Mexico
Playa Nube is a beach located in Playa del Carmen, in the Riviera Maya in Quintana Roo, Mexico. This spot is part of the Coco Beach bay, a place known by local kiters for its turquoise crystal-clear waters and lively tourist atmosphere with nearby bars and restaurants.
It is a public place where you navigate among bathers, but with enough space to launch and land the kite. The spot has hosted international competitions like the PKRA and remains popular for its proximity to the city.
Playa Nube offers a typical Caribbean setting, with a not very wide but functional beach for kite sessions.
The wind data shown here comes from ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) over 4 years, reprocessed to reflect realistic conditions.
👉 Average wind has been calibrated to avoid the usual underestimation of models.
👉 Gusts have been corrected by a median ratio to avoid unrealistic extreme values.
👉 Each day is summarized by the median wind (P50) observed during useful hours (8am–8pm), then classified into wind ranges.
👉 The weighted mode mixes average wind and gusts to best reflect felt wind.
chopchopThe dominant wind comes from NE, E, SE, often side-onshore or sideshore, which offers stable conditions 80% of the time. Launching is done directly from the narrow public beach, with enough space to take off in the center of Coco Beach bay. The navigation area is wide in front of the spot, but you should avoid parked boats to the south and scattered bathers.
The water surface varies according to the wind direction: flat in light wind, chop with more strength, and small waves (waist to shoulder size) created by a sand break in front of the beach. In NE, a reef to the north generates more consistent waves up to shoulder height. Tides do not greatly influence conditions, but be cautious of the shore break in strong wind. The shallow areas near the shore allow for easy restarts, but require vigilance.
Sessions take place in the morning, afternoon, and evening when the wind is present, with warm water all year round. It is a versatile spot for freestyle on flats or fun small waves.
Ideal conditions are with wind NE to E, 13-20 knots, side-onshore for a clean water surface and fun waves.
The water is crystal clear and turquoise, with a mix of flat to chop and small waves (waist to shoulder). No big chop except in strong winds, and a minor shore break in reinforcement.
Currents are generally weak in the bay, but can intensify near channels or with Caribbean tides. Tides are moderate with no strong impact on navigation.
In the dry season, plan for sizes of 9 to 12m² for 13-18 knots. In summer, opt for larger kites 13-15m² in lightwind from the SE.
The wind regime is dominated by trade winds from the NE to E in the dry season, with average strengths of 13-18 knots. In summer, the wind comes more from the SE and remains lighter, ideal for lightwind. The wind is consistent in the morning and afternoon.
The climate is hot tropical all year round, with temperatures around 27-29°C on average. The high season from November to May is dry and windy, while summer is wetter with possible rains but lighter winds from the SE.
The depth is progressive with shallow areas near the shore and a sandy bottom mixed with reefs. You can stand for a good distance from the beach.
The water is warm all year round, around 26-29°C, with no need for a wetsuit.
