kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spots in Brazil

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.