Nearby Praia da Barra 2 km · Murtosa / Ria de Aveiro 17 km · Praia de Mira 19 km · Praia de São Pedro de Maceda 34 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
early afternoon build on typical spring-autumn northerly days
The wind
locals call it Nortada
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
thermal
fills in: early afternoon build on typical spring-autumn northerly days
Typical strength
Roughly 5-15 kt across the year, which puts the average day nearer the light end than the powered end; the March-October Nortada is what pushes the top of that band on spring and summer afternoons. Indicative, not measured at the lagoon launch.
The quiver, in words
Indicative rather than a school-published table: a 75-85 kg rider covers most of the year on 12-13 m, drops to 10-11 m on the stronger spring and autumn afternoons, and wants 14 m or more on the light days, which are a large share of the calendar. No local size table exists for the lagoon.
Direction to shore
On the lagoon, multiple directions can work because of the waterway orientation; on the west-facing ocean beach, north-to-northwest is generally side-shore to cross-shore.
Dominant direction
N in summer; S in winter
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan35
- Feb47
- Mar, riders' month69
- Apr, riders' month66
- May, riders' month73
- Jun, riders' month53
- Jul, riders' month68
- Aug, riders' month61
- Sep, riders' month48
- Oct, riders' month52
- Nov46
- Dec38
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
- 10Jan15°
- 11Feb15°
- 13Mar15°
- 13Apr16°
- 13May16°
- 12Jun19°
- 12Jul18°
- 12Aug18°
- 12Sep18°
- 12Oct19°
- 11Nov17°
- 10Dec16°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | 10.3 kt | N | 10.8°C | 14.8°C |
| Feb | 47% | 11 kt | N | 11.8°C | 14.5°C |
| Mar | 69% | 13 kt | NNW | 13°C | 14.9°C |
| Apr | 66% | 12.6 kt | NNW | 14.8°C | 16.4°C |
| May | 73% | 13.2 kt | NNW | 17.2°C | 16.1°C |
| Jun | 53% | 11.9 kt | NNW | 18.8°C | 18.6°C |
| Jul | 68% | 12.3 kt | NNW | 20.2°C | 18.2°C |
| Aug | 61% | 12.4 kt | NNW | 20°C | 17.8°C |
| Sep | 48% | 11.7 kt | NNW | 19.2°C | 17.7°C |
| Oct | 52% | 12 kt | S | 17.9°C | 19.3°C |
| Nov | 46% | 11.1 kt | SSE | 15.1°C | 17.4°C |
| Dec | 38% | 10.4 kt | SSE | 11.9°C | 15.8°C |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (2022-2024), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
ERA5 reanalysis grid point (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical weather API — ECMWF ERA5/ERA5-Land reanalysis, not a ground station · 2022-2024
The water
Type
lagoon/ocean
Standing depth
Almost all of the ria is waist deep depending on the tide, over a mostly sandy bottom, so a lost board on the lagoon side is usually walkable. Sandbanks dry and channels deepen as the tide moves and the standing area moves with them.The Atlantic beach on the far side of the sandbar is not shallow in the same way.
Tides
The lagoon keeps usable depth through the tidal cycle rather than emptying, and waist-deep is roughly what you get either way. Current picks up around the turn of the tide, more so on days with big Atlantic swell outside.The ocean beach next door takes the full Atlantic range and its conditions move between chop, flat and wave across tide levels, best at mid to high water.
Temperature
18-22°C summer · 14-15°C winter
Wetsuit
Shorty or summer suit on warm summer days either side; 3/2 to 4/3 for the shoulder months and winter. Summer lagoon water is reported around 22 C and winter around 15 C, with the ocean off Costa Nova and Praia da Barra colder than that.
Currents
Tidal flow runs the ria channels and strengthens around the turn of the tide, hardest after big swell offshore. Riders who stop paying attention get set upwind toward the harbour. No measured figure at the school launch.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
4 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: large
Somewhere else
Praia da Barra, 2 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Sandy ria-side launch at Costa Nova, on the Praia da Costa Nova margin of the lagoon, with the school sitting on it. Launching directly in front of the school is not allowed; the south side is where riders launch, and which entry you use depends on the wind direction and your level.Ocean beach launches sit on the far side of the sandbar and are a different, wave-exposed setup.
Space
large
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Settle before you drive whether the session is on the lagoon side or the ocean side; they share a name and nothing else.
- Check the tide state before you ride across channels or sandbanks.
- Come in May or September for Nortada odds without the summer beach crowd.
- Ride with a school or boat cover until you are independent in tidal lagoon water.
- Dress for the water, not the air: summer lagoon around 22 C, winter around 15 C, and the ocean side colder than both.
- Do not rig or launch in front of the school; walk south first.
- Rig big. On an average day the lagoon is light, and 12-14 m is the working size for a 75-85 kg rider.
Getting there
Airport
Porto Airport (OPO)
Route
Costa Nova is about 45 minutes from Porto, Coimbra, Viseu or Figueira da Foz, and 15 minutes off the A1/A25. Driving from Porto means the A1 to Aveiro then the A25 toward the beach. By train, go to Aveiro and take the bus onward.
Transfer
60 min
Cost level
medium
Staying
Guesthouses and rentals in Costa Nova, Barra or Gafanha da Nazaré. MyWay also runs a hotel near its Aveiro kite base.
No-wind days
surfing at Costa Nova or Praia da Barra · SUP/kayak in the Ria de Aveiro · Aveiro canals and old town · Costa Nova striped houses · cycling the coastal ecovia
Photos
FAQ
Is Costa Nova suitable for beginners?
Yes, the Ria de Aveiro lagoon side is flat and shallow and repeatedly described as suited to lessons, while intermediate and advanced riders use it for freeride, freestyle and downwinders.
When is the best time to kitesurf here?
The reliable Nortada season runs March through October, with June to August the most consistent months and May/September quieter.
What is the wind like?
Summer wind is a steady northerly Nortada that typically builds in early afternoon, while winter brings a gustier southerly wind.
Are there kite schools at Costa Nova?
Yes, several operate on the lagoon, including Riactiva, MyWay Kite & Surf, Clube Nortada and Ria de Aveiro Kite Club.
Are there rules or a bathing season to know about?
The 2026 bathing season and Blue Flag period run from 6 June to 13 September, so riders should follow lifeguard instructions and beach signage during that window.
Last updated: August 2026