Kitesurf school in Brazil: learn in Icaraizinho (Ceará)
Where to learn kitesurfing in Brazil? At Cabana do Kite, a kitesurf school in Icaraizinho de Amontada on the coast of Ceará. The season runs from July to January, with wind every day and water at 28 to 30 °C, and lessons follow the IKO method in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish.
Where to learn kitesurfing in Brazil: Icaraizinho and Cabana do Kite
Cabana do Kite is a kitesurf and wing foil school on the beach of Icaraizinho de Amontada (Icaraí), Ceará: IKO- and ABK-certified instructors, Duotone and Ozone equipment. It takes around 12 hours of lessons to ride independently, with no fixed minimum age. The wind season runs from July to January, peaking from August to October; the school is open from 9 am to 6 pm. For beginners, the first hours take place in the shallow lagoon. Discover the kite and wing school and ask for prices on WhatsApp.
Why Ceará and the Nordeste to learn kitesurfing
Ceará has what a kitesurfer looks for: south-east trade winds, sun on most days and water 28 to 30 °C, which means no wetsuit for the whole season. The coast alternates cross-shore beaches, shallow lagoons and empty stretches where you can ride for kilometres without meeting anyone.
For a beginner, that combination changes everything. Flat, shallow water takes the fear out of the first body drags, steady wind avoids days lost waiting for conditions, and the water temperature lets you stay in for hours without getting cold. In Icaraizinho, the shallow lagoon and the sheltered bay give flat water for the first lessons, and the main beach a cross-shore wind to progress.
The wind season: July to January
The season starts in July and runs to the end of January, with wind every day of the season. The peak is from August to October, when the wind is strongest and most regular. From February to June there is still wind, but it is irregular: that is the low season, pleasant for quiet days, less suited to learning.
- July: 15–22 knots, start of the season, wind settling in
- August: 22–28 knots, the peak begins
- September: 25–30 knots, the most consistent days of the year
- October: 22–30 knots, last month of the peak
- November: 20–28 knots, excellent for downwinders
- December and January: 18–25 knots, with more holiday traffic
For beginners, 18 to 22 knots is ideal — July, early August and November are usually the best months. Riders who already jump and want freestyle prefer September and October. The full season guide breaks it down month by month.
Icaraizinho or Cumbuco?
Cumbuco, 30 km from Fortaleza, is the choice for those with only a few days who do not want to travel; the spot gets busier in peak months. Icaraizinho de Amontada combines quality wind, a flat shallow lagoon, few people on the water and IKO- and ABK-certified, multilingual instructors. The spot comparison puts the two options side by side before you choose.
Getting to Ceará
The entry point is Fortaleza, about 200 km from Icaraizinho, roughly 3 hours by car. The page on getting to Icaraizinho from Fortaleza gathers what to arrange before you travel and what to expect when you reach the school.
Where to stay in Icaraizinho
Pousada País Tropical, our partner, is a few minutes' walk from the beach and from the Cabana, with a pool, breakfast included and packages combining accommodation and lessons. It is the simplest option: wake up, have breakfast and be on the water fifteen minutes later.
What learning at our kitesurf school in Brazil includes
Founded in 2007, Cabana do Kite is right on the sand of Icaraizinho de Amontada: storage in front of the spot, restaurant and beach club (opened in 2010) at the same address, daily from 9 am to 6 pm. The team counts 8 to 10 IKO- and ABK-certified instructors, depending on the time of the season. Our kiteboarding lessons follow the IKO method, with radio support throughout the session: 1 instructor per student in private lessons and, in duo lessons, never more than 2 students per instructor. The equipment fleet, around 25 boards and 30 Duotone and Ozone kites in several sizes, is included. It takes around 12 hours of lessons to ride independently.
- 8 to 10 IKO- and ABK-certified instructors; 1 instructor per student in private lessons, at most 2 students per instructor in duo
- Around 25 boards and 30 Duotone and Ozone kites included, with vest, helmet and harness
- Lessons in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish
- First hours in the shallow lagoon, radio on the water throughout the session
- Feet-in-the-water set-up: storage, restaurant and bar on the spot
After the first sessions, the coast opens up: guided downwinders with 4x4 support, trick coaching and wing foil in the bay with Icaraí Wing Academy. Discover the kite and wing school and the kitesurfing lessons, then send your level and your dates on WhatsApp.
Wing foil, the other way to fly
Beyond kiting, Icaraizinho bay holds one of the best wing foil spots in Brazil. Lessons are taught in partnership with Icaraí Wing Academy, on an exclusive spot in the centre of the bay: calm, protected water, ideal for your first flights.
Wing foil combines an inflatable wing with a foil board that lifts the rider above the water. It is more accessible than kiting, has a surprisingly fast progression curve and suits all ages and levels. Many riders kite in the morning and wing in the afternoon.
And off the water?
Icaraizinho is a quiet village: less nightlife than Cumbuco, more silence with the sound of the sea. On rest days, Cabana do Kite organises buggy trips, fishing outings, evenings in the dunes and a cultural outing with local crafts and the Mosquito community; the Caetanos lagoons and the Lençóis Cearenses complete the programme. See the guide to things to do in Icaraizinho beyond kitesurfing.
What to pack
On your side, all you need is swimwear, water-resistant sunscreen and a UV rash vest, recommended but optional. The water sits 28 to 30 °C, so no wetsuit is needed. If you wear contact lenses, bring a spare pair.
Frequently asked questions
Where to learn kitesurfing (kiteboarding) in Ceará?
In Ceará, Cabana do Kite teaches in Icaraizinho de Amontada, and the spot offers the best conditions for learning: a flat shallow lagoon, few people on the water and the Cabana do Kite school with IKO- and ABK-certified, multilingual instructors. The season runs from July to January, peaking August to October, and it takes around 12 hours of lessons to ride independently.
When is the best time to kitesurf in Ceará?
The wind season on the Ceará coast runs from July to January, peaking from August to October, when the wind is strongest and most regular. For first lessons, 18 to 22 knots is ideal, which usually means July, early August and November. From February to June there is still wind, but it is irregular.
Do I need a wetsuit in Brazil?
No. The water in Icaraizinho stays 28 to 30 °C throughout the season, so no wetsuit is needed. A UV rash vest is recommended, especially for long sessions, but it remains optional. What matters is water-resistant sunscreen and, if you wear contact lenses, a spare pair.
Where can I learn kitesurfing in Brazil?
At Cabana do Kite in Icaraizinho de Amontada, on the coast of Ceará: a kitesurf school with IKO- and ABK-certified instructors, a shallow lagoon for the first lessons and wind every day from July to January. Lessons are taught in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish, with Duotone and Ozone equipment included.
When is the best time for kitesurfing in Brazil?
In Ceará the wind season runs from July to January, peaking from August to October. For first lessons, 18 to 22 knots is ideal, which usually means July, early August and November. The water stays 28 to 30 °C throughout the season.
Do I need to know how to ride before taking lessons in Brazil?
No. Cabana do Kite lessons start from scratch: theory, safety, kite control on land, body drag and water start, in the shallow lagoon and with radio support throughout the session. It takes around 12 hours of lessons to ride independently. Being able to swim is mandatory.
What is the minimum age to learn kitesurfing?
There is no fixed minimum age at Cabana do Kite: each case is assessed individually, based on weight and comfort in the water, always in a private lesson with adapted equipment. Adults of any age are welcome.
How many students per instructor?
Private lessons are 1 instructor for 1 student; duo lessons are 1 instructor for 2 students. Never more than 2 students per instructor, always with radio support throughout the session. The team counts 8 to 10 IKO- and ABK-certified instructors, depending on the time of the season.
How much does a kitesurfing lesson cost?
Prices at Cabana do Kite in Icaraizinho are on request. The price depends on the format — private or duo lesson, hour package — and equipment is included in the lessons. Send your level and your dates on WhatsApp (+55 88 98152-1670): we reply quickly and confirm everything in writing.
Do I need to bring my own equipment?
No. Equipment is included in Cabana do Kite lessons: a right-sized kite, a board suited to your level, vest, helmet and harness, with Duotone and Ozone gear checked regularly.
Ready to ride in Ceará?
Tell us your level, your dates and what you want to do: we build the programme and confirm everything in writing. See also our kitesurfing lessons and the Icaraizinho spots.