Kite Area guide
Esposende, Northern Portugal Coast
Esposende gives both halves of this coast in one place: the sheltered Cávado lagoon on one side of the spit, the open Atlantic on the other.
When to kite
Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September.
About this Kite Area
Esposende sits at the mouth of the Cávado river, forty-five kilometres north of Porto, and the sandspit there creates the coast's classic arrangement: a sheltered lagoon behind it and the open Atlantic in front.
The lagoon is shallow and flat, ideal for a first week or for freestyle, and carries kickers and sliders. On the ocean side, an outside reef moderates the swell near the pier into small two-to-four-foot waves, with bigger Atlantic conditions further along for intermediate and advanced riders.
The wind is the Nortada, northerly, at 15 to 25 knots, with summer thermals adding as much as half again. April to October is the reliable window, June to September the peak. Tide matters: the currents run hard on a high tide, and learners should use a school's safety boat. Light wetsuits are needed year-round.