WHEN IS BEST TO GO?
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PORTUGAL
THE LOWDOWN
Portugal is a popular European destination, and for good reason:
it’s got it all. West coast waves and south coast butter-flat
loveliness, all within easy reach on Portugal’s excellent roads,
in a country that is known for its friendly, welcoming vibe and
cheap accommodation options and flights, and has a historic and
cultural abundance. What’s not to like!
KITING SET UP
You can divide Portugal up into three main areas. In the Algrave
in the south, you have the choice of the Atlantic-facing coastline
that gets plenty of swell and plenty of size… make a beeline for
Carrapateira if that’s your thing. Otherwise you can nip around
the corner and enjoy flatwater paradise, with your choice of beaches
and lagoons all the way from Lagos to Faro. In the central region,
west of Lisbon, you can seek your spot of choice up and down the
coastline, or hit well-known spots such as Guincho, or (and this is
not for the faint-hearted as we’re sure you’re aware) the legendary
big wave spot that is Nazaré. There is also a range of kite schools
to choose from along this whole stretch. Then up in the north
you have consistently good conditions that really turn on between
March and October, enjoying northerly Nortada winds, and optimum
freestyle conditions with a heap of good lagoons and rivermouths
to choose from, as well as plenty of waveriding options too.
Destination Guide
From May to September you can pretty
much guarantee the Nortada winds, which
will pick up earlier in the day the more
northerly you are, but then sits in almost
all day long, and is reliable and epic.
Through the wintertime, you’ll still get
plenty of wind, and a whole lot of swell
for the waveriders too.