Icaraí de Amontada - Praia Icaraí de Amontada
Brazil
Icaraí de Amontada
Icaraí de Amontada, better known as Icaraizinho, is one of the gems of the Cearense coast. About 200 km west of Fortaleza, this small fishing village combines authenticity, comfort, and exceptional sailing conditions. It’s a spot where everything seems perfectly balanced: a beach lined with palm trees, a constant wind from the east, a turquoise sea, and a peaceful atmosphere that makes you want to stay for weeks. The main bay of Icaraizinho offers several sailing areas: flat at low tide in the southern part, a choppier water surface in the center, and beautiful regular waves in the northern area, towards the rocky point. This diversity makes the spot incredibly complete: you can learn, progress, or send big moves, all while enjoying a setting worthy of a movie. Off the water, the village is lively without being excessive: a few restaurants, comfortable pousadas, calm evenings among riders — the perfect balance between relaxation and passion.
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.
- 🟢 10–16 kts: light but sailable wind (especially on foil).
- 🟡 16–22 kts: ideal range, comfortable conditions for most.
- 🔴 22–28 kts: strong wind, reserved for experienced riders.
- 🟣 28+ kts: extreme conditions, committed riding.
Location & Points of interest
Useful information
chop
flatThe conditions at Icaraizinho are simply ideal for kitesurfing. To the south of the village, the beach forms a sheltered area by the tide, where the water becomes almost flat: perfect for beginners or freestyle. In front of the central bay, the water is regular choppy, ideal for freeride. To the north, the swell organizes nicely around the rocky point, creating clean and spaced waves that delight surfkite enthusiasts. The side-onshore wind from east to southeast, between 18 and 26 knots, blows every day with remarkable consistency. The sandy bottom and the width of the beach facilitate launches, even for beginners. The spot's configuration allows for kiting at any time: high tide, low tide, falling — each moment has its charm and character.
The downwinds to Moitas or Caetanos de Cima are also very popular, offering wild navigation along the coast, punctuated by dunes, lagoons, and deserted beaches.
Wind from east to southeast, side-onshore, constant and powerful, between 18 and 25 knots. This is the typical wind of Ceará, ideal for all disciplines: freeride, freestyle, or surfkite.
Low tide: flat to slightly choppy in the southern bay. Medium tide: regular and clean chop, perfect for freeride. High tide: small harmonious waves to the north, ideal for surfkite. It’s a mixed spot, capable of offering all sensations depending on the time and tide.
Currents are weak in the bay, slightly more noticeable near the northern point, where the swell breaks harder. Nothing dangerous, but it’s better to watch out for rocky areas at low tide. At high tide, a gentle drift to the north can be felt, with no notable impact on navigation.
Riders mainly use kites of 7 to 10 m². Lighter riders enjoy the constant wind with a 6–8 m², while heavier ones kite comfortably with a 9–11 m². The wind being very consistent, one kite is usually enough for the whole day.
Azure skies, tropical heat, and golden light characterize the days here; it almost never rains during the wind season. The wind blows almost every day from July to January, averaging 18 to 26 knots. Its dominant orientation is east to southeast, side-onshore across most of the spot. It picks up gently in the late morning, becomes powerful and stable between 12 PM and 5 PM, and calms slightly before sunset. Riders often talk about a perfect wind: warm, laminar, without gusts, constant from the first to the last day of the season. Sunsets are spectacular, with golden light on the sails, a true delight for photographers.
Icaraizinho enjoys an exceptional dry tropical climate: sun, wind, and heat every day from July to January. Air temperature remains stable around 30°C, and rain is rare, limited to a few short showers between March and May. The air is warm but breezy, without stifling humidity. You can kite from morning to evening without ever getting too hot, thanks to the constant Atlantic breeze.
Between 0.5 and 2 meters, sandy bottom. You can stand far from the shore in the southern bay, less so in the north where the depth increases quickly.
Between 27°C and 29°C all year round. Warm, clear, and inviting water — no wetsuit needed, ever.