Brazil: characteristic landscape — Illustrative image

kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spots in Brazil

Hundreds of kilometres of beaches, a warm wind that blows for months, lagoons hidden behind the dunes: in a single generation, Brazil's Northeast has become one of the world's great kitesurfing capitals.

474 spots listed, across 21 regions. Rideable days are computed from two full years of readings (2024 and 2025), spot by spot.

Brazil: an overview

Kiting as a way of life

Few countries have embraced kitesurfing as naturally as Brazil. On the Ceará coast, fishing villages have turned into resorts built around the wind, without losing their jangada boats or their sand streets. The country has produced some of the best riders in the world, and the scene is as local as it is international: schools, pousadas and rental shops are often run by enthusiasts from elsewhere who came and stayed.

The wind season, driven by the trade winds, covers the second half of the year in the Northeast. During those months the days follow a pattern: a calm morning, a wind that builds and holds until sunset, and warm water that makes a wetsuit unnecessary.

Lagoons, dunes and downwinders

What makes Brazil unique is the geography of its northern coast. Behind the beaches stretch huge dunes, and between them, rainwater or seawater lagoons, flat and warm, where you learn in a matter of days. River mouths form lagoons that the tide fills and empties.

This is also downwinder country. Riders link villages by sailing with the wind, sometimes over several days, followed by a buggy or 4x4 carrying the luggage. The run from Cumbuco to the dunes of Maranhão, over hundreds of kilometres, has become one of the most sought-after trips in board sports.

Beyond the Northeast

Brazil is not just Ceará. Rio Grande do Norte, further east, offers quieter villages, and the South — led by Santa Catarina — has its own riding culture, closer to surfing, with lagoons and cooler water.

The best regions

The Ceará coast

The flagship region, on either side of Fortaleza. Endless beaches, lagoons, schools in every village and infrastructure built for riders. This is almost always where a first trip begins.

Jericoacoara and around

Dunes, lagoons, palm trees and a village that became world-famous. More touristy and more sporty too, with spots for every level within a few kilometres.

Piauí and Barra Grande

A very short coastline, but a name every kiter knows: flat, warm lagoons sheltered by sandbanks, in a still-unspoilt setting.

Maranhão and the Lençóis

A desert of white dunes dotted with turquoise lagoons, unique in the world. Atins, at the edge of the park, is where the great downwinders end.

Rio Grande do Norte

East of the Northeast, quieter villages, wild beaches and very consistent conditions. A less crowded alternative to Ceará.

Santa Catarina

Brazil's South, green and hilly. Lagoons, waves and surf culture, with a season and atmosphere very different from the Northeast.

By region

The spots not to miss

Parajuru (Ceará)

Ceará

East of Fortaleza, a low-key village facing a long beach and lagoons shaped by the river and the tide. Lots of space, few people, and an atmosphere that has stayed authentic.
Cumbuco (Ceará)

Ceará

The starting point of most trips. Half an hour from Fortaleza, a wave beach and, just behind the dunes, a flat lagoon where generations of kiters learned. Lively, practical, essential.
Taíba (Ceará)

Ceará

A fishing village set between red cliffs and a lagoon. Quieter than Cumbuco, with flat water much loved by freestylers and waves close at hand.
Lagoinha (Ceará)

Ceará

A bay lined with palm trees and cliffs, with dune lagoons a few minutes away. One of the most photogenic stops on the coast.
Icaraizinho de Amontada (Ceará)

State of Ceará

A small village at the end of a sand road, known for its steady wind and wide beach. Ideal for getting away from the bustle and riding in peace.
Ilha do Guajiru (Ceará)

Ceará

A lagoon of flat, shallow water sheltered by sandbanks. One of the best freestyle and speed spots in Brazil, in an almost deserted setting.
Preá (Ceará)

Ceará

Jericoacoara's kite beach, a few kilometres from the village. A vast stretch of sand, a strong wind, and hotels and schools geared towards riding.
Jericoacoara (Ceará)

Ceará

Dunes, a famous sunset, sand streets and the energy of an end-of-the-world village turned global destination. More technical near the village, surrounded by spots for every level.
Macapá, Barra Grande (Piauí)

Piauí

Flat, warm lagoons filled and emptied by the tide, fringed with mangroves. One of the most renowned flat-water playgrounds in the country.
Atins (Maranhão)

Maranhão

On the edge of the Lençóis Maranhenses, a village reached by 4x4 or boat. A river, a wild beach and, behind it, a desert of dunes and lagoons: the dream finish to a great downwinder.
São Miguel do Gostoso (Rio Grande do Norte)

Rio Grande do Norte

A quiet village north of Natal, with a long beach and very steady wind. Less known than Ceará, and all the more enjoyable for it.
Ibiraquera (Santa Catarina)

Santa Catarina

A large lagoon at the foot of the hills, close to the sea, in the South. Flat water, green landscapes and a riding culture closer to surfing than to resort kiting.

When to ride

2024-2025 average

Rideable days per month, averaged over the 2024-2025 readings, spot by spot. Regions are ordered by number of spots; the grey figure is that count. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Region	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Ceará 91	29	24	25	23	31	30	31	31	30	31	30	31
Santa Catarina 79	25	22	25	22	19	15	15	20	24	28	28	26
Rio de Janeiro 37	21	23	24	24	23	21	21	27	27	28	26	24
Rio Grande do Norte 36	30	26	27	27	31	30	31	31	30	31	30	31
Rio Grande do Sul 33	27	24	26	22	19	17	16	22	25	28	27	27
Bahia 27	25	25	27	22	24	21	25	29	29	30	28	30
São Paulo 27	5	3	6	4	6	5	5	8	9	12	7	7
Espírito Santo 25	24	25	24	23	22	21	24	27	28	30	27	26

The windiest spots