The Ultimate Guide to the 10 Best Kiteboarding Spots Worldwide

Usually when picking a kitesurf spot, I have to give up on some comforts or activities I like to do besides kitesurfing, but this former fisherman’s village that has become one of the world’s most renowned watersports destinations really has it all. It ticks all the boxes for action junkies, boardsports lovers and those in need of an activity-filled vacation: kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing, SUP Yoga, outdoor gyms with CrossFit, as well as yoga studios with ocean views are just some of the activities you can enjoy in Cabarete.

Cabarete is for all levels of riders

This spot is ideal for all levels of kitesurfing — whether you want to learn kitesurfing, want to boost higher with the small kickers that are building up on the reef, or want to ride some waves on a strapless board. For the downwind lovers, there are some nice options as well: either going from the river mouth (and tiny lagoon) La Boca to Kite Beach or going from Kite Beach to the surf spot Encuentro, which offers some beautiful waves.

Wave lovers will enjoy it more in the winter months as the swell is usually bigger while the wind is moderate. In the summer months, there’s some stronger winds with smaller waves.

It’s a bit hard to grasp the special magic that La Ventana has for me: it’s a mix of the Mexican vibes, the quietness, the welcoming community, the early morning yoga sessions (or mountain bike tours), the afternoon kite sessions with a post-kite beer, the spontaneous tacos with new friends, and the falling into bed peacefully with a smile. I spent a simple, yet fulfilling holiday here with passionate expats, locals and returning visitors hooked on this quiet kind of wind magic that keeps them returning every winter.

La Ventana is the perfect mix of ideal conditions and kitesurf culture

The nature in La Ventana is quite unique with cactus forests, desert landscapes, bright beaches, deep, clear turquoise water, and a beautiful contrasting mountain chain that gifts kiters with an extra wind boost. The kite bay is huge and stretches all the way from El Sargento to La Ventana, making it an even better beginner spot than kiteboarding in NYC, as well as a spacious progression spot to practice your new tricks. Similar to Squamish kiteboarding, the wind is typically smooth and consistent, blowing in almost every afternoon between November and March.

There aren’t too many restaurants and cafes, but I still had enough choices during my 3-week stay. One of my favorite events was the Thursday Farmers Market, with fresh veggies, fruits, healthy homemade goods, and unique handcrafted souvenirs. I personally couldn’t get enough of the combination of morning yoga, kitesurfing, evening yoga, sunset beer at the beach — so I can highly recommend yoga at Baja Joe’s rooftop deck, Casa Verde or Casa Tara, they all have different classes with great teachers. I also met a lot of kitesurfers who explicitly came for the good mountain biking conditions, so there’s that option for the early mornings as well.

When I heard my friend Crystal Veness’s words about Cape Town, I couldn’t have found a better introduction to this world-famous but also extreme kitesurf spot: “The scenery will steal your heart and the wind will knock you off your feet. It sounds pretty intense – and it is, in all the best ways.”

Although it’s famous for hosting some of the best surfing in the world, I only started acknowledging Cape Town as a great kite spot on my second visit, after eight years of kitesurfing already. Similar to the kiteboarding in Cape Verde, the conditions are rough and can get very extreme, so it’s only for intermediate to advanced kitesurfers who can deal with the big waves and strong winds.

Cape Town is the winter destination for kitesurfing

That being said, Cape Town has a very special kind of magic: the long white sandy beaches, iconic Table Mountain covered with clouds, bright skies, the warm summer air and cold water. In the Blouberg area where all the kitesurfing happens, which is a 30-minute drive from Cape Town Center (with no traffic), you’ll bump into pretty much all the kitesurf pros on a daily basis as it’s the one and only winter destination. Sunset sessions are magical, days are long (especially if you come from the European winter), the food is amazing and wine tasting should definitely be on your to-do-list, along with hiking (or taking the cable car) up Table Mountain.

Cape Town is a spot for advanced kiteboarders

While I love strong winds and extreme conditions I became very humble in Cape Town and this is one of the spots where it’s good to keep a healthy respect for the ocean and your skills. 16 knots in Cape Town are way different from 16 knots in the Caribbean as the wind in Cape Town has a different wind density.

In Blouberg, you’ll usually you will have a few days of wind, followed by a few days of no wind, so it is advisable to check the wind at surrounding spots like Langebaan (flat water lagoon), Hermanus (flatwater and waves) as well as other spots with different wind directions for different levels. Here is my detailed guide on which surrounding spot are best with which wind direction.

Challenge yourself to a downwinder

Downwinders are a must for the experienced riders and the best way to escape the crowds that stay at the main spots in the Blouberg area. My favorite one is from Dolphin Beach to Big Bay (a short one) or continuing all the way down to Haagkat. If you get yourself a bus card, you can take the MyCiti bus back to your launch point, or take a dry bag with some clothes, brush all the sand off, and Uber your way back.

Le Morne, Mauritius has been one of the spots which has been on my bucket list for quite some time, but I always labeled it as a wave destination for advanced riders. But then I found out that it also has a huge flat water lagoon and plenty of space for non-wave riders inside of the reef, as well as easy wave spots next to those world famous barrels.

Mauritius is a place of epic beauty

The nature in Mauritius is breathtaking: next to the incredible ocean life you have rich green nature and mountains, beautiful waterfalls and endless beaches with turquoise water. The first time I was kiting here it was hard to focus on kitesurfing itself; I couldn’t get my eyes off the water colors, the reefs and corals I was gliding over, and the scenic Le Morne Brabant Mountain in the back. Not to mention the spectacular natural phenomenon and optical illusion — underwater waterfalls — are happening right underneath your feet. The underwater currents that create this spectacular view are also one of the aspects that make this spot and the waves only suitable for experienced kitesurfers.

A mix of cultures and culinary options

Mauritius itself is a colorful mix of cultures, nationalities and religions that exist peacefully alongside and with each other — which also shows in their diverse culinary options. Because of this cultural diversity, the island is also often called “Rainbow Paradise Island.” This also shows in the languages that are used in Mauritius – there is no official language: English is used for written government and administrative work, French is used in the press (which you’ll also hear on the radio), and the majority of people also speak Creole. You will get along quite easily with speaking English.

Where to stay in Mauritius

I stayed in an apartment in La Gaulette (10 min drive from the spot) where most kitesurfers stay. There are a few restaurants, kite shops and a big supermarket. If you want to stay in one of the big resorts right at the spot, you can either stay at ION Club or RIU Le Morne.

While I absolutely love the whole northern coast of Brazil due to the wind guarantee, warm water (say hello to kiting in a bikini/boardshort) and endless sandy beaches with just as many downwinder options,  the former hippie village of Jericoacoara has a very special atmosphere. The whole village is located inside a National Park and you will only find sandy roads. If you come during the windy season, you can literally kite all day long.

Jericoacoara is a downwinder’s paradise

Downwind possibilities here are endless! We’d often take a buggy up to Prea, kite all day, have a delicious lunch at Rancho do Peixe, and do a downwinder back to Jeri before the sun set. Another great option is to start your downwinder behind the dune in Jeri (best for intermediate kitesurfers) and make your way down to the Guriu lagoon. There you can kite in the flatwater (high tide only), have a cold coconut, and if you’re up for a big downwinder, continue to Tatajuba lagoon. There are plenty of other downwind options if you want to kite longer. You rent a buggy or 4×4 and hire a local driver to go wherever your heart desires.

If you are up for an adventure trip, I recommend getting your own rental car and making your way from Cumbuco (which is close to Fortaleza airport) to Jericoacoara. If you have more time, head even further up to Barra Grande and Macapa. There are so many spots along the coast that it’s hard to pick just one! This coast was made for downwinding which is why there are many tour operators offering daily downwinders — or weekly ones up the whole coast.

Come for the kiting, stay for the Caipirinha

Unlike other kite spots along the Northern Coast, Jeri has the most infrastructure, with plenty of good restaurants, shops, kite schools, the famous Caipi Street —  a “street” formed by food stands and little Caipi stands with endless Caipi variations — and, the big dune. The dune is where every evening people walk up, Caipi stands are pushed up through the sand and people marvel at the sunset with an ice-cold drink in their hand, clapping when the sun plunges into the ocean.

Accomodation options for for all budgets

Jeri offers accommodation for every budget — from hostels with dorms (great for solo-travellers) to luxurious hotels. It costs extra to get take a buggy every day to the kite spot, so if you prefer staying right where the action is, Prea is a better option.

Known as the “Maui of the Caribbean,” Puerto Rico is the smallest and easternmost island of the Greater Antilles and an unincorporated territory of the USA. While Puerto Rico doesn’t have as consistent trade winds as the rest of the Caribbean, it’s worth the visit because it’s easy to reach, has warm weather all-year-round, beautiful turquoise water, and you’ll find both calm water and big waves.

Isla Verde is Puerto Rico’s best kitesurfing spot

Puerto Rico offers a great combination of resorts, hotels, city life and kitesurfing, in the big bay and wide beach of Isla Verde. Conditions with side-shore wind in Isla Verde are ideal for all skill levels of kiteboarder. The water conditions are choppy in the winter and flat to small chop during the summer.

The capital, San Juan, is undisputedly one of the highlights of the island. Its nightlife is unparalleled in the Caribbean, so if you have some energy left after kitesurfing, you can dance your heart out in one of the clubs until dawn.

Aruba is also called “One Happy Island,” and while I haven’t made it there yet, it’s always been on top of my kitesurf bucket list. The locals are friendly, life is laid-back and easy, the weather is warm all year round, and the wind statistics will make your kite heart jump higher! As Aruba is a luxury-travel destination prices are higher, but there are all kinds of different accommodations.

The wind is stable in Boca Grandi (and it’s not overcrowded)

Boca Grandi is an absolute beauty with its white dunes, lush, green vegetation, and crystal-clear turquoise water. I can’t wait to shoot some pictures when I finally visit. The bay itself doesn’t have any infrastructure, so bring your own water and food. Unlike the other spots on the island with off-shore wind (and because of gusty yet flat conditions) Boca Grandi has super stable wind due to the onshore wind that hits this 700m-wide bay. The bay is a bit protected from the reef but conditions are still rougher than other spots. You’ll mainly spot locals kiting in the early morning or evening. There are some places to stay close to Boca Grandi, restaurants and shops are farther away than if you stay elsewhere.

When I fell in love with the laid-back vibe and the amazing food in La Ventana, I asked around about other spots that I should visit in Mexico. Isla Blanca was repeatedly recommended. It’s a natural paradise, with hip-deep flatwater just a 25-minute drive from Cancun. Isla Blanca works well with any wind direction and if you ever get bored of the flat, you can switch to the ocean side. The nature reserve in Isla Blanca combined with Cancun’s city vibes and nightlife make an ideal combination of pure kitesurfing, Mexican food and nightlife.

The best spots in Isla Blanca depend on the wind direction

Depending on the wind direction, different spots work better than others: with N or NE wind,the Ikarus Kite Camp offers butterflat water; La Punta is viable with every direction, but with E or SE wind (offshore) the water becomes butterflat for learning new tricks and freestyling.

Where to stay

You can stay right in Isla Blanca at the campground or in the kite center. You can also make the daily commute if you prefer staying in one of the bigger hotels in Cancun. For intermediate to advanced kiters who want to stay close to Cancun, you can explore locations in the Cancun Hotel Zone like Playa Delfines (N, E, SE wind, choppy with some waves, shorebreak), Playa Chac Mool (N, E, SE wind, choppy, some waves) and Punta Nizuc (E and SE wind, flat or choppy with stronger wind).

Another spot that’s on the top of my kitesurf bucket list! The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) consists of the main island, Providenciales, and the various Caicos Islands. Turks and Caicos is famous for their beautiful turquoise water and marvelous beaches. The kite beaches feature shallow, warm water year-round, and white sandy beaches paired with constant Caribbean trade winds. What else could you possibly need?

Provo has conditions for all skill levels

The main spot for kitesurfing is on Providenciales (or Provo as locals like to call it): the 4km-long Long Bay. The onshore or side-onshore easterly trade wind makes it safe to kite here for all skill levels, thanks to the big shallow standing area that goes almost 2km into the water. If you want the best combination of wind and waves, then the winter months, specifically February and March, are best.

Spots for more advanced riders

There are also tons of other spots for more advanced riders: there are butterflat sections around Emerald Point with some nice waves on the reef in the winter months; Grace Bay (with northeast wind) has choppier water and amazing waves on the barrier reef; also check out Turtle Tail with butterflat water or Kite Safaris on the North and Middle Caicos islands.

Where to stay and how to get around

Taxis are overpriced even for short distances, so it makes sense to rent a car to explore the island and surrounding spots. There are a lot of luxury accomodations, so your best chance to find more affordable accommodation is on sites like Airbnb. You can stay close to the Long Bay area or the main tourist areas of Grace Bay and Leeward, which are just a 5-minute drive from Long Bay.

With its white sandy beaches, light blue sea, and majestic coconut palms, Thailand’s tropical paradise is undoubtedly one of the most popular holiday islands in the world. While I haven’t kitesurfed when visiting Phuket, the sight of kitesurfers on the beach has always lingered in my mind. Phuket is quite touristy, with numerous resorts, restaurants and hotels, so your non-kitesurfing travel partners will find plenty to do while you’re out on the water.

Kitesurfing at Chalong and Friendship Beach

Phuket has two seasons, and the kitesurf scene moves accordingly to the wind to the two main spots of the island. From December until February, during the dry, hot season, which is also Phuket’s high season, the spot to be is Chalong or Friendship Beach in the southeast. The bay is protected from big waves and the waist-deep water makes it an ideal spot for kitesurf beginners.

Kitesurfing at Nai Yang Beach

From June until September – during the low, wet season – kitesurfing happens in Nai Yang beach, which is located in a national park in the northeast part of the island, just a 5-minute drive from the airport. The flat and waist-deep water makes it suitable for beginners, and the beautiful sandy beach is lined with coconut trees. With stronger wind, advanced riders and wave lovers can find some good waves out on the two reefs. During the wet season, look out for short, tropical rain showers, which usually last 30 to 60 minute — not a big deal because they bring the good winds!