Galicia

A practical guide to kitesurfing in Galicia

 

 Did you know that Galicia hosts some of the best terrific kite spots in Spain? Long sandy beaches await you for your interminable kitesurfing sessions. The best part of kitesurfing in Galicia is probably the uncrowded beaches and the huge free space to sail and to improve your new tricks. The main kitesurfing season in Galicia runs from March to September, being the months where the thermals blast the most! Without further ado, let´s see what are the best kite spots in Galicia:

kite spots galicia

Imagine Brittany (and its temperatures as virulent weather changes), in more exposed: Galicia, located at the northwestern tip of Spain (and almost the point el most exposed to the Atlantic of all Europe), picks up everything that crosses the ocean (and whether it starts from the south or the north: Galicia takes everything).

Galicia is a small jewel of waves, virgin spots, unspoiled nature.

Well, you have to know, Galicia also has twice as much annual rainfall as Manchester (you have been warned). The price to pay for having rich and luxuriant vegetation such as the one that will leave you speechless when you arrive!
Attention, those who are cold and fans of “gift” conditions move on immediately: Galicia in the middle of August is even colder than the water in Portugal, its privileged exposure bringing back the currents among the coldest in Europe. To come here, you have to want to wear your winter suit in the middle of summer (or even slippers, yes).

Galicia is very windy in the summer, both thermal and larger weather systems.
Year after year, we have always been amazed to sail even when the forecasts were not announced as favorable. There is always a little stretch and a slot to recover over there (and if there really isn’t, you will always find a small wave to keep you busy).

In any case, the weather contract has the merit of being clear: you will probably be cold at some point, you may think you are in November in the middle of August at some point too…. and it will still be orgasmic!

Getting to Galicia

Today, Galicia is very poorly served, both by flight and by train. Reaching it is a mission, a mission explaining its current preservation.

Basically, Galicia has to be earned (and we’re not going to lie to you, it’s very good like that).

Allow 10 hours by road once you have crossed the Spanish border in southwestern France. Do the math depending on where you are starting from: yes, it cools down a bit in anticipation.

But we repeat: Galicia is earned. And there is not a journey we have made to get there that has not put butterflies in our stomachs, so intense and intact is the excitement we feel each time we go there.
Galicia is far…. But take our word for it that it will truly be one of the most beautiful and unforgettable kite trips you have ever had!

The best time for a kitesurfing holiday in Galicia

 

The best time to Kitesurf in Glicia is from late spring to early fall. The rest of the year remains excellent too, but with much more unpredictable winds and strong storms. Even very strong, with swells frequently reaching inhuman proportions…
The summer thermals make it a destination of choice during the most beautiful months of the year, the choppy configuration of the coast ultimately making almost any direction of the wind exploitable!

Kitesurfing spots in Galicia

 

 

 

1. ILLA DE AROUSA – PLAYA DA CANTEIRA

It is a regulated beach for kitesurfing with its informational poster for kiters.

This beach is navigable with NORTH and NORTHEAST component winds.

Playa da Canteira, located in Illa de Arousa, is a beach with a lot of water sports, especially on days with intense north wind. It is common to find dornas (traditional boats) stranded.

 

2. PONTEVEDRA – POIO PLAYA DE LOURIDO

It is a beach with special navigation conditions. Ideal for learning according to tides. It is one of the beaches that works with thermal winds. The season starts in March and usually lasts until the end of September, the beginning of October. They are usually navigable winds with kites ranging between 10 and 14 meters.

Wind direction of 280º SOUTHWEST thermal wind.

Lourido beach, also known as Polvoreira beach, has the shape of a half shell, with fine white sand. It is located in a semi-rural area in the Pontevedra and Poio conurbation.

Sheltered from the winds, with calm waters conducive to enjoying bathing. The beach marks the edge where the estuary narrows, to reach the city of Pontevedra.

3. ILLA DE AROUSA – PRAIA DO BAO

In summer there are usually no favourable wind conditions on this beach. In addition, the area is not regulated for water sports and the wind conditions in the high summer season are not at all favourable for kitesurfing. However, in winter it is ideal with winds from the SOUTH or SOUTHEAST

O Bao beach is located in A Illa de Arousa, Endowed with the Blue Flag. It has gardens and a large recreational area for children. Its environment is natural and forest. Its width is 20 meters at low tide and 10 meters at high tide.

4. VILANOVA – PRAIA DAS SINAS

This beach is frequented by our school throughout the year. In summer the wind zone is quite disadvantageous when the NE wind enters. In addition, the area is not regulated for water sports and there are many bathers in the water and sand. Ideal beach for WEST or NORTHWEST winds.

Praia Das Sinas is a 800-meter cove-shaped beach, semi-urban and forested environment and largely surrounded by trees that provide a cool environment even in summer.  It is also a beach of golden and fine sand, windy, with calm, clean waters and without any danger. Boat anchoring area. Its easternmost area is at the foot of the road. It is a good beach, perhaps excessively urbanized. In summer it is usually very busy.

5. SAN VICENTE DO GROVE – PRAIA MEXILLOEIRA

Currently, it does not have a regulation poster for kitesurfing, but it can be practised throughout the year without exceptions.

This beach is navigable with winds of NORTHWEST, NORTH and NORTHEAST components.

This beach is located on the Grove peninsula, on the north face that overlooks the Ría de Arousa. That is why its waters are clean and crystal clear and it is ideal for practising water sports that need wind to enjoy them, such as kitesurfing or windsurfing. Its almost 1 km in length make this beach one of the best sandy areas in the entire Grove. It also highlights its nature, which is a little adulterated as it is somewhat far from the large tourist centres so widespread in the area. On the beach, there are some fantastic dunes and a lagoon (Bodeira) that are the refuge of many vertebrates, invertebrates and numerous plant species.

6. VIGO – PRAIA DO VAO

Beach suitable for kitesurfing, usually frequented in winter and occasionally in summer when the conditions are right, it is a beach-oriented to the West and the predominant winds are NORTHWEST and WEST.

In summer it is frequented by many bathers.

Vao beach is located in the parish of Corujo in the municipality of Vigo, belonging to the province of Pontevedra. This beach has a promenade that attracts many tourists in the summer. In addition to being one of the beaches in Vigo that has a Blue Flag.

 

7. REDONDELA – PRAIA CESANTES

Cesantes is the TERMICO beach, if there are thermal winds somewhere, it’s here! the beach that runs from February to mid-October with thermal winds. These winds are always above 18 knots and they last approximately 6 hours even increasing in intensity during the day. Conditions are 280º SOUTHWEST thermal winds.

Cesantes beach, or also known as Playa de la Punta, is a sandy area of ​​more than two kilometres long located in a wonderful natural environment, in the heart of Ensenada de San Simón, which is why it enjoys its protection as the Natura 2000 Network

 

8. GROVE / SANXENXO – PRAIA DA LAUNCHED

La Lanzada is a very touristy beach in the summertime and it displays its blue flag. In summer, the area is regulated and there is a channel and a buoyed area that delimit the entry and exit of water sports. It is not usually frequented in summer by kiters because good navigation conditions are not usually given. Its maximum splendour is in the autumn and wintertime, an ideal spot for surfing with your kite. It is navigable with winds from SOUTH – SOUTHWEST – WEST and NORTHWEST.

La Lanzada beach is one of the most famous in Galicia. Located between the tourist towns of O Grove and Sanxenxo, at the western end of the Salnés region, it has been awarded the Blue Flag multiple times.