kiting Portugal / Spain in July

[Flyboy]

I didn't realize that Guincho can get that big during the summer.

Guincho was not big when I visited in July ... however, it was very windy. One day I came off the water with my 7m because it was too windy - people were going out on 4m & 5m kites. Not particularly gnarly to get out at Guincho, but an unforgiving, rocky shoreline downwind. Guincho is a spectacular spot & a big bonus to a tourist is how close it is to Lisbon & the Sintra area. Lots of sights to see within an hours drive, so it would be a good location to stay for a while & make day trips.

I mostly kited in the Peniche area near Obidos. Wind was pretty variable, but a 10m would seem a reasonable choice there. If I were you, I would take a 10m & 7m if you're thinking about spending time at Guincho.

[dirtybeach]

Just to echo post on guincho wind when we were there, it kicks in about noon, and would peak around 5pm to sunset.

Although we didn’t kite peniche, we went there to surf. Great area there. We stayed in Santa Rita at a nice affordable hotel on the water, and kited the beach nearby. Mellow waves, no surfers, and we were the only kiters.

Guincho webcam - https://beachcam.meo.pt/livecams/praia-do-guincho/

Santa Rita

[mnd12]

Thanks for providing the link for Guincho webcam!

What time of the year were you in Santa Rita? Also, what kite size did you use?

Just to echo post on guincho wind when we were there, it kicks in about noon, and would peak around 5pm to sunset.

Although we didn’t kite peniche, we went there to surf. Great area there. We stayed in Santa Rita at a nice affordable hotel on the water, and kited the beach nearby. Mellow waves, no surfers, and we were the only kiters.

Guincho webcam - https://beachcam.meo.pt/livecams/praia-do-guincho/

Santa Rita
F08F28F6-B433-4815-9F79-97FAD36FC9A7.jpeg

[dirtybeach]

Thanks for providing the link for Guincho webcam!

What time of the year were you in Santa Rita? Also, what kite size did you use?

Just to echo post on guincho wind when we were there, it kicks in about noon, and would peak around 5pm to sunset.

Although we didn’t kite peniche, we went there to surf. Great area there. We stayed in Santa Rita at a nice affordable hotel on the water, and kited the beach nearby. Mellow waves, no surfers, and we were the only kiters.

Guincho webcam - https://beachcam.meo.pt/livecams/praia-do-guincho/

Santa Rita
F08F28F6-B433-4815-9F79-97FAD36FC9A7.jpeg

We were there late August early September. That day at Santa Rita we were on 12’s. At guincho we only flew 7’s and 9’s.

[Onda]

Guincho is very different every day.
In high summer the wind is VERY strong (30+ kts) almost every afternoon, plus ultra gusty, particularly at the northern end of the beach.
It is really dangerous there: Max. 400 m of beach stretch, with large rocks in the middle of the beach in the water. Extreme currents at both ends of the beach, many surfers and kiters in the water. Rocky coastline except for that small beach... I wouldn´t go kiting there unless you´re 100% sure what you´re doing and about the conditions and that you can handle them.

Costa Caparica is much much more relaxed, open endless beaches, no rocks, wind is at least 5 to 10 kts weaker (which is good, in most cases).
There is a kite station there where you can hire kites, boards etc. (Praia da Nova Vaga).

Viana I´ve heard only phantastic reports about, never been there personally.

[Stefan1]

Hello

I run small guests house and kite school in Ferrel, riding and teaching mostly in Obidos lagoon, but when it’s good we ride at Baleal as well. Let me know if you need any advises.

Cheers

[lsimoes]

Hello

In Figueira da Foz the wind in July and August is mostly thermal wind blowing arround 16-20 knts.
You can check our weather station in one of our kite beaches (Costa de Lavos) in the windguru AKFM.
We hope to have the second weather station in our second kitebeach (Cova da Gala) during August. It will be also avaible in the windguru.
Normaly there are always somebody kiting when there is wind, so if you come to Figueira da Foz, go to the soulth side, Cabedelo, cova da gala and you will see if there is somebody in the water.
Have fun!!
We have a beautifull country with lots of wind and good waves to enjoy!!!

[Slappysan]

Ditch the twin tip and pick up a Wave Bandit Performer 4-10.

It's the ultimate kitesurf board.
It's the best travel kitesurf board.
It's the best strapless freestyle board.
They cost $150-175 USD on amazon.com

At under 6 lbs this thing weighs less than your TT and you wont worry about it getting damaged.

I'm 165 lbs and since discovering this board it's almost all I ride these days (aside from hydrofoil and finless skim at low tide).

My main one (blue with black/pink bottom) I've put around 50 sessions on and it's still going strong (big foot impressions now though and you can feel the stringers). I have another one that I messed up hitting a rock beach but that would have killed any epoxy board too, it's still rides okay after some hot glue repair to boot. I even own the official Ben Gravy pro model version.

If you are lighter and/or an amazing surf paddler you can prone surf this thing too, just watch some of Ben Gravy's vlogs. Ben is like 170 lbs but he's a wicked paddler.

check it out:

[ruiparapente]

Bring a 10m

[lsimoes]

Folowing my post I have receive a email, asking for info for a kite travel in Portugal.

This was my reply!

Hello ---------

I will be in Viana do Castelo from 5 to 9 August, so we wil not meet!!!

There are many other places to kite in Portugal!!

In Lisbon you may want to miss kiting:

-Costa da Caparica, Nova Vaga Beach:
-Fonte da Telha *
-Lagoa de Albufeira
-Guincho (Be aware that Guincho is a bit hardcore)*

Going up North you have:
-Peniche Baleal (north wind) Supertubos (south wind)* -Lagoa da Foz do Arelho (nice lagoon, but in the summer you have to kite in the inside) -Nazaré Praia North (iIt´s great and have great waves near the windmils) -Figueira da Foz (My home spot) you have Costa de Lavos e Cova da Gala (has I said in the kiteforum we have a weather station) -Aveiro - Praia da Barra ( great wind and waves)* -Murtosa - If you like flat spot for Freestyle

In Porto thera are some spot near Afurada and Matosinhos but I would consider going up north

-Esposende ( nice flat water)
-Viana do Castelo ( great spot for every thing)*

If you wanto to go more north you can visit and kite -Moledo

Just for north of Lisbon you will have grat places.

There are so many more but these will give you some good time to see!!
Every were there are great restaurants to eat!!!

I mark the * for the ones you cannot miss.

For south there are much more to see:
-Alvor
-Barrinha Faro
-Cabanas de Tavira
-Fuseta
-Manta Rota
-Altura

You will need another time to see it all!!!

I will send google earth links with the beaches!!

You can use twintip or surfboard, or foil, everything!!!!

Have fun!!! Eat great and drink even better!!