What it's actually like

Gostoso means tasty in Portuguese, and after one season here you will not argue with the name. It is a town of fishing boats and small guesthouses on the Rio Grande do Norte coast north of Natal, and the wind is why most riders find it. Low houses a few streets back from the sea, and a beach of clean sand that runs for two or three kilometres with nothing on it to hit.

I teach kite here, and I still slow down on the walk to the water to see what it is doing.

The trade blows from the east and south-east, from the right as you look out to sea, and Dr. Wind puts the season average at 18 to 25 knots.

Your month

When it's good

12 kt+ for 3+ daylight hours · kite

October · 98%. 31 rideable days in 31, 12.6 hours a day over 12 kt. Come.

At a glance

Is it for you?

Skill levelGetting there

WaterMixed bag

Wind · OctUsually turns up

Crowds · OctBusy patches

Local vibeWelcoming

Water qualityUsually clean

NightlifeA bar or two

CostMid

Geek analysis

October in the record

98% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.

Where the wind sits

Share of daylight hours in each speed band. Blue clears the bar.

4–70

8–112

12–1527

16–1940

20–2324

24–276

28–311

When in the day

The trades are a clock. A dawn session is a different spot.

8am

9

10

11

12pm

1pm

2

3

4

5

6pm

October on the record

The month's own figures, not the year's average.

Rideable days31 of 31Worst 17 in 2010, best 31 in 2002

Strongest gust44Kt

Air31.4°CMaximum

Record 1940 to 2026Normals 1995 to 2024Open-Meteo, ERA5, partly station corrected

Take it with you

The full São Miguel do Gostoso report

Eight sections over six to eight pages, built from the same record as this page. A PDF you can read on the plane.

01Hour-by-hour & month-by-month wind02The month's own records03Full stays, schools & kit04Per-launch tide windows05Reef, sandbank & currents06Getting there, packing & best months07Sources, and their limits

Three free reports with an account, then premium.

When it gets busy

Crowds

Sep · Medium

Busiest from November to January, with Christmas and New Year the peak, and quietest from June to August. Even in the rush the main beach runs for two to three kilometres, so there is usually room to spread out and find your own patch of water.

On the water

What October usually does

Wind directionE to SEFrom the right as you face the sea. Most sources call it side-shore; one says side-onshore, another side-offshore.

Wind strength18 to 25 ktDr. Wind’s season average, and plenty of power with it. Rig for the mean, not the biggest gust.

When it blowsTen till fiveBuilds from about ten, fills in by midday and eases from half past four, in time for sunset.

Your playground

Launches & safety

Local intel

Getting there & on the ground

Nearest airportNatal (NAT)About 100 km by road, an hour and a half to two hours.

On the groundSeptember to DecemberStrong months in the record, after the July and August swing to the south.

Getting aroundRoad from NatalTransfer or hire car from the airport. Pousadas near Santo Cristo are a short walk from the beach.

Stay, schools & kit

Who works this beach

Dr. WindSchoolKite · Wing · WindsurfOn Ponta do Santo Cristo, founded in 2006, with a rescue boat.Photo: Paolo Marchese via Google

Kauli Seadi Water Sports ClubSchoolKite · Wing · WindsurfIn Monte Alegre, IKO certified, with a rescue jet ski.Photo: Daniel Vieira via Google

Gostoso KitesurfSchoolKite · WingLessons in French, English and Portuguese, run on the radio.Photo: Raul Pereira via Google

Did I miss something out?Send it straight to me. I wrote this page.