Discovering Paradise
Discovering Paradise
Trade winds and flat water at Sint Joris
Type
Water Sports
Difficulty
Beginner_to_advanced
Duration
2-4 hours per session
Price
$70-150 lesson; $50-80/day rental
Min Age
12+
Group Size
1-2 per instructor
Best Season
Strongest winds December-August; usable year-round
Fitness
Moderate
Rating
4.6/5
Physical Req.
Moderate fitness, good swimming ability, and core strength for board control. Beginners can learn the basics over several lessons.
Curaçao sits in the path of dependable easterly trade winds, and the best place to harness them is Sint Joris Bay on the east coast. The bay is large, shallow, and largely flat, with the wind blowing side-on across protected water, which is exactly the combination kitesurfers want for both learning and progression.
Because the bay is sheltered and the bottom is shallow, beginners can stand and reset while learning board starts, then graduate to longer runs as their kite control improves. Experienced riders use the flat water for freestyle and the open space for fast reaching. The wind is most reliable through the winter and spring trade-wind season, but it blows usefully much of the year.
The bay is on the quieter eastern side of the island, away from the resort beaches; the Curaçao Ostrich Farm at Groot Sint Joris is nearby for a non-wind day. Always ride with a school or buddy, check the wind forecast, and respect the right-of-way rules in a busy bay.
Difficulty
Beginner_to_advanced
Duration
2-4 hours per session
Price
$70-150 lesson; $50-80/day rental
Best Season
Strongest winds December-August; usable year-round