Cabedelo (Viana do Castelo)

Cabedelo sits on the south bank of the Lima estuary, looking back across the water at the city of Viana do Castelo. You can reach it by ferry from the town, which makes it one of the few kite trips that work without a car. A pier divides the sand into two areas, and the larger one runs on to Praia do Rodanho further south.

The wind

The bay is exposed to the north wind, which is strongest in summer. A thermal effect over the mountains inland boosts the nortada, which regularly reaches around 25 knots and usually fills in after midday. Inside the smaller river-mouth wall the water stays glassy, some of the best foiling conditions on this coast. The GKA Kite World Tour has held events here.

The waves

Surf and bodyboarding are popular too. A W or NW swell of more than about 2 metres, with a cross to cross-offshore wind, produces good waves over a hard sand bottom, and the jetty can give some sheltered, hollow ones. Rodanho, around 500 m south, takes more swell. It closes out when the swell gets big.

Who it is for

Kiters and windsurfers of all levels, with a kite centre on the beach. Surfers on the right swell. The water is busy on summer afternoons.

When

Kiting runs from March to October, best in summer. Surf is an autumn and winter thing, on mornings before the wind. Bring a 4/3 wetsuit: the water is cold year-round.