backpacking south America, where to kite?

> 10 years ago
Reply
Register to post, see what you've read, and subscribe to topics.
rickwindt
rickwindt
WA
245 posts
WA, 245 posts
4 Dec 2011 8:52pm
I'll be going on a backpacking trip through South America for about 4 months with my girlfriend. Now as much as I love traveling, I love to kite as well. My girlfriend however just loves to travel and doesn't kite at all.

Has anyone traveled South America? and where did you go kiting? Are there any prime spots that I can enjoy kiting but my girlfriend can also enjoy without actually kiting?

we will start in Belize to do scuba diving (which we both do) and then work our way down.
Woppa
Woppa
NSW
8 posts
NSW, 8 posts
5 Dec 2011 7:45am
I backpacked and kited Brasil, ecuador and peru for 6 months. Peru is hands down the best place to wave kite although with a girlfriend who doesn't kite it could be tricky. Lobitos is amazing but there is NOTHING to do otherwise. Mancora is an hour up the road and whilst it gets busy there are some good bars and restaurants. The other place in Peru i'd recommend for wave kiting is Pacasmayo which is a fairly large town with long long wavesbut is in no way touristy.

Brazil is the other option i'd recommend. All based in the northeast, the stretch from Cumbuco to Jericocoara (about 400kms) is simply amazing. The best time is july to December and most of the towns have really nice places to stay with swimming pools etc to stay for non-kiters. Brazil in itself is worth a visit, just being there is an experience if you kite or not.
csjena
csjena
VIC
249 posts
VIC, 249 posts
5 Dec 2011 10:05pm
what about Venezuela? Isla Magerita (quite touristy) or Los Roques(nice)
Check it out! Some guys here from SB went this year!
cs
kwinana
kwinana
NSW
1 posts
NSW, 1 posts
6 Dec 2011 5:00pm
I dont really recommend you Venezuela you can getting robbed, kidnapped or killed. They live a dificult Political situation.
thecrownjulz
thecrownjulz
WA
29 posts
WA, 29 posts
6 Dec 2011 11:54pm
caye caulker in belize, near the blue hole where the diving is has awesome kiting. was there in december a few years ago and it was awesome. Yucatan mexico is also alright if you're further north
FishOutOfWater
FishOutOfWater
QLD
20 posts
QLD, 20 posts
7 Dec 2011 12:11pm
+1 for peru - great kiting. Belize - Caye Caulker / Ambergris Caye is OK too. I was there last February. Kited 4/7 days - 2x14m+12m+10m - kinda like North Qld but weaker. If you're passing through the Puerto Rico or Domincan Republic (Caberete) there is some good kiting. Costa Rica has some high wind kiting around Arenal and on the Pacific Coast. Panama has some out of the way spots. Northern Brazil is awesome but out of the way. Florionopolis in Southern Brazil has less consistent wind but comes with a great party scene for the g/f if that's your thing.

All that said, you've gotta be pretty determined I you're considering dragging your kite gear around when you're backpacking. It's been a few years since I've been to alot of those spots but there were no/poor rental options. I live in the US now and think that Australia's kite scene is way better (with the exception of northern Brazil). I'd leave the gear home, not fixate on trying to find spots to rent, and just enjoy the travel - central/south america are a ton of fun. If you find anywhere magic you can always come back one day.
wishy
wishy
WA
1501 posts
WA, 1501 posts
7 Dec 2011 1:16pm
Chile huevon, en el sud.
rickwindt
rickwindt
WA
245 posts
WA, 245 posts
7 Dec 2011 2:11pm
Oh yeah I'm nit gonna bring my kiting gear haha that would be crazy.. I'm gonna have to rent it here and there..hopefully ill find some places. thanks for all the feedback
tmiddled
tmiddled
NSW
253 posts
NSW, 253 posts
7 Dec 2011 9:25pm
Hey mate,

I'm planning on doing a similar thing with my wife next year for 9 months or so. Travel, paraglide, surf and kite. I am flying into Santiago taking my paraglider to Iquique and flying for a month or so. Will leave it there (they offer free storage), then head in to Bolivia and then Southern Peru for just travel. I plan to buy a cheap surfboard in Lima, and make my way up the Coast surfing Chicama and other spots. I will look to buy/rent a Kite in Mancora and kite for maybe a week or so. Only use a surfboard, so will only need to rent/but the kite and harness. I have found a few rental places in Mancora, just google it. www.kitesmancora.com/ is one. Mancora is only an hour from Lobitos which also apparently has wicked kiting.

So yeah, the long and the short of it, I have researched my ass off and the only place I plan to make the effort for kiting is Peru. But I am only into waves, if you are freestyle then Brazil looks freakin' awesome!

Just my two cents
Woppa
Woppa
NSW
8 posts
NSW, 8 posts
7 Dec 2011 10:32pm
In short, Peru waves, Brazil Freestyle. Oh and the women in brazil- mama!
PelicanPete
PelicanPete
QLD
67 posts
QLD, 67 posts
7 Dec 2011 10:40pm
Woppa said...



Brazil is the other option i'd recommend. All based in the northeast, the stretch from Cumbuco to Jericocoara (about 400kms) is simply amazing. The best time is july to December and most of the towns have really nice places to stay with swimming pools etc to stay for non-kiters. Brazil in itself is worth a visit, just being there is an experience if you kite or not.


I've been told the downwinders in Brazil are pretty awesome. You just organise a buggy to follow you? And it is not "if the wind will blow", its more like, "how strong".
tmiddled
tmiddled
NSW
253 posts
NSW, 253 posts
8 Dec 2011 11:01am
And I think you will have a dead easy time finding rental gear in Cumbuco. So unless you are wave monkey, then Cumbuco is your best bet. Your GF will have plenty to do there also...unlike Peru.

Oh, and most of the places have a deal that if there is no wind on the day, then you don't pay for accomadation. Which (only speaking from word of mouth), won't happen between July-December. It is always good :-)
Please Register, or first...
Topics Subscribe Reply