Foz do Arelho

The lagoon offers several well-defined navigation areas. The inner part, towards Bom Sucesso and the kite schools, offers a large shallow water area with a mostly sandy bottom. Here, one navigates on a water surface that is rather flat to slightly choppy, ideal for freeride, freestyle, and beginner lessons. The launch is done from small beaches or sandy ramps, with enough space to rig and take off safely, even if the take-off area is more limited than at the ocean's edge.

The dominant wind in season is the Nortada, a flow from north to northwest that generally enters side-on relative to the main shores of the lagoon. On certain stretches of shore, it can become more side-shore or slightly onshore, which remains comfortable for safety. On the ocean side, at Foz do Arelho, the wind most often arrives cross-onshore with chop and medium-sized waves depending on the swell. Riders can move from the lagoon to the waves by simply crossing the dune.

The spot works at all tides, but the tide significantly modifies the depth and behavior of the water surface. At low tide, some areas become very shallow and emerge, creating pockets of super flat but reducing the navigable area. At high tide, the water surface widens but the chop and current increase, especially near the mouth. Local rules must also be respected: the area near the estuary, on the Bom Sucesso side, is prohibited for kiting in mid-summer in certain sections (swimming, bathing area) while the inner lagoon remains open all year round.

The best areas for beginners are found in the inner lagoon, where one can stand for long distances and where the wind is slightly reinforced by a venturi effect between the hills of Foz do Arelho. Intermediates and advanced riders enjoy the large shallow areas to work on maneuvers, jumps, and freestyle, or cross the dune to seek the waves of the Atlantic. Launching is generally easy, but one must remain attentive to the tide, sandbanks, current areas near the channel, and swimming markings in summer.