Overview

Praia Formosa is Funchal's largest beach and one of the few kiteable spots on Madeira island. Pebble/dark sand beach on the south coast. Madeira is a mountainous volcanic island (highest peak 1,862m) — this creates unique wind patterns: the forecast can show 5 knots, but mountains channel and accelerate wind to 15-20 knots at certain corners.

The key is to find where wind blows parallel to the coast. Offshore and onshore winds next to mountains don't work. Kite in Funchal Bay, Praia Formosa, or Santa Cruz (near airport). Wingfoil is easier due to harbour access.

Subtropical climate, warm water (19-24°C), stunning volcanic landscapes. All year round. Kingzspot offers kite and wing lessons.

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Spot forecast for madeira | praia formosa

Sunrise 08:15 · Sunset 19:29

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

Next tides

High tide Tue 20 · 10:30 · 1.7 m
Low tide Tue 20 · 16:58 · 0.8 m
High tide Tue 20 · 23:13 · 1.6 m
Low tide Wed 21 · 05:02 · 0.9 m

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

madeira | praia formosa: 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

32h

in March · 5 rideable days

Wind is uneven from month to month: the best months are March, December and February, at 3 rideable days and 19 °C. The low point is January, at 0 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 81%13-20 knots · 15%21-30 knots · 5%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 81% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is March, at 19 °C. The wettest month is February, with 101 mm.

Monthly averages: madeira | praia formosa

Monthly averages — madeira | praia formosa — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	0.0	0 h	20 °C	97 mm
February	0.5	2 h	20 °C	101 mm
March	5.0	32 h	19 °C	82 mm
April	0.5	3 h	20 °C	46 mm
May	0.5	5 h	22 °C	25 mm
June	0.0	0 h	23 °C	4 mm
July	0.0	0 h	26 °C	0 mm
August	0.0	0 h	28 °C	0 mm
September	0.0	1 h	26 °C	1 mm
October	0.5	2 h	24 °C	17 mm
November	0.0	1 h	22 °C	59 mm
December	2.0	18 h	19 °C	67 mm

Photo gallery of madeira | praia formosa

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Technical details of madeira | praia formosa spot

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, NW, NNW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Advanced

Hazards

Rocky coastline — Madeira has almost no sand beaches. Rocks everywhere. Small beaches between cliffs. Not for beginners. Offshore wind on the south coast. Mountains create gusty, unpredictable wind acceleration at the island's corners. Forecast may say 5 knots but you can find 15-20 at the right spots due to mountain channeling.

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Live

FW1564 Funchal PT4.2 kmsource madis - NOAA

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Additional stations

Ogimet - Funchal (Portugal)5.4 km

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source ogimet
Ogimet - Funchal / S. Catarina (Portugal)18.4 km

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source ogimet

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madeira | praia formosa kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot