Bamboo Paracas Resort
Beside the Kangaroo Kite centre, with a restaurant and bar for when you come off the water.
Peru
Nov · 88% rideableWhat it's actually like
Kiters, Paracas Bay gives you a south to south-west wind from your left, 14 to 16 kt from August to April. It builds to a peak between 3pm and 5pm, with chop near shore and flat water upwind. Kangaroo Kite rents kit here.
Paracas sits on Peru’s desert coast in the Ica region, about 260 km and three hours’ drive south of Lima. Next to the town, the Paracas National Reserve is where the desert meets the ocean. You ride in the bay off a large sandy beach at the main kite point. The good wind comes from the south, blowing from your left as you face the water.
Since 2017 the wind has been dependable for much of the year. From August to April more than seven days in ten clear 12 knots for three daylight hours, rising to nearly nine in ten in November. Mornings are dead calm, and in November no windy hour shows before 10am. Then it climbs to three days in ten by noon and nearly nine in ten from 3pm to 5pm. On most afternoons of the southern summer it is lit.
The engine is hot air over the desert meeting cold air over a sea chilled by the Humboldt current. The usual range is 18 to 25 knots, with light days that suit foiling. Days of 30 knots or more are known as Paracas, which means sandstorm. Don’t lean on the forecast: it is not very accurate here, as the wind is thermal.
Santo Domingo is the main kite point, where the schools are. The wind is side-offshore, but the bay is closed, so if you drift, you end up on the shore. The centre has fresh water to rinse kit, and the bay is busiest at weekends.
Downwind of the Kangaroo Kite centre the wind turns uneven and shifty, and downwind of the point there are piers, boats and other obstacles, so stay upwind of them. If you drift down, the advice is to come out and walk back up the shore before trying again. Jellyfish can appear in some seasons. The water is cold even on sunny days, and the desert sun and wind dry you out quickly: bring water and cover up.
When the bay is light, the reserve is your backup, and Kangaroo Kite runs kite trips into it. The wind gets stronger the further south you go. Laguna Grande is 45 minutes to an hour away. It is a closed bay with a side-onshore wind, cliffs, hills and a big shallow area, and its small fishing village has a satellite phone for emergencies. Other reserve spots include a left-hand wave over a rocky bottom for experienced riders, and side-offshore beaches with no rescue boat.
Wear a 3/2 long wetsuit or a shorty from October to April and a 3/2 long from May to September. The days are hot and dry, but the nights cool down, so bring layers. Mornings are usually windless, which leaves you time for a boat trip to the Ballestas Islands, sandboarding in the desert or a flight over the Nazca Lines.
Beginners do well here with a school, and the flat water upwind suits you if you’re working on tricks. Kangaroo Kite keeps a rescue boat out during lessons, and the school stores your kit.
Rules and safety. The Paracas National Reserve is run by SERNANP. Entry is through the Santo Domingo checkpoint, it is open from 9:00 to 16:00, and a day ticket costs S/. 11 for adults. Kayaking and paragliding are among the reserve’s activities, but kitesurfing is not, so ride inside it only with a school that runs trips there. There is no phone signal inside the reserve, so go with someone who knows the area.
LevelNot checked yet
Kitesurfing Peru teaches windsurf at the Kite Point, so you learn right where you ride.
LevelBody dragger to kiteloop
Beginners do well in the bay with a school; the reserve wave is for experts.
LevelNot checked yet
Kangaroo Kite teaches wing at the main point, with a rescue boat out during lessons.
WaterMillpond to chop-hop
Shore chop to punch through first, then flat water further upwind across the bay.
WaterMillpond to small chop
Chop near shore, then flat water upwind across the bay: freestyle riders come for it.
WaterMillpond to small chop
Light days suit foiling, and the water goes flat upwind of the choppy shore.
LaunchBarefoot
Big sandy beach to rig on, but the fine sand sticks to your kit.
LaunchBarefoot
A large sandy beach to launch from; fine sand sticks, so pack kites away dry.
LaunchBarefoot
A large sandy beach to launch your wing from; the fine sand clings to kit.
Wetsuit4/3 steamer
Sea about 16 °C in November: a 4/3, nippy on the first run, then sweet.
Wetsuit4/3 steamer
Sea about 16 °C in November: a 4/3, nippy on the first run, then sweet.
Wetsuit4/3 steamer
Sea about 16 °C in November: a 4/3, nippy on the first run, then sweet.
AprèsA few places
4 bars and 60 places to eat within 5 km: a sundowner, dinner, then bed.
AprèsA few places
4 bars and 60 places to eat within 5 km: a sundowner, dinner, then bed.
AprèsA few places
4 bars and 60 places to eat within 5 km: a sundowner, dinner, then bed.
CostMid
Kitesurfing Peru rents windsurf kit and runs a shop right at the Kite Point.
CostMid
Complete kite kit is US$70 a day at Kangaroo Kite, less on longer hires.
CostMid
Full wing kit is US$90 a day at Kangaroo Kite, less on longer hires.
Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.
The main point: a large sandy beach with the schools.
For kite, wing, windsurf. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
A lagoon inside the Paracas National Reserve, about an hour south.
For kite. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Full details for every place are in the Pocket Guide.
Beside the Kangaroo Kite centre, with a restaurant and bar for when you come off the water.
Modern apartments with kitchens, a pool and a co-working space, a few hundred metres from the kite centre.
Our pick: 1.2 km from the launch
A hotel about 300 m from the kite point, with an oceanfront pool and a spa to recover in.
Beachfront resort with its own private beach, about 300 m from the kite point.
Beachfront resort on the bay in Paracas town, about five minutes’ drive from the kite point.
Budget hostel in Paracas town, 100 m from El Chaco beach, with a shared kitchen and hammocks. About five minutes’ drive to the kite point.
Lessons, camps and reserve trips all year, starting from about 11am. A rescue boat covers every lesson.
Kite and windsurf lessons at the Kite Point in Santo Domingo, so you learn right where the riding happens.
Kite and wing rental at the main point, with a compressor, fresh water, hot showers and changing rooms.
Rental and a shop right at the Kite Point, handy if you’ve forgotten a leash.
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
Cumbuco Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Otávio Nogueira 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
Cumbuco Ceará, Brazil 29 rideable days in Oct Photo: Otávio Nogueira 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
Cumbuco Ceará, Brazil 27 rideable days in Oct Photo: Otávio Nogueira 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
Cumbuco Ceará, Brazil 30 rideable days in Sep Photo: Otávio Nogueira 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
Cumbuco Ceará, Brazil 29 rideable days in Oct Photo: Otávio Nogueira 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