Itinerary
Day 1: Cumbuco - Paracuru
You start your downwind kite safari just past the Port of Pecem. Right at the start, some fantastic flat water is awaiting you. You will downwind to Taiba. In the beach area of Taiba, you will find everything you can imagine: it goes from flat water (small pools, a result of low tide) up to small waves and big, clean-breaking waves from one and a half to two and a half meters in height, everything a rider’s heart desires. After a short break in Taiba, you will continue to Paracuru where you arrive in one of the most popular kite spots in the region, the legendary flat water and wave spot all in one.
- Distance: 28 kilometers
- Overnight stay: Hotel VentoBrasil, Paracuru
Day 2: Lagoinha - Mundau
Today, you will start your downwinder after a one-hour drive in Lagoinha. Again, you get to know some of the most beautiful wave spots in the region. After 17 kilometers, you will arrive in Guajiru. After a short break, you can choose if you want to continue downwinding for another 15 kilometers until Mundau or spend a relaxing afternoon at the swimming pool in your luxury beachfront pousada.
- Distance: 32 kilometers
- Overnight stay: Vila Vagalume, Guajiru
Day 3: Guajiru - Icarai de Amontada
Very relaxed, you continue kiting along the coast with plenty of flat water and small but very long regular waves. You pass by little fishing villages and beautiful sandy beaches lined with coconut trees. In the afternoon, you reach the small village of Moitas. Here, time stands still. In this cozy atmosphere with freshly grilled fish and cool caipis, you feel like staying forever.
- Distance: 56 kilometers
- Overnight stay: Laculá Pousada, Moitas
Day 4: Prea - Guriu
After two-and-a-half-hour car drive, you will reach Prea where you start your downwinder. First, you kite to Jericoacoara. In 1994, the U.S. newspaper the Washington Post voted this area as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches on the planet. Jeri is a paradise on Earth. It is surrounded by sand dunes and the roads are made of sand. In the narrow streets, something is always going on and everything is welcoming and built with lots of love. In the evening, the whole village climbs up to the big sand dune next to the village to see the most beautiful sunset. Your final destination today is the river in Guriu, an amazing kite spot, just a few kilometers downwind from Jericoacoara.
- Distance: 33 kilometers
- Overnight stay: Pousada Chale Creoulo, Jericoacoara
Day 5: Jericoacoara - Camocim
This is going to be your favorite downwinder with perfect kite conditions. The water between the clean breaking waves is as smooth as a mirror. After passing Guriu, you arrive at the river mouth with shallow water in the river and beautiful big waves in the ocean. It is difficult to continue kiting at this stunning spot because you will want to stay there all day.
- Distance: 36 kilometers
- Overnight stay: Casa San Jose Hotel de Charme, Camocim
Day 6: Camocim - Bitupita
Kiting continues along the coast with relatively shallow waters and small waves. Apart from a few fishermen on the road, you meet no one. From Bitubita, you continue by car to Barra Grande, a kite paradise which is still a largely undiscovered spot.
- Distance: 44 kilometers
- Overnight stay: Barra Grande Beach Club, Barra Grande
Day 7: Barra Grande - Luís Correia
You start your 18-kilometer downwinder in Barra Grande. After two kilometers, you reach a huge flat water lagoon and stay there for some freestyle action. The next highlight and breathtaking new spot, Macapa is just downwind from the lagoon. After a little snack, you continue riding until you reach your cozy pousada directly in front of another nice kite spot. To top it off, you will have a nice evening session, right in front of the pousada. You will be riding some nice waves here.
- Distance: 18 kilometers
- Overnight stay: Vila Itaqui, Luís Correia
Day 8: Ilha Dos Poldros - Barra do Meio
Early in the morning, you drive to Parnaiba and meet your private motorboat at the harbor. If you are lucky, you will see monkeys, crabs, and caimans during your boat ride to the secret spot. This unique place is a river mouth with mirror-smooth water where you will start your downwinder. The Delta do Parnaiba is the third-largest river delta in the world. Today, you kite around half the delta until you reach a river mouth called Barra do Meio. There, your boat is already waiting for you. You will enjoy the ride back to the pousada, along the small narrow river tributaries surrounded by mangroves.
- Distance: 26 kilometers
- Overnight stay: Casa de Caboclo, Ilha das Canarias
Day 9: Barra do Meio - Ilha do Caju
Your boat brings you to the river mouth Barra do Meio where you start the second part around the delta. After 26 kilometers, you are going to meet your boat again on an island called Ilha do Caju. By boat, you reach your daily goal, Tutóia, which is located on the other side of the delta.
- Distance: 26 kilometers
- Overnight stay: Baluarte Pousada e Ecoturismo, Tutóia
Day 10: Tutoia - Atins
Mirror-smooth water awaits you in Tutóia where the ocean is separated by a sandbank around one kilometer from the beach. You kite together to this sandbank, reaching the open sea and riding on small waves. In Cabure, your luggage will be picked up by a boat and goes directly to the pousada. You will reach Atins, passing the river by kite, and arrive directly to Atins on the beach.
- Distance: 50 kilometers
- Overnight stay: Pousada Maresia Atins, Atins
Day 11: Atins - Rio Negro
Upon arrival in Atins, you will immediately get the feeling that you have reached the end of the world. There are no roads built yet. Getting around the village is difficult because of the fine deep sand. There are a few pousadas and restaurants. This little place is totally unspoilt and is situated in an untouched natural landscape, despite having an absolutely fantastic kite spot right on its doorstep. At low tide, the water is like a mirror. You kite out to the small sandbanks and freestyle endlessly between them with three or four other kiters. If the wind is good, you will do an 18-kilometer downwinder to Rio Negro where the entrance is to the enormous Lençóis Maranhenses dune region with its thousands of small crystal-clear lagoons. The area covers 1,550 square kilometers and was declared a national park on February 6, 1981. Firm dunes and shifting sand dunes range up to 40 kilometers into the interior. In spite of the relatively high levels of precipitation, this is Brazil’s only desert.
- Distance: 18 kilometers
- Overnight stay: Pousada Maresia Atins, Atins
Day 12: Transfer back to Cumbuco
From Atins, you will take the boat to Cabure where the car will already be waiting for you. The ride goes over the main road directly back to Cumbuco. Approximate expected time of arrival in Cumbuco is at 19:00.
Supporting guides and vehicles
Downwind Kitesafari makes sure you are not on your own when something happens. They always have a guide on the water, to help you avoid the rare rock in the water, and to help you when your material does not. There is also always a Hilux on the beach, close to you with air-conditioner so you can cool off a bit after hours in the sunshine. There is always water for you on board and some small snacks to keep you going. In some of tours, Downwind Kite Safari uses boats as support instead of a car: this is because it is an area without meaningful roads. Your guides are equipped with speakers and satellite phones. In addition to your guides, the tour is supported by their back-office and that means there is always a fixed point-of-contact to organize things for you while you are kiting; far away from all 'connected' life.
Safety
You are responsible for your own safety in the water and on land. Close attention should be paid to the information provided during the daily morning meeting.
Kite material
You are responsible for your own kite material, such as in case of lost material in the water or forgotten material on the beach / pousada. You are responsable to put your equipment in the provided storage at night. You are also personally responsible for ensuring your kite surfing equipment is functioning properly.
Notes
- This downwinder is only for experienced kitesurfers
- You must have already done a few long downwinders
- Inside the Delta of Parnaiba, there will be no car-support
- The downwinders can last five hours (with breaks), so you must be fairly fit and have the proper equipment
