Kitesurf Holiday in Brazil for Intermediate Riders: How to Plan It

Most kiters who come to Brazil are intermediate riders: they stay upwind, they turn without thinking about it, and they want a holiday that makes them better. Northeast Brazil is close to perfect for that, as long as the trip is built in the right order.

First, check that intermediate means the same thing for you and for us. On our trips it means riding comfortably upwind and downwind, handling basic transitions, and being able to self-rescue on your own. Tricks do not matter.

Days 1 to 3: settle in. Base yourself in Jericoacoara or Preá and ride normal sessions. The wind is side-onshore and steady, usually 18 to 25 knots, so you get long sessions without the gusts that wear you out at home. Use these days to get used to the kite size, the heat and the water.

Day 4: your first downwind. A one-day downwind is the best step up for an intermediate rider. You ride 20 to 40 km in one direction, with a guide next to you on the water and a buggy following along the beach. You will spend more time on the board in one day than in a week of going back and forth.

Days 5 to 7: go further. If the first day went well, the two-day downwind from Barrinha to Tatajuba (about 45 km) or the three-day route from Jericoacoara to Barra Grande (about 115 km) turns your holiday into a journey. Both stay on the same forgiving wind, and a vehicle follows you the whole way.

If you have two weeks, add rest days between the trips and keep the longest route for the end, when your legs and hands are used to the hours.

When to come: June, July and December bring strong, steady wind without the top-end gusts of September to November, and the coast is quieter. Those months are our first choice for intermediate riders.

One thing that is not optional: travel insurance that covers kitesurfing. We ask every guest for it before a trip starts.