kalpitiya North Western, Sri Lanka 30 rideable days in Jun Photo: Chanaka Palliyaguru
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 30 rideable days in Jun Photo: dronepicr
Kanaha Hawaii, United States 29 rideable days in Jun Photo: Kirt Edblom Spots that blow in July for windsurf.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 31 rideable days in Jul Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Kanaha Hawaii, United States 30 rideable days in Jul Photo: Kirt Edblom
Pozo Izquierdo Canary Islands, Spain 30 rideable days in Jul Photo: Nathalie Cools
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 30 rideable days in Jul Photo: dronepicr Spots that blow in August for windsurf.
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 31 rideable days in Aug Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Aug Photo: Fabiobarros
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 30 rideable days in Aug Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Sakalava Bay Diego Suarez, Madagascar 30 rideable days in Aug Photo: Chirocca77 Spots that blow in September for windsurf.
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Fabiobarros
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Sakalava Bay Diego Suarez, Madagascar 29 rideable days in Sep Photo: Chirocca77 Spots that blow in October for windsurf.
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 31 rideable days in Oct Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 30 rideable days in Oct Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Oct Photo: Fabiobarros
Soma Bay Red Sea, Egypt 27 rideable days in Oct Photo: dronepicr Spots that blow in November for windsurf.
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 29 rideable days in Nov Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 29 rideable days in Nov Photo: Fabiobarros
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 28 rideable days in Nov Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Lancelin Western Australia, Australia 26 rideable days in Nov Photo: Bahnfrend Spots that blow in December for windsurf.
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 29 rideable days in Dec Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 28 rideable days in Dec Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 28 rideable days in Dec Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 27 rideable days in Dec Photo: Fabiobarros Spots that blow in January for wing.
Lancelin Western Australia, Australia 29 rideable days in Jan Photo: Bahnfrend
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 29 rideable days in Jan Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Bulabog, Boracay Western Visayas, Philippines 28 rideable days in Jan Photo: Roman Nuritdinov
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 27 rideable days in Jan Photo: dronepicr Spots that blow in February for wing.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 27 rideable days in Feb Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 26 rideable days in Feb Photo: dronepicr
Sal, Kite Beach Sal, Cape Verde 26 rideable days in Feb Photo: Tbo47
Bulabog, Boracay Western Visayas, Philippines 26 rideable days in Feb Photo: Roman Nuritdinov
Tiree Inner Hebrides, United Kingdom 25 rideable days in Feb Photo: Gordon Hatton Spots that blow in March for wing.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 30 rideable days in Mar Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Bulabog, Boracay Western Visayas, Philippines 28 rideable days in Mar Photo: Roman Nuritdinov
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 28 rideable days in Mar Photo: dronepicr
Sal, Kite Beach Sal, Cape Verde 27 rideable days in Mar Photo: Tbo47
Lancelin Western Australia, Australia 26 rideable days in Mar Photo: Bahnfrend Spots that blow in April for wing.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 29 rideable days in Apr Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 28 rideable days in Apr Photo: dronepicr
Sal, Kite Beach Sal, Cape Verde 27 rideable days in Apr Photo: Tbo47
Dakhla Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Morocco 25 rideable days in Apr Photo: Lärchenholz Spots that blow in May for wing.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 31 rideable days in May Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 30 rideable days in May Photo: dronepicr
Sal, Kite Beach Sal, Cape Verde 29 rideable days in May Photo: Tbo47
Kanaha Hawaii, United States 28 rideable days in May Photo: Kirt Edblom Spots that blow in June for wing.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 30 rideable days in Jun Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 30 rideable days in Jun Photo: dronepicr
Kalpitiya North Western, Sri Lanka 30 rideable days in Jun Photo: Chanaka Palliyaguru
Kanaha Hawaii, United States 29 rideable days in Jun Photo: Kirt Edblom Spots that blow in July for wing.
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 31 rideable days in Jul Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Kanaha Hawaii, United States 31 rideable days in Jul Photo: Kirt Edblom
Pozo Izquierdo Canary Islands, Spain 30 rideable days in Jul Photo: Nathalie Cools
Lac Bay Sorobon, Bonaire 30 rideable days in Jul Photo: dronepicr Spots that blow in August for wing.
Sakalava Bay Diego Suarez, Madagascar 31 rideable days in Aug Photo: Chirocca77
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 31 rideable days in Aug Photo: Fabiobarros
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 31 rideable days in Aug Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 31 rideable days in Aug Photo: Otávio Nogueira Spots that blow in September for wing.
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Fabiobarros
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Sakalava Bay Diego Suarez, Madagascar 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Chirocca77 Spots that blow in October for wing.
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 31 rideable days in Oct Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 31 rideable days in Oct Photo: Fabiobarros
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 31 rideable days in Oct Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Sakalava Bay Diego Suarez, Madagascar 28 rideable days in Oct Photo: Chirocca77 Spots that blow in November for wing.
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Nov Photo: Fabiobarros
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 29 rideable days in Nov Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 29 rideable days in Nov Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Lancelin Western Australia, Australia 27 rideable days in Nov Photo: Bahnfrend Spots that blow in December for wing.
Jericoacoara Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Dec Photo: Jade Queiroz (MTur Destinos)
São Miguel do Gostoso Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 30 rideable days in Dec Photo: Otávio Nogueira
Aruba - Fishermans Huts Hadicurari, Aruba 29 rideable days in Dec Photo: Vlad Podvorny
Icaraizinho Ceará, Brazil 29 rideable days in Dec Photo: Fabiobarros