Brazil's 2026 wind season has started
August opens the northeast wind season. What each month delivers through January, when the wind peaks, and how that should shape when you book.
August is when the machine switches on. The trade winds pick up a thermal boost, the rain stopped months ago, and the coast between Rio Grande do Norte and Maranhão enters the run of rideable days that sustains whole villages until January.
For anyone flying in from the northern hemisphere, the timing is convenient: the Brazilian season peaks exactly as European and North American conditions collapse.
What each month delivers
August. The opening. Wind is already solid most days but not yet at peak. The best month for good conditions without crowds or peak pricing. For anyone taking a course it is ideal: enough wind not to lose lesson days, not so much that it becomes intimidating.
September and October. The peak. This is when Jericoacoara and Preá run days on end above 30 knots and a 9 m stays in the bag. It is also when lodging fills — booking ahead stops being advice and becomes a requirement.
November. Still strong, starting to soften. One of the best value windows of the season.
December and January. Good conditions, more variable than October, holiday pricing. January still delivers but is no longer a guarantee.
February onwards. The western Ceará coast fades quickly. São Miguel do Gostoso in Rio Grande do Norte holds on longer and is the natural alternative. March to June is low season across most of the northeast — light, irregular wind and cheap lodging.
What that means in practice
If the goal is learning, go in August or November. Steady wind without excess, and schools with more availability.
If the goal is strong wind and big air, September and October at Preá or Jeri, on 6 to 9 m kites.
If the goal is flat water for tricks, the logic changes: Ilha do Guajiru and Cauípe lagoon at Cumbuco depend more on the tide than on the month. Plan your days around the tide table.
If you are booking now for September or October, lodging is the bottleneck, not the flight. The good places in the smaller villages sell out months ahead.
One honest caveat
Seasonality is a multi-year average, not a forecast. One year can hand you a better November than October, and no historical pattern replaces checking the actual forecast the week you travel. That is what the per-spot forecast is for — the coming days in knots, with direction, gusts and tide.
Frequently asked
What is the best month to kitesurf in Brazil?
September and October have the strongest and steadiest wind. August and November deliver very good conditions with fewer people on the water and lower prices. December and January still work, at peak-season rates.
Is February or March worth it?
By February the wind drops noticeably on the western Ceará coast. São Miguel do Gostoso in Rio Grande do Norte holds conditions longer and is the better bet then. March to June is low season across most of the northeast.