Kitesurfers on the flat water at Ilha do Guajiru, Itarema

The sand island at Ilha do Guajiru used as a kite beach

Praia da Barra, looking toward Ilha do Guajiru

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Ride Ilha do Guajiru, keep it open

Ilha do Guajiru is a sand island at a river mouth on Ceará's west coast, with strong trade winds over flat water, and it is where the kite world tour now crowns its freestyle champions.

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4 riders call this homeKite, WingGuajiru Kite Center, Trairi

Everything you need to know about Ilha do Guajiru

Live conditions

Why riders love it

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

The best season is August to January, with thermal and trade winds of about 20 to 30 knots from the northeast through southeast. Off-season brings more rain and 15 to 25 knots.
Behind the sand spit the water is very flat, with small waves rolling into the river mouth. It is best at high tide or with the tide moving; riders sometimes wait for the tide to rise.
The final stage of the 2026 GKA freestyle world tour was held here from October 20 to 24, with about 15,000 people expected.
Organisers chose it for steady wind and flat, smooth water.

Sources: Diário do Nordeste; Kiteforum; O Povo

See the wind right now

Access and rules

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

We could find no published rules for kiting at Ilha do Guajiru from Itarema or any other authority.
Watch for stakes in the water and trees on the beach.

Sources: Kiteforum; no kiteboarding policy found in official material as of 2026

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Ecology and habitat

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

Ceará's coast is a feeding area, resting zone and migration corridor for sea turtles, especially the green turtle.
Projeto TAMAR has run a sea turtle base at Almofala, in Itarema, since 1992, working with local fishers to reduce accidental capture of turtles.

Sources: Projeto TAMAR

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Good to know

Location, facilities and history.

Ilha do Guajiru is in the municipality of Itarema on the west coast of Ceará, about 215 km from Fortaleza, roughly 2.5 hours by car.
The kite area is reached by boat transfer at high tide from Praia da Barra or Porto dos Barcos. Riders can downwind back to Praia da Barra but not to Porto dos Barcos.
Ilha do Guajiru is one of the main kite and wing foil spots on Ceará's west coast, alongside Preá and Icaraizinho.
Athletes often arrive weeks before events, and the town has hotels and restaurants to match.

Sources: Diário do Nordeste; Kiteforum; O Povo; Diário do Nordeste

Meet the riders

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Ilha do Guajiru

In season the wind blows 20–30 knots, from August to January.

Source: Kiteforum

Know the spot

Ilha do Guajiru

The 2026 GKA freestyle world tour final drew an expected 15,000 people.

Source: Diário do Nordeste

Know the spot

Ilha do Guajiru

The water behind the sand spit is very flat, best on a high or moving tide.

Source: Kiteforum

Know the spot

Why Ilha do Guajiru needs a chapter

Brasil

From August to January the trade wind blows hard along Ceará's west coast. At Ilha do Guajiru it crosses a sand spit at a river mouth, and the water behind it stays almost perfectly flat, which has made it one of the best freestyle spots in the world.

4riders call this home

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Ilha do Guajiru chapter, World Wind Sports

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Brasil

That reputation has arrived quickly. In October 2026 the GKA freestyle world tour held its final here, with around 15,000 people expected in a small municipality of fishing villages. The coast is also a feeding ground for sea turtles, and the island is reached only by boat.

4riders call this home

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Ilha do Guajiru chapter, World Wind Sports

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Brasil

A chapter gives the riders who live and train here a way to shape that growth: a voice with Itarema before rules are written, a link to the fishing communities who share the water, and stewardship that keeps the island worth coming to.

4riders call this home

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Ilha do Guajiru chapter, World Wind Sports

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Photographer credits Back this chapter

The riders, schools and crew of Ilha do Guajiru

Riders from Itarema, Itarema-ce, Almofala, Porto dos Barcos, Acaraú, Amontada and the schools that teach them.

See the rider directory Talk on the board

WWSThe 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.WWSThe 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.

Ricardo Lucas Sales Santana SalesInstructor Level 1, Itarema

José GabrielAssistant, Itarema-ce

Alex dos passosLevel 3J, ItaremaJJose Javier Ramirez CoronelAssistant, itarema

Ricardo Lucas Sales Santana SalesInstructor Level 1, Itarema

José GabrielAssistant, Itarema-ce

Alex dos passosLevel 3J, ItaremaJJose Javier Ramirez CoronelAssistant, itarema

iSportsKite, WingiWind spotGuajiru Kite Center, TrairiiKnow thisIlha do Guajiru, in Itarema, Ceará, about 215 km and 2.5 hours from Fortaleza.iKnow this20 to 30 knots from August to January; very flat water behind the sand spit, best on a high or moving tide.iKnow thisReached by boat from Praia da Barra or Porto dos Barcos; no published kite rules.iSportsKite, WingiWind spotGuajiru Kite Center, TrairiiKnow thisIlha do Guajiru, in Itarema, Ceará, about 215 km and 2.5 hours from Fortaleza.iKnow this20 to 30 knots from August to January; very flat water behind the sand spit, best on a high or moving tide.iKnow thisReached by boat from Praia da Barra or Porto dos Barcos; no published kite rules.

Live conditions

Wind right now at Ilha do Guajiru

Full forecast

Fund this chapter. You can too.

Your gift keeps the chapter running and the beach cared for: cleanup supplies, signage, certification weekends and the costs of being the group the park can call.

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