Kite Surfing Algarve
Kite surfing is becoming increasingly popular on the Algarve with easy access to dozens of beaches and regular winds it is an ideal place to kite surf. Kite surfers from all over Europe, especially the UK, Netherlands and Germany are heading to the Eastern Algarve where the beaches are quieter and less discovered.
Our resident kite surfer on the Algarve Guidebook team has a particular favourite which is the island of Armona. He's a family man with two small children and the golden beach on Armona is a great place for his wife and the children to spend the day while he surfs up and down the mile long island. The island gets all the good winds as well as its just half a mile of shore, as many of the islands along the East are.
Manta Rosa is a very popular destination with kite surfers whilst Praia de Alvor held two prestigious Professional Kiteboard Riders Association (PKRA) events in summer 2008 that saw hundreds of world class kite surfers descend on the Algarve. The best kite surf beaches according to the kiteatlas website :
Ilha de Faro - "5-mile long sandy beach near the Faro airport/ Ilha de Faro is connected to the mainland by a road, and depending on the wind direction you can enjoy dead-flat-water sessions in the lagoon, or small waves on the sea. Launch is a bit tricky, as it's close to the built-up area, so you have to move more to the non residence area. The beach gets really busy in summertime, but with lots of different spots to kite."
Ria Formosa (Barrils Beach) - "Sand dunes form lagoons which rejoin the ocean at high tide in this spectacular natural reserve that is a spawning ground for myriad of northern atlantic fish species and seabirds. Please respet the designated protected zones. There are 3 main beaches where to launch: Olhao (Praia Cavacos), Praia Fuseta and Praia del Barril (Barril's beach). Depending on the tyde, is possible to cruise the shallow and flat waters in the lagoon, or ride small-sized waves at the sea."
Vilamoura (Praia da Rocha Baixinha) - "A nice beach with lots of space and a very nice landscape. A breakwater protects the beach. At low tide a couple of rocks apear in the middle."
Cabanas de Tavira - "Lagoon and Atlantic Sea - both Flat water. Water temperature: 17º to 25º. Wind side-on-shore (SW). No rip currents. Sandy beach."
Alvor beach (Praia de Alvor) - "Praia de Alvor (Alvor Beach) is a long white sandy beach. In July usually the PKRA stops here. Conditions here are similar to those found at the nearby Meia Praia. Be aware of the breakwater: to avoid risks sail downwind of it. The spot is particularly fine in south-westerlies (cross-onshore).
Meia Praia - "In summer it's a spot very aggressive for the practice of this modality, the wind are always very strong and offshore, not advisable to inexperienced riders , in winter it's a good spot with southeast or southwest."
Kite Surfing on Manta Rosa beach
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I have been on that "Armona Beach" it is awesome! I had all on shore winds and the beach is in the shape of a hokey stick. So the wind always blows you on shore.
Be careful though, there can be a strong off shore current, so do check before you start.
To reach Armona is a bit of a drill....First you take a small boat to the island and then you have to cross it. From the boat straight on until you hit the beach on the other side of the island. It is a 15-20 minute walk, but the reward is worth doing it!