Atins, Brazil

For Kiteboarders the season is from July to December maybe extending to mid-January. The strongest winds can be expected from October to mid-December though. By July summer kicks in and the cross on-shore winds start flaring up at a constant 15 to 30 knots.

The region sees in general only two seasons, summer and winter. Winter is the rainy season when the temperature typically ranges between 24°C and 32°C as days of heavy rain mingle with sunny days. Rainy season usually starts by mid/end January, builds up until March, with heaviest rainfalls in April and May lasting until June. During this time the lagoons and ponds between the dunes of the National Park fill up. So do the lower areas of Atins and some of the tracks to the village leading through the Lençóis. By April/May the lagoons of the Lençóis Maranhenses are fully filled. Visitors can expect sunshine throughout and temperatures around 30-35°C. The best time to enjoy the park would thus be from June to the end of September, maybe mid-October, by which time many of the lagoons will have evaporated.

Atins was named as one of the Top 4 Kiteboarding flatwater spots in the world in Kitesurfing Magazine. Between July and December boarders will find ideal conditions in Atins. During this time the vast and sparsely populated beaches are met by constant cross on-shore winds of 15 to 30 knots. Beginners can practice in the huge lagoon in calm and flat waters sheltered by two natural sandbanks whilst the more experienced can venture out to the open sea, where you might find 1.5 – 2.5m waves at the right tide. Other options for boarders include the calm waters of the Preguiças River or the inland lagoons in the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, the size of which depend on the rains and time of the year (the rainy season generally runs from July to October). Atins has a small Kiteboarding community of riders and experienced instructors, equipment rentals and guided adventures.