Margarita and Coche Island, Venezuela Kiteboarding

Dec 21, 2007

Author: Eduardo Urdaneta

Margarita is a peachy location for kiteboarding. With lots of kitesurfing spots, some of the most consistent wind stats in the world, fantastic conditions and good value for money, you can’t get much better.
    El Yaque is the main spot. The kitesurfing conditions are straightforward: there is usually no shorebreak, the beach is sandy, and the water is chest-deep for 400 metres from the beach. There is a distinct line as the bottom shelves away and the water becomes a deeper blue. The chop starts building up, and even farther out you can get reasonable-sized swell coming down the channel between Margarita and Coche.
    Coche Island is the PKRA rider’s favourite. If you like blasting on really flat water, Coche is a dream. The wind blows offshore across the salt flats and beach, creating a perfect speed track that runs along the beach edge. It’s like kiting on silk. There is a safety boat always on the lookout should you start to drift too far offshore or have any problems, so it’s super safe. Coche’s new attraction is the slider park. The world’s biggest fixed park has been the location for the first slider world championship and the filming of many videos. —Eduardo Urdaneta

Getting there: Regular charter flights (with First Choice, Martinair, Condor, and more) fly direct to Porlamar, Margarita, along with all major carriers. Or fly to Caracas on the mainland, where there are hourly linking flights to Porlamar. Regular ferries and boats run from El Yaque, Porlamar and Punta de Piedra to Coche Island.
Conditions: The wind blows 16-25 knots every day. Even during the least windy times, expect kiteable conditions for almost half of your holiday.
Best time of year: The winds generally blow all year, with the windiest time from January to March. The least windy months are August to October.
Local knowledge: Margarita follows the Latin American beats of merengue, salsa and reggae. Porlamar is a sophisticated international city with bars, restaurants and nightclubs to match, all at good value. During the week, different hotels and restaurants run specialty nights.
Internet resources: cochekitesports.com , worldkiteboarding.com , casaviento.com , margaritakitesurf.com , dare2fly.com , caribbeanwinds.com , myskyriders.com

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