BRAZIL’S DOWNWIND KITE SAFARIS AND WAVE CLINIC DOWNWINDER

Freeride Kitesurf offer different downwind Kite Safari routes in the north east of Brazil which combine challenge and adventure, as well as time to relax in some of the region's top kite spots.

POPULAR ROUTES:

CLASSIC ROUTE - TAIBA TO JERICOACOARA - 14 days, 230km, best spots of Ceará. Exotic landscapes, hidden lagoons and great waves along a beautiful long stretch of coast.

WILD NORTH ROUTE - BARRA GRANDE TO ATINS - 13 days immersed in exuberant nature, 200km, crossing of the Delta of Parnaíba and exploring the Lençois Maranhenses National Park. Best waves and flat water spots - a trip that will reconnect you with the elements!

FLAT WATER SPOTS ROUTE:

TREMEMBÉ TO IGUAPÉ - Essentially flat water spots all along the way, with small waves during the downwinds. 200km, 10 days, butter flat water spots and authentic local villages along the way.

Route - Tremembe to Iguape / Photos: Freeride Kitesurf

DISCOVERY ROUTE:

SÃO MIGUEL DO GOSTOSO TO ICAPUÍ - Best spots in Rio Grande do Norte - 200km, wave and flat water spots and the most beautiful stretch of coast in this state.

NEW FOR 2020:

DOWNWIND WAVE CLINIC: No better way to improve your wave riding technique than by riding downwind with strong steady winds, discovering the best waves spots in the North East of Brazil and concentrating on just one thing; shredding the waves along the way! 8 days, 4 spots, between 1m - 2m waves, adventure and top accommodations.

DELTA LENÇOIS EXPERIENCE: Kite along the wildest stretch of coastline in the whole of Brazil’s North East coast. Cross the biggest delta of the Americas by kite and end the trip in the most unique place on Earth, the Lençois Maranhenses National Park - a desert of fine white sand dunes and crystal clear fresh water lagoons. 7 days, 160km, unique experience.

INTRODUCTION TO THE DOWNWIND EXPERIENCE: Never done a downwind before but you want to learn this riding technique in order to be able to explore the wonders of Brazil’s North East coast in a near future? This 4 day clinic is for you. Based in Jericoacoara, you will do a short downwind everyday during which you’ll learn all about the downwind technique.

ALTERNATIVES

CLASSIC - CUMBUCO TO JERICOACOARA

Get to know some of the sport's most famous locations on this downwinder from Cumbuco to Jericoacoara. With 280 kilometres of coastline to play with you'll pass by numerous fishing villages and exotic landscapes with terrific sand dunes and lagoons that feature along this beautiful and vibrant stretch of coast.

Downwinders are typically between 30-60 kilometres per day and you'll overnight in stunning locations where you can explore the local area and get to understand why Brazil is so awesome for kiting!

Route - Cumbuco to Jericoacoara / Photos: Freeride Kitesurf

WILD NORTH - BARRA GRANDE TO ATINS

On this trip you'll kite 200 kilometres along the coastlines of two different states; Piauí and Maranhão. Besides the occasional fisherman, you'll see no one other than your group members as you cross deserted beaches, lagoons and river mouths en route to the vast Delta of Parnaiba. Finishing up at the breathtaking Lençóis Maranhenses National Park with it's endless dunes and crystal clear water lagoons, you’ll feel truly connected with the beauty and nature of it all.

Route - Barra Grande to Atins / Photos: Freeride Kitesurf

TAILOR MADE TRIPS

Freeride Kitesurf’s personalised trips happen in Brazil and South Africa. Let your imagination go wild and build up the trip of your dreams with the help of their support and advice. Whether it’s a solo trip, an adventure with a group of friends or family, or a journey with your significant other (kiter or non kiter), Freeride Kitesurf’s team will help you make it a reality. From a one-stop trip to multiple spots or an expedition which mixes a bit of everything with day trips, short downwinders and tuition to improve your level – they can do it all. 

Freeride Kitesurf offer two types of tailor made trip:

Pure downwind trip (only in Brazil): For this you'll need a minimum of three people. Decide the area you want to explore and Freeride will plan the rest.

Non-downwind trip (any destination): This is open to any group size and can be as adventurous and as long as you want.

Route - Icaraizinho to Atins / Photos: Freeride Kitesurf

SOUTH AFRICA

Freeride Kitesurf run trips for all levels of kiter that will take you beyond the regularly visited spots close to Cape Town.

Maybe you'll head up the west coast to epic wave spots like Yzerfontein or Paternoster or the flat water havens of Langebaan and Saldanha. Freeride Kitesurf also head east to Witsand, Hermanus and Struissbaai, which is a totally different experience with even more epic, crowd-less spots.

CAPE TOWN

Nestled at the foot of the spectacular Table Mountain, Cape Town is probably one of the most vibrant and buzzing cities in the world. Lively day and night the city is renowned for its incredible mixture of cultures, and entrepreneurial nature that is reflected in the city's bars, restaurants, markets and shops. In addition, the mix of beaches and surrounding scenery make the city even more interesting and justify why Cape Town is voted one of the top ten cities in the world.

20km outside of the city centre in a small suburb called Blouberg is where you'll find the main and most popular kitesurfing spots in Cape Town. With a varied stretch of coastline suitable for all levels there are numerous classic spots - Sunset Beach, Dolphin Beach, Kite Beach and Big Bay - where the southeaster increases throughout the day. Carry on a few clicks up the road you'll reach Haakgat, a small beach holding a big fast wave that's not for the inexperienced wave rider. Melkbos is the last  spot you'll get to on this stretch of coastline and it can work well when other spots like Kite Beach are getting blown out. As a rule; when the sou'easter is cranking, head north in search of less wind.

Kite Beach / Big Bay, Cape Town / Photos: Freeride Kitesurf

WEST COAST

Head up the west coast and you'll find that South Africa is wilder that the immediate and busy surroundings of Cape Town. The southeaster also blows strongly throughout the season here so check out spots like Yzerfontein, Paternoster, Langebaan, Saldanha Bay and Velddrif which offer some excellent quieter conditions for kiting against the contrasts of greens and the vast sand dunes and beaches that run for kilometres.

Langebaan Main Beach / Shark Bay / Photos: Freeride Kitesurf

CAPE PENINSULA

Located within Cape Point's Nature Reserve you'll find Scarborough and Misty Cliffs offering neat and great wave riding conditions that work in both a southeasterly or northwesterly wind direction. Wistands is also located close by, a beautiful isolated beach with fine white sands and surrounded by dunes. Slightly further south, and closer to the Cape of Good Hope there's Platboom beach which works again perfectly in the southeaster. Although the waves are nicely formed here, this spot is only suited for the advanced and experienced wave riders as when the Cape Doctor blows strong you can experience waves that reach up to 6 meters high.

Scarborough / Misty Cliffs, Cape Peninsula / Photos: Freeride Kitesurf

EAST COAST

Ideal for those with a real sense of adventure, and without travelling too far away from Cape Town, you can experience warmer water and a more tropical climate and environment (that becomes more apparent the further away you travel from Cape Town) along a 1,700km stretch of the Indian Ocean ranging from False Bay to Santa Lucia. Although this part of South Africa is lesser know to traditional tourism and kitesurfers, you'll find three classic spots offering a variety of flatwater lagoons and wave spots - Witsand, Hermanus and Struissbaai.

Witsand / Hermanus, South Africa / Photos: Freeride Kitesurf

SPAIN

This year Freeride Kitesurf are also expanding their network of trips and locations and will be running clinics in the kiting capital of Europe – Tarifa!