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Matala / Crete kitesurf and wingfoil spot

Greece

Spot currently openAdvanced level 34.99 | 24.75

Overview

Matala is a historic coastal village on the south coast of Crete, famous for its Neolithic caves and hippie past in the 1960s-70s. Matala bay faces west, offering a different configuration from other south coast spots.

The Meltemi wraps around the terrain and arrives in the bay from NW/WNW as side-onshore. Conditions are less extreme than in the nearby Messara plain but remain demanding. Spot for advanced riders in a unique historical setting.

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Spot forecast for Matala / Crete

Sunrise 07:31 · Sunset 18:40

Open-Meteo

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Matala / Crete: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

81h

in July · 13.5 rideable days

Wind is uneven from month to month: the best months are July, September and June, at 13 rideable days and 31 °C. The low point is November, at 7 days.

Rideable days per month

0 5 10 15 January: 11.5 rideable days J February: 11 rideable days F March: 11.5 rideable days M April: 10.5 rideable days A May: 8 rideable days M June: 13 rideable days J July: 13.5 rideable days13.5 d J August: 13 rideable days A September: 13.5 rideable days S October: 8 rideable days O November: 7 rideable days7 d N December: 7 rideable days7 d D 0 5 10 15 January: 11.5 rideable days J February: 11 rideable days F March: 11.5 rideable days M April: 10.5 rideable days A May: 8 rideable days M June: 13 rideable days J July: 13.5 rideable days13.5 d J August: 13 rideable days A September: 13.5 rideable days S October: 8 rideable days O November: 7 rideable days7 d N December: 7 rideable days7 d D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 79%13-20 knots · 21%21-30 knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 79% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is February, at 16 °C. The wettest month is December, with 100 mm.

Monthly averages: Matala / Crete
Monthly averages — Matala / Crete — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 11.5 80 h 17 °C 44 mm
February 11.0 57 h 16 °C 39 mm
March 11.5 87 h 19 °C 16 mm
April 10.5 75 h 21 °C 17 mm
May 8.0 63 h 25 °C 7 mm
June 13.0 65 h 32 °C 0 mm
July 13.5 81 h 33 °C 0 mm
August 13.0 78 h 32 °C 2 mm
September 13.5 68 h 29 °C 1 mm
October 8.0 42 h 24 °C 10 mm
November 7.0 35 h 21 °C 32 mm
December 7.0 47 h 17 °C 100 mm

Photo gallery of Matala / Crete

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Technical details of Matala / Crete spot

N: Not rideable NNE: Not rideable NE: Not rideable ENE: Not rideable E: Not rideable ESE: Not rideable SE: Not rideable SSE: Not rideable S: Not rideable SSW: Not rideable SW: Not rideable WSW: Not rideable W: Rideable WNW: Rideable NW: Rideable NNW: Rideable N E S W

The spot works with winds from W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Rideable Not rideable
Spot functioning

Launching from the bay beach. Watch for swimming traffic in summer (the beach is very touristic). Sailing area in the bay and towards open water. No kite school on site.

Works from June to September but windy days are less frequent than on the north coast.

Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Advanced
On the water

Water in the bay with chop and waves formed by the NW wind. Cliffs partially protect the eastern part of the bay. Sandy and rocky bottom. Clear warm water.

Parking

Matala village parking (paid in summer). Numerous tavernas, cafés and accommodations in the village. Very popular tourist site in summer – the caves are a major attraction.

Wind specificities

Meltemi wraps around terrain and arrives in the bay as NW/WNW side-onshore. Unlike nearby Timbakion, the bay's west-facing configuration transforms the offshore wind into side-onshore, creating more manageable conditions.

Typical strength 15-25 knots in summer. Gusts remain possible when gap wind descends from the mountains. Less reliable than north coast spots.

Hazards

Rocky cliffs at the bay ends – do not approach. Intense swimming traffic in summer on the main beach. Submerged rocks in some areas. Possible gusts descending from the mountains.

Tourist area – respect swimmers and designated swimming zones.

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Live

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Webcams near Matala / Crete

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Nearby spots

All spots: Greece

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