Kite Surfing in Mexico

Anyone who likes extreme sports will find out that in Mexico you can practice a wide variety of them, and one that in recent years has caught the public’s attention, is the Kite Surf. This extreme sport consists on sliding on water with a board or with an adapted "Wakeboard" kit using the impulse of a traction kite. Obviously the athlete or "Kiter" is tied with ropes to the kite by a harness. The number of ropes may vary between two, four or five.


It is important to note that most daring athletes do not feel satisfied with gliding only, but they also perform maneuvers, jumps and even surf the waves with obstacles in between. In Mexico, you can practice this sport in the Gulf, the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean.


For those wishing to learn or improve their skills in Kite Surfing, there are several schools and local agencies that will guide the visitor step by step, and there are some that dare to assure that the student will learn to slide properly in a very short time. The sessions of such schools vary, but most of them consist of two to three hours a day during the morning and a little more time during the afternoon. Costs also vary widely depending on the services given, which can range from simply including equipment rental, to food, lodging, transportation to the area and more.


In Baja California there are several centers where you can practice it, the most famous is an area near La Ventana, a small town forty kilometers from La Paz, where it is recommended to go between November to early April, since it is when the winds are better. This is the best place for professionals and those who do not mind being far from major luxuries and hotels when they practice sports. In the area prices are in dollars, and the average class cost is $100 dollars, however there are packages that include transportation to the area and an instructor, which can reach up to 1200 USD per couple.


Another option is Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, which is recommended for the less experienced, as their winds are lighter than those of Baja California. The ideal season starts in February and runs all the way to July. The last option is Salinas Cruz in Oaxaca, where the sport barely began being practiced in 2004. The area stands out as one of the most accessible therefore it is one of the most frequented by tourists. There are many other attractions in the above three places such as spas, nightclubs, and places to camp.


In the Gulf of Mexico, the kite surf is practiced near the port of Veracruz, specifically in areas such as Costa Esmeralda. The wind is more suitable in the season that runs from September to June. In the port of Veracruz there are over 8 clubs that are dedicated exclusively to teach and coordinate practices. It should be noted however, that the classes are not always in the same place but sometimes people have to travel several kilometers in search of wind. The costs in the area are approximately $70 dlls. per lesson. A special mention is reserved for Costa Esmeralda in Veracruz and its surrounding areas as Nautla, as the beaches are much more clear and free than the ones at the port, however here there are very few schools that teach the sport. Courses for Beginners in the area are below $60 dlls. in the low seasons.


The last zone is the area of the Caribbean Sea. Here, Quintana Roo owns Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Cancún as ideal areas for kite surfing, so much so that international events have already taken place in the area. The average wind speed is just over twelve knots, which allows jumps more easily. On the other hand, this area has also small bays for beginners. As in Baja California, prices vary, as there are luxury hotels that offer this service in all inclusive packages ($3,000 USD) to rustic campgrounds that charge only for the stay and rescue services in case you need them. For these campgrounds, each person must bring its own equipment.



As mentioned at the beginning, in Mexico there are several levels among the practitioners of Kite Surfing, and throughout the year tournaments are held depending on which area is “in kite surfing season”. If you want information on these events or the location of alternative places for kite surfing, you can visit the Facebook page of the Mexican Association of Kite Surf at:

http://www.facebook.com/kitemexico.org


Finally, it is important to mention that many schools and clubs also sell equipment and protection gear (such as vests and helmets) for this sport. It is not cheap though, as just the board may cost more than $350 dlls. and the kite more than $200, but the experience of flying and the ability to practice something as unique as Kite Surfing, are well worth paying for them!