“For stronger winds and a warm, welcoming and peaceful village vibe without the hum of beach buggies – Barra Grande is the spot!”
JIM GAUNT, KITEWORLD MAGAZINE EDITOR
Good for:
Experiencing a rustic, authentic side of Brazil that has pumping conditions away from the crowds.
THE LURE
If you’re looking for a super fun, laid back slant on your kiting life then you won’t do much better than a visit to Barra Grande. No loud engines, sandy village streets
and donkeys for transport, you’ll find immense amounts
of wind, superb bump and jump conditions at high tide,
flat water at low tide, a lush flat water lagoon downwind, heaps of space and incredibly welcoming locals.
THE SET-UP
Barra Grande is a preserved, natural gem that’s tucked away in the northern state of Piauí where you can combine a relaxing, quiet break with some seriously good kiting across a long windy season. There’s pumping wind for much of the year with an expansive lagoon a couple of kilometres away, ‘bump n jump’ freeriding conditions next to the village and some wave riding options a drive or downwinder away as well.
You can kite off the main beach on any tide state. The water is choppier on a high tide but with some nice ramps to launch off. At low tide the chop drops and you can rip the flat water close in to the beach.
As Barra Grande is so far north this whole stretch of coastline gets really windy so, if boosting’s your thing, you can go big here! A ten to 15 minute downwinder from Barra Grande itself lies a lagoon which is as vast as it is crowd-free. You can ride it on a high or low tide but the wind blows offshore from the beach you launch from, so it’s better suited to experienced riders as there are bushes downwind.
If you head further downwind through the lagoon and round a couple of sandbars you’ll reach La Boca, where the Camocim river flows into the sea. Because the river runs through here you can ride at any time of day, but it gets better as the water pushes in after low tide with some dreamy slicks behind the sandbars.
It takes up to an hour to ride upwind back to town from here, but it’s only a couple of kilometres and you can get there quite quickly by donkey-drawn cart – Barra Grande’s authentic replacement for the ubiquitous Brazilian beach buggies, which are rarely used around here.
If you’re after waves then head to Arrombado beach, which you can ride downwind to in about 30 minutes (you'll need a lift to get back though). The waves don't get huge, but they're clean and fun out on the reef and there's also some shore break to shred on the inside. Pedra do Sal is another option for wave riding and it's an hour's drive away, but it's the best kitesurf / surf spot in Piauí (other than some really good remote ones if you go on an organised downwinder) so it's worth checking out.
Barra Grande is also close to the Delta de Parnaiba, one of the three largest open sea deltas in the world, and if you can line up a downwinder around there during your stay then do it because it’ll be an unforgettable experience! Freeride Kitesurf and Surfin Sem Fim both run multi-day guided downwind trips in the area, but check also with BGK and Chic Hotel, as a visit here can often be done from Barra Grande in a day for an unforgettable kitesurfing experience (check the video of Kiteworld editor Jim's experience with Surfin Sem Fim here).
WIND, WEATHER & WATER
In Barra Grande the windy season combines with the swell season and it blows cross-onshore and non-stop from July through to the end of January. Between September and December it regularly exceeds 30 knots and there's rarely a windless day but, outside of those peak months, you'll still ride eight to ten metre kites most of the time.
July to February the air temperature is 35°C / 95°F, dropping at night to a pleasant 24°C / 75°F and because it's so windy in Barra Grande you don't really notice the temperature. The water remains balmy at around 28°C / 83°F all year.
SCHOOLS
BARRA GRANDE KITE CAMP is an accredited ABK (Brazilian Kite Association) school running 1:1 sessions all year for all levels. A range of new equipment is available for hire and there’s a compressor for easy inflation, a shaded area to leave your kites in between sessions without deflating them and SUP and kayak rental is available too.
www.barragrandekitecamp.com.br
contato@barragrandekitecamp.com.br
ACCOMMODATION
CHIC HOTEL BOUTIQUE is a beachside hotel set inside a super-stylish villa with five spacious suites. All rooms are furnished in a contemporary European style with private terraces. The hotel combines luxury with sustainability by recycling all waste water to irrigate the hotel gardens and rooms have ecologically friendly air con.
www.chichotelboutique.com
contact@chichotelboutique.com
Photos: Chic Hotel
BARRA GRANDE KITE CAMP have a range of accommodation with deluxe bungalows on the beach for up to five people as well as a larger property for up to eight people. There are smaller private cabins and 'kite houses' for couples and families and there's a beachside bar and restaurant making this a solid post-sesh chillout spot. They also have a sizeable swimming pool running through the property and their own kite school.
www.bgk.com.br
contato@bgk.com.br
TRAVEL AGENTS
Surfin Sem Fim - If you want to experience Brazil at its best, and enjoy a unique, world-class kitesurfing adventure along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, the Surfin Sem Fim team have got you covered. Sign up for an unforgettable immersion in wind, water, nature, beauty, adventure, and physical challenge in the best of Brazil!
www.surfinsemfim.com.br
contact@surfinsemfim.com.br
Freeride Kitesurf specialise in organising unique downwind adventures and tailor-made trips along the coasts of Brazil and South Africa. Booking a trip with them is a guarantee of adventure, discovering unspoilt and uncrowded spots with unbeatable conditions for kitesurfing. Every detail of the trip is taken care of by a professional team with huge local expertise.
www.freeridekitesurf.com
contact@freeridekitesurf.com
NO WIND
There’s a range of things to do on the rare windless days. This is quite a pristine area so you can explore the mangroves via SUP or kayak, go on trips with local fishermen to see seahorses or to the Parnaíba Delta where Guarás birds flock to feed on crabs. More actively play volleyball, do yoga, or get a massage, walk the beautiful beaches and take in the natural beauty of the place. You can also visit the nearby ‘Cajueiro Rei do Piauí’ - the world’s largest cashew tree!
GET AROUND
Transfer services can be arranged by your accommodation provider. You can rent a car in Parnaiba which is less than about hour away or you can travel from there by bus. Once you get to Barra Grande you can walk anywhere (or go by donkey of course!).
Barra Grande really is extremely safe and tranquil, you can sleep with your windows open and leave your belongings on the beach while you kite, however, like anywhere in the world exercise common sense, don’t show off... but most of all, watch out for the animals on the road if you’re driving out of the village, especially at night!
Photo: Thierry Billet / Chic Hotel Boutique
CURRENCY
Brazilian Reais(R$) - £1 = R$4 / €1 = R$3 / US$ = R$2.6
Some hotels and restaurants accept US$ or Euros, but for the best exchange rates use your own Reais. You can use your card in most restaurants, but some accept cash only. The closest ATM is currently six kilometres away, but two are being built in the main square. Be aware though that many ATMs in Brazil don’t accept all international cards. So withdraw at the airport (or when you get an opportunity) as you’re best to get cash out when you can.
FOOD & DRINK
Although Barra Grande is a small traditional fishing village, it’s got all the basics covered with mini markets, convenience stores, a pharmacy, medic and bakery but most people eat out every night in Barra Grande as the 15 local restaurants around town are excellent with a wide range of cuisine to choose from (the locally caught seafood is incredible!).
There isn't the kind of nightlife you'll encounter in some of the more southerly kite spots in Ceará state, but if you head to Parnaiba you'll find a party if that's what you're after.
AIRPORT
Teresina (THE) is five hours by car, Fortaleza (FOR) is six hours and there are now domestic flights to Parnaiba (PHB). There are dedicated bus services to Barra Grande from Fortaleza and Parnaiba.
TRAVEL AGENTS
Surfin Sem Fim - If you want to experience Brazil at its best, and enjoy a unique, world-class kitesurfing adventure along some of the most beautiful coast lines in the world, the Surfin Sem Fim team have got you covered. Sign up for an unforgettable immersion in wind, water, nature, beauty, adventure, and physical challenge in the best of Brazil!
www.surfinsemfim.com.br
contact@surfinsemfim.com.br
Freeride Kitesurf specialise in organising unique downwind adventures and tailor-made trips along the coasts of Brazil and South Africa. Booking a trip with them is a guarantee of adventure, discovering unspoilt and uncrowded spots with unbeatable conditions for kitesurfing. Every detail of the trip is taken care of by a professional team with huge local expertise.
www.freeridekitesurf.com
contact@freeridekitesurf.com
