Kitesurfing

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 onshore at the teaching spot 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.

Conditions at Sint Joris

• Steady trade winds, onshore at the teaching spot, strongest from roughly December to August.
• Flat, shallow water that is forgiving for lessons and ideal for freestyle.
• A wide bay with room to ride well away from swimmers.
• IKO-style schools offering lessons and gear rental.

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.