GOOD FOR: An action-packed adventure holiday with more activities than you can imagine!
The Lure
The area of Cabedelo beach in Viana do Castelo, northern Portugal, is gaining steady recognition as one of Europe’s emerging kiting locations and supposedly has the most consistent wind on the entire Portuguese coastline. Large breakwaters protect the entrance to the port of Viana do Castelo, offering up butter-flat water inside the harbour while you can find world-class waves elsewhere in the bay (the GKA Kite-Surf World Tour previously had a stop in Viana!).
Viana do Castelo itself is a smallish city, but has everything to complete your holiday, including bars, restaurants, supermarkets and shops as well as historic sites. The area also holds a lot of interest culturally and architecturally and the local wine is fantastic.
The best winds come through in the summer from May to September and it’s normally light in the mornings, giving ample opportunity for an early morning surf, before picking up nicely for beginners and foilers by lunch time and increasing in strength towards the afternoon with the strongest winds later in the day.
Launch from the FeelViana water centre and choose between butter flat water along the harbour wall, to world-class waves downwind of Cabedelo beach. Progression Sports regularly run their foil and wave coaching camps here due to the fantastic conditions and set up.
The wind blows cross-shore from the right, ramped up by thermals as the day continues. There are lifeguards on duty during the summer and a rescue boat too, should you ever need it.
Alternative spots nearby include the waves of Moledo to the north, and the flat waters of Esposende (although access by boat is usually needed via one of the schools).
Harbour wall flat
Perfect foiling conditions
View from the FeelViana Center
Downwind view to wave section
A spot for all disciplines
Photos: FeelViana
Exploring Viana do Castelo and around
Viana is a perfect gateway for a northern Portugal adventure and has nearly every activity imaginable! FeelViana hotel can help with the arrangements and has plenty of activities already on site too! They can also recommend local villages to explore, sights to see and help with 'off the beaten track' options.
Just 40 mins drive away is Peneda-Gerês, Portugal's incredible national park where you can find superb mountain pools and there are plenty of beauty spots even closer for hiking, mountain biking and even canyoning!
The historic city of Porto is well worth a visit, especially if you like taking in the culture while drinking the port wine it's named after!
Wind Weather & Water
Air temperatures are peachy but not stifling around here with highs of around 27 - 30°C / 80 - 86°F in the summer and a very pleasant average throughout the season. In winter you’ll want a light jacket (but it’s still nice by Northern European / North American standards).
Water temps peak at 20°C / 68°F in summer and drop to around 12°C / 53°F in winter, so you can get away with swimwear or a very light suit in summer but will need 4mm rubber in winter.
The wind is consistent here throughout the year but peaks in the summer due to thermic effects (which aren’t reflected by the wind stats) and from May through to September you’ll be able to get out almost everyday if you have a foil. It doesn’t normally get much windier than nine to 12 metre weather, but if a strong Nortada wind comes through then you’ll be out on your smaller kites for sure.
Cabedelo Beach, Viana do Castelo / Photos: FeelViana
SCHOOLS
FEELVIANA SPORT HOTEL has a new Water Center which is well equipped with a wide range of the latest gear for kitesurfing and other water sports which is all available for hire or purchase. Kite lessons are available in a range of languages and windsurf, surf, SUP, bodyboard hire and SUP tours are also available.
FeelViana Water Center setup at Cabedelo Beach / Photos: FeelViana
TRAVEL AGENTS
Sportif Kitesurf Holidays provide kitesurfing and multi sport holidays to the very best destinations worldwide. Sportif centres have the latest equipment and highly qualified, experienced staff. Whatever your level, you'll find a range of flexible rental or instruction packages, with a choice of accommodation from budget to luxury 5* hotels, right next to the centres.
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.
There’s plenty of accommodation to be found, including luxury ‘wine hotels’ and spas, as well as selfcatered properties and a very popular option is the four star FeelViana Sport Hotel which is right on the beach and beautifully integrated into the surrounding pine forests, with an excellent sports centre and kite school attached. There’s also a well-equipped gym and a yoga studio with pilates and stretching classes.
FEELVIANA SPORT HOTEL fits seamlessly into its natural environment with 46 stylish rooms and nine bungalows set just back from the beach. There’s an excellent restaurant, lounge terrace and bar, plus a very well-equipped sports centre, complete with gym, pump track, a bike shop and cycle hire. They can arrange lots of outdoor activities from watersports to bike tours, trail running and trekking and it’s also a great place to chill out and relax!
Accommodation setup at the FeelViana Sport Hotel / Photos: FeelViana
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.
Sportif Kitesurf Holidays provide kitesurfing and multi sport holidays to the very best destinations worldwide. Sportif centres have the latest equipment and highly qualified, experienced staff. Whatever your level, you'll find a range of flexible rental or instruction packages, with a choice of accommodation from budget to luxury 5* hotels, right next to the centres.
This whole area is a true adventure playground! If it’s not windy then there’s often some steady Atlantic swells for surfing or SUP. FeelViana guests can go on a bike tour or visit their on-site pump track or cable park, wakeboard behind a boat, or simply enjoy a sports massage at their five star SPA.
The nearby hills are great for trail running, hiking or mountain biking or head to nearby cities such as Porto to take in some culture. This is also a great venue for sailing and FeelViana Sport Hotel has its own 18 foot sailing yacht.
Wakeboarding
Road biking
FeelViana have their own cable park!
Plenty of SUP opportunities
MTB paradise
Relax at the spa
Quality waves
Endless activities on offer / Photos: FeelViana
AIRPORT
Porto International (OPO) is an hour’s drive away and you can either rent a car at the airport or make use of FeelViana’s shuttle service.
CURRENCY
Euro €
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.
