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Kitesurfing off Costa Calma on the Sotavento coastKiteboarding on the beach at Sotavento, Costa CalmaWindsurfers and kitesurfers on Playa de SotaventoA kitesurfer riding the trade wind at Costa Calma

Chapters / Europe Open, 1 of 1 remaining

Ride Fuerteventura, keep it open

More than 9 km of open beach, a tidal lagoon and trade winds that hardly stop from April to September. Sotavento is one of Europe's best-known wind arenas, inside a natural park, where a single licence holder controls lessons in the lagoon.

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40 riders call this homeKite, WingFuerteventura - Sotavento #kite

Everything you need to know about Fuerteventura

Live conditions

Why riders love it

What brings people here, from the people who manage it and the people who ride it.

  • North-east trade winds blow almost constantly from April to September. The wind blows the rest of the year too, but less reliably.
  • The south of the island is gusty, as volcanic terrain funnels the wind. The north wind usually arrives side-offshore at Sotavento.
  • At the northern end, Risco del Paso has a sheltered tidal lagoon of about 4 km that suits beginners. Flat-water lagoons form around the full and quarter moons.

Sources: Fuerteventura Guide; Fuerteventura Playas

See the wind right now
Kiteboarding on the beach at Sotavento, Costa Calma

Access and rules

Local governments and environmental agencies set the terms. The chapter works with them, not around them.

  • René Egli holds the official, exclusive licence for lessons across the whole Risco del Paso lagoon.
  • Neither the island nor the natural park publishes kite-specific rules for Sotavento. Riders should expect zoning around schools and events.
  • Emergency services are available on the beach.

Sources: Fuerteventura Guide; Fuerteventura Playas; no kite rules found as of 2026

Help hold the launch
Windsurfers and kitesurfers on Playa de Sotavento

Ecology and habitat

Protected lagoons, wetlands and the species that depend on them. Stewardship days keep launches clean inside the protected zones.

  • The Sotavento beaches lie within Jandía Natural Park, protected since 1987 and one of the largest natural parks in the Canary Islands.
  • Tide-formed lagoons sit between Risco del Paso and Playa de la Barca. Further south, the Jandía salt marsh at Morro Jable draws nesting seabirds.

Sources: Barceló travel guide

Fund stewardship here
A kitesurfer riding the trade wind at Costa Calma

Good to know

Location, facilities and history.

  • Playas de Sotavento run for more than 9 km along the south-east coast of the Jandía peninsula, near Costa Calma in the south of Fuerteventura.
  • The stretch takes in Playa del Risco del Paso, Playa de la Barca, Playa de los Canarios and Playa de Mal Nombre.
  • Sotavento has hosted PWA windsurfing and kiteboarding world cup events.
  • The north of the island around Corralejo gets lighter but more consistent wind.

Sources: Barceló travel guide; Fuerteventura Guide

Meet the riders
Kitesurfing off Costa Calma on the Sotavento coast

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Schools that teach on this water

René Egli

Fuerteventura

North-east trades blow almost constantly April–September and less reliably the rest of the year.

Source: Fuerteventura Guide

Know the spot

Fuerteventura

Open beach runs for over 9 km from Risco del Paso to Mal Nombre.

Source: Barceló travel guide

Know the spot

Fuerteventura

A sheltered tidal lagoon of about 4 km at Risco del Paso suits beginners.

Source: Fuerteventura Guide

Know the spot

Why Fuerteventura needs a chapter

Kitesurfing off Costa Calma on the Sotavento coast
Europe

From April to September the north-east trade wind blows across Fuerteventura almost without a break, and at Sotavento it funnels down onto more than 9 km of open sand. Windsurfing and kiteboarding world cup events have made the beach famous.

40riders call this home
1local schools teach on this water
Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Fuerteventura chapter, World Wind Sports

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Kiteboarding on the beach at Sotavento, Costa Calma
Europe

The beach is also part of Jandía Natural Park, protected since 1987, and lessons in the Risco del Paso lagoon are held under one exclusive licence. Who gets to ride, teach and launch here is decided by the island and the park, not by riders.

40riders call this home
1local schools teach on this water
Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Fuerteventura chapter, World Wind Sports

Back this chapter
Windsurfers and kitesurfers on Playa de Sotavento
Europe

A chapter gives local and visiting riders one voice in those decisions, organises beach cleanups and stewardship inside the park, and keeps riders trained so that open access for independent riders stays on the table.

40riders call this home
1local schools teach on this water
Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Fuerteventura chapter, World Wind Sports

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Photographer credits Back this chapter

The riders, schools and crew of Fuerteventura

Riders from Costa Calma, Morro Jable, Jandía, Pájara, La Lajita, Tarajalejo, Gran Tarajal, Tuineje, Puerto del Rosario, Caleta de Fuste, Corralejo, La Oliva, El Cotillo, Fuerteventura and the schools that teach them.

See the rider directory Talk on the board
RRené EgliLocal school teaching on this waterWWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.RRené EgliLocal school teaching on this waterWWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.
Mattia RomaniInstructor Level 2, FuerteventuraJoshua GrazianoInstructor Level 1, CorralejoLucas Simba CelaniInstructor Level 2, Costa CalmaBaptiste SainsonInstructor Level 1, CorralejoMarcin PowszukInstructor Level 1, Morro JableLaurie De Lestapis De LestapisInstructor Level 1, CorralejoZsuzsa Varadi-SzaboInstructor Level 1, CorralejoRichard RoumierInstructor Level 1, CorralejoMauricio Fernando OShanahan SocorroLevel 3L, Puerto del RosarioBarbora RaschmannovaLevel 3L, Costa calmaKatarzyna KolkaLevel 4W, Costa CalmaPablo matatagui cruzLevel 3J, CorralejoRomek KaźmierowskiLevel 1A, Costa CalmaAlma Maria Cebollada LopezLevel 3N, CorralejoCarlos UchaLevel 3L, CorralejoMorgan MathaysLevel 4W, TuinejeAlvaro Marco MartínezLevel 2I, Puerto del RosarioDiletta GhiglioneLevel 3L, Puerto del RosarioLucia SmacchiaLevel 2I, CorralejoRhea BaliwalaLevel 2I, CorralejoStefano PerlascaLevel 3K, CorralejoChloe LangerLevel 3K, CorralejoJan ReehLevel 2I, CorralejoEduardo FedrianiLevel 4Q, CorralejoAlexandra Diana Sanches AmorLevel 2G, FuerteventuraIzana SasaaLevel 4V, Costa calmaMichael HassanLevel 3J, Morro JableJulio FajardoCertified rider, Puerto del RosarioMMathieu RimbaudCoach Level 1 - Wing Foil, CorralejoMMarc Xufre morenoLevel 3J, CorralejoAAdel Kovacs-HarsLevel 2I, Costa CalmaJJuan Jesús Escribano de la CámaraLevel 3K, FuerteventuraMMaria CuevasLevel 2G, Costa calmaGGianmaria MorettiLevel 3J, La lajitaJJavier Pérez GilLevel 3J, CorralejoLLidia Florines MartínLevel 3M, Puerto del RosarioGGabriele CorbelliLevel 2H, CorralejoRRomu AlonsoLevel 3K, Puerto del RosarioCChristian MirelesLevel 2H, Costa CalmaTThijs BakkerLevel 4X, Costa calmaMattia RomaniInstructor Level 2, FuerteventuraJoshua GrazianoInstructor Level 1, CorralejoLucas Simba CelaniInstructor Level 2, Costa CalmaBaptiste SainsonInstructor Level 1, CorralejoMarcin PowszukInstructor Level 1, Morro JableLaurie De Lestapis De LestapisInstructor Level 1, CorralejoZsuzsa Varadi-SzaboInstructor Level 1, CorralejoRichard RoumierInstructor Level 1, CorralejoMauricio Fernando OShanahan SocorroLevel 3L, Puerto del RosarioBarbora RaschmannovaLevel 3L, Costa calmaKatarzyna KolkaLevel 4W, Costa CalmaPablo matatagui cruzLevel 3J, CorralejoRomek KaźmierowskiLevel 1A, Costa CalmaAlma Maria Cebollada LopezLevel 3N, CorralejoCarlos UchaLevel 3L, CorralejoMorgan MathaysLevel 4W, TuinejeAlvaro Marco MartínezLevel 2I, Puerto del RosarioDiletta GhiglioneLevel 3L, Puerto del RosarioLucia SmacchiaLevel 2I, CorralejoRhea BaliwalaLevel 2I, CorralejoStefano PerlascaLevel 3K, CorralejoChloe LangerLevel 3K, CorralejoJan ReehLevel 2I, CorralejoEduardo FedrianiLevel 4Q, CorralejoAlexandra Diana Sanches AmorLevel 2G, FuerteventuraIzana SasaaLevel 4V, Costa calmaMichael HassanLevel 3J, Morro JableJulio FajardoCertified rider, Puerto del RosarioMMathieu RimbaudCoach Level 1 - Wing Foil, CorralejoMMarc Xufre morenoLevel 3J, CorralejoAAdel Kovacs-HarsLevel 2I, Costa CalmaJJuan Jesús Escribano de la CámaraLevel 3K, FuerteventuraMMaria CuevasLevel 2G, Costa calmaGGianmaria MorettiLevel 3J, La lajitaJJavier Pérez GilLevel 3J, CorralejoLLidia Florines MartínLevel 3M, Puerto del RosarioGGabriele CorbelliLevel 2H, CorralejoRRomu AlonsoLevel 3K, Puerto del RosarioCChristian MirelesLevel 2H, Costa CalmaTThijs BakkerLevel 4X, Costa calma
iSportsKite, WingiWind spotFuerteventura - Sotavento #kiteiKnow thisPlayas de Sotavento, near Costa Calma on the Jandía peninsula in the south of Fuerteventura.iKnow thisNorth-east trade winds, most constant April to September, gusty in the south.iKnow thisThe beaches lie inside Jandía Natural Park; lessons in the lagoon are under one exclusive licence.iSportsKite, WingiWind spotFuerteventura - Sotavento #kiteiKnow thisPlayas de Sotavento, near Costa Calma on the Jandía peninsula in the south of Fuerteventura.iKnow thisNorth-east trade winds, most constant April to September, gusty in the south.iKnow thisThe beaches lie inside Jandía Natural Park; lessons in the lagoon are under one exclusive licence.

Live conditions

Wind right now at Fuerteventura

Full forecast

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