“Cumbuco is Brazil's most popular kiting village for good reason and also has a lively off-water scene. The wind is smooth and there are quite often some good kickers to hit off the main beach while Cauipe lagoon is just a short downwinder away.”
Jim Gaunt, Kiteworld Editor-in-Chief
THE LURE
The first main kite spot 40 minutes north of Fortaleza airport is the fishing village of Cumbuco, with its golden beaches and conditions for every type of riding style and level. There's flat water freestyle, multiple downwinder routes and prime wind conditions - all of which add together to make it one of kiteboarding's most famous destinations.
2,800 hours of sunshine per year also don't hurt and there's a reason why so many of the world's top freestyle competitors head to Cumbuco to train for the season.
Ride the lagoon or kite the coast / Photo: Duro Beach
THE SET-UP
Cumbuco is one of freestyle kiteboarding's true proving grounds and pro riders flock there in the season to train at the famous Cauipe lagoon. Last year Cumbuco hosted the final stop of the WKC where Carlos Mario racked up yet another World Title and this is his home spot where he grew up and learned to kite!
Cauipe from above / Photo: Windtown
There's a good chance you'll have seen the lagoon in one of the many pro freestyler videos filmed there. It's about as perfect a spot as you can get for wakestyle / freestyle with chest deep, butter-flat water and super consistent cross-onshore wind. The lagoon does feel small when there are several pros throwing massive tricks, so if the crowds get a bit too much then just sit back, get a drink from the little water-side bar and watch the best in the game go to work!
Paula Novotna training in the lagoon / Photo: Windtown
You can score a quiet session if you get there earlier in the day when the wind is lighter, but there's much more kiting to be done and plenty of space along the six kilometre stretch of beach that separates Cauipe from Cumbuco town.
Easy beach access at Duro Beach / Photo: Duro Beach
There's chop on the outside and a fun, rip-able shorebreak close in to shore and many people kite downwind from town to the lagoon or further afield. A beach buggy can bring you back from Cauipe and there are a few operators, like Freeride Kitesurf and Surfin Sem Fim, who organise multi-day downwind adventures to and from Cumbuco.
Shorebreak punts close to town / Photo: Duro Beach
There's fun beach break surf close to Cumbuco, but there are better wave spots in the surrounding area, with Pico dos Almas just a couple of kilometres away and Pecem some 15 kilometres downwind.
Just beyond Pecem you'll find Taiba, which has a smaller but equally perfect lagoon and an hour beyond that is another spot at the small town of Paracuru.
WIND, WEATHER & WATER
The season in Cumbuco runs from June through to January with September, October and November being the peak months. During the high season it's rare you'll be out on anything bigger than a nine because the trades are at their strongest and a thermic effect kicks in, but in early and late season a 12 metre will often be necessary.
You can actually kite all year round in this area of Brazil, but it's less reliable outside of the main season and it rains in February and March before rising to baking hot temperatures in the summer months.
Daytime temperatures sit at around 29°C / 84°F, dropping to 23°C / 73°F at night so you won't need extra layers. The water temperature is a very pleasant 27°C / 80°F for much of the year and Cumbuco gets over 3,000 hours of sunshine per annum. You definitely won't be wearing a wetsuit, so be sure to cover up when you're out on the water.
SCHOOLS
This is the kiting capital of Brazil, so there's no shortage of schools and shops in town. We'd recommend getting in touch with them before your trip to get a feel for the service, availability and to see which one sounds right for you.
DURO BEACH KITE CENTRE is the biggest school in Cumbuco, coaching all levels from beginner to advanced in 1:1 sessions in an uncrowded section of the lagoon. Cabrinha, Core, Duotone, Ion and Mystic gear is available to rent or buy and they offer kite repair and have a compressor for inflating your kites. Instruction is available in Portuguese, Spanish and English.
www.durobeach.com / kiteschool@durobeach.com / +55 853 318 7491
The launch zone at Duro Beach / Photo: Duro Beach
WINDTOWN offer courses for all levels of kiter from beginner to advanced riders and foilers. 1:1 and group lessons are available and all instructors are IKO qualified with lessons available in English, Portuguese and German. Windtown have a safety boat on-hand while teaching, they hire out gear and they sell Duotone and ION gear in their shop.
www.windtown-brazil.com / info@windtown-brazil.com / +55 85 8596 8847
The Windtown crew / Photo: Windtown
TRAVEL AGENTS
Planet Kitesurf Holidays specialise in luxury tailor‐made kitesurf holidays worldwide. Through its team of highly experienced kitesurf travel professionals, the company offers expert impartial advice, backed up by full ATOL and TTA financial protection. Planet Kitesurf belongs to the Planet Travel group, a market leader in active holidays since 2000.
www.planetkitesurfholidays.com / info@planettravelholidays.com / +44 (0)1273 921 001
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
Contact: +55 11 5561 1016
WhatsApp: +55 21 98237 3411
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
Contact: +34 660 484 782
WhatsApp: +33 669 455 473
ACCOMMODATION
A lot of people spend the full season in Brazil so there are a number rental properties to choose from as well as hotels and pousadas that will accommodate short or long stays.
Choose between hotels and guesthouses (pousadas), most of which are small and cosy, or rent an apartment / house with a group or if staying for a longer period. Busiest periods are November and Christmas / New Year. Best periods are September, first weekend in December and last weeks in January when it's quieter and the wind is still good.
DURO BEACH HOTEL
Duro Beach Hotel is right on the beach with stylish, well-appointed rooms and spacious grounds. They have a great restaurant which overlooks one of the main launch areas and you can kite out front of the hotel before coming back and relaxing by the pool after your session.
www.durobeach.com
WINDTOWN
Windtown Beach Hotel is set in a beachfront location with a swimming pool, private gardens, a restaurant, bar, kite school and kite shop. Various room types available and all have air conditioning, WiFi and their own verandas. Windtown works closely with Planet Kitesurf Holidays, offering packages for all abilities. They also run women-only Kitechix events, which are ideal for female kiters travelling solo.
www.windtown-brazil.com
TRAVEL AGENTS
Planet Kitesurf Holidays specialise in luxury tailor‐made kitesurf holidays worldwide. Through its team of highly experienced kitesurf travel professionals, the company offers expert impartial advice, backed up by full ATOL and TTA financial protection. Planet Kitesurf belongs to the Planet Travel group, a market leader in active holidays since 2000.
www.planetkitesurfholidays.com / info@planettravelholidays.com / +44 (0)1273 921 001
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
Contact: +55 11 5561 1016
WhatsApp: +55 21 98237 3411
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
Contact: +34 660 484 782
WhatsApp: +33 669 455 473
NO WIND
The wind is seriously reliable in the peak season, but if it doesn't come in then there's plenty to do. You can hit the gym, do yoga, go SUPing or surfing and there's also horse riding and buggy tours in the dunes around town. There are a few spas if you're after post-kite sesh pampering, but for something completely different go on a zip wire and some huge slip and slides that go down into the Cauipe river which are awesome fun!
Fortaleza is less than 40 minutes by car, a busy city of three million people and can be worth a visit if you need something specific, but be aware that crime is more of an issue, so exercise caution in some parts and go with guidance. If for some reason you need an overnight stay in Fortaleza, there are some nice hotels in better / safer areas on the beachfront.
GET AROUND
Getting around Cumbuco is easy because you can walk everywhere, but there are taxis if you need them and you can drive around the village (unlike in Jeri) if you have a hire car. You can also rent a beach buggy in Cumbuco, which is all part of the Brazilian kiteboarding experience!
To the beach! / Photo: Windtown
CURRENCY
Brazilian Reais (R$) - £1 = R$4 / €1 = R$3 / US$ = R$2.5.
Make sure you always have cash at hand. There are several ATM machines in the airport and you're best to withdraw while you're there as the two ATMs in Cumbuco don't accept Visa and are temporamental. While we were there we withdrew cash and did our main grocery shopping from Caucaia 30 minutes back up the road towards Fortaleza (we got a taxi). If you travel up the coast it's also difficult to find an ATM that will work with international cards, however you can often pay by card. While you don't need a hire car the whole time, you'd be missing out if you didn't take one up the coast for a few days on your trip. There are so many spots to ride!
FOOD AND DRINK
There are over 30 restaurants serving everything from local fish dishes to European and Asian cuisine in and around Cumbuco, but it's not as cheap as it once was, but still cheaper than Europe. There are also three basic supermarkets for your essentials. There are a couple of lively clubs, too with a very eclectic mix of people to keep you entertained after-dark. Thirty kilometres back up the road, Fortaleza is a big city with a population of three million. Keep your wits about you, and join a group trip if you can, but you'll find plenty of entertainment there if you need more!
Time to refuel / Photo: Windtown
AIRPORT
From Fortaleza Pinto Martins (FOR) it's just a 30 kilometres to Cumbuco. Check with your accommodation for transfers.
TRAVEL AGENTS
Planet Kitesurf Holidays specialise in luxury tailor‐made kitesurf holidays worldwide. Through its team of highly experienced kitesurf travel professionals, the company offers expert impartial advice, backed up by full ATOL and TTA financial protection. Planet Kitesurf belongs to the Planet Travel group, a market leader in active holidays since 2000.
www.planetkitesurfholidays.com / info@planettravelholidays.com / +44 (0)1273 921 001
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
Contact: +55 11 5561 1016
WhatsApp: +55 21 98237 3411
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
Contact: +34 660 484 782
WhatsApp: +33 669 455 473
