Map › Portugal › São Miguel - Azores › Lagoa Azul / Sete Cidades
Madeira e Açores · São Miguel, Ponta Delgada · Sete Cidades
Lagoa Azul / Sete Cidades
also known as Sao Miguel / Sete Cidades, Lagoa das Sete Cidades, São Miguel / Sete Cidades, Sete Cidades Lake
Nearby Praia das Milícias (São Roque) 19 km · Ribeira Grande 23 km · Praia de Água d'Alto 32 km · Lagoa das Furnas 41 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
No onset time is published for this spot.
The wind
Direction
Character
mixed
Typical strength
9-17 kt monthly averages, modeled rather than measured; December, January and February are the strongest at around 16-17 kt.
Thermal or synoptic
frontal/trade
Direction to shore
onshore at the west-shore launch in east wind
Dominant direction
ENE/E for the kite launch; broader modeled wind statistics show variable monthly directions
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan, riders' month48
- Feb, riders' month47
- Mar, riders' month74
- Apr, riders' month57
- May31
- Jun20
- Jul16
- Aug8
- Sep28
- Oct, riders' month60
- Nov, riders' month63
- Dec, riders' month31
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec.
- 48%Jan18°
- 47%Feb17°
- 74%Mar17°
- 57%Apr17°
- 31%May19°
- 20%Jun21°
- 16%Jul23°
- 8%Aug25°
- 28%Sep24°
- 60%Oct22°
- 63%Nov20°
- 31%Dec19°
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+) · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Windy days | Force 4+ | 12 kn or more | Knots | From | Peaks at | Air | Water | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48% | 76% | 58% | 13.7 kt | ENE | 13:00 | 13.7°C | 17.5°C | 62 |
| Feb | 47% | 61% | 49% | 12.9 kt | SSW | 14:00 | 13.5°C | 16.9°C | 57 |
| Mar | 74% | 87% | 77% | 16.7 kt | SW | 14:00 | 13.8°C | 16.5°C | 62 |
| Apr | 57% | 68% | 65% | 14 kt | SW | 15:00 | 14.5°C | 17.3°C | 60 |
| May | 31% | 47% | 35% | 11.5 kt | SW | 14:00 | 15.8°C | 18.7°C | 62 |
| Jun | 20% | 43% | 30% | 10.1 kt | ENE | 14:00 | 17.6°C | 20.7°C | 60 |
| Jul | 16% | 29% | 19% | 9.3 kt | W | 14:00 | 19.9°C | 22.6°C | 62 |
| Aug | 8% | 16% | 10% | 8.6 kt | NNE | 14:00 | 21.5°C | 24.8°C | 62 |
| Sep | 28% | 48% | 37% | 10.9 kt | NE | 13:00 | 20.6°C | 24°C | 60 |
| Oct | 60% | 81% | 71% | 14.4 kt | SW | 13:00 | 18.4°C | 22.3°C | 62 |
| Nov | 63% | 75% | 70% | 14.5 kt | SW | 13:00 | 16.8°C | 20°C | 60 |
| Dec | 31% | 42% | 37% | 10.8 kt | SSW | 14:00 | 14.4°C | 18.5°C | 62 |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from the operational forecast archive at 1.5–7 km (2023-2024), daylight hours only, not a ground station: it resolves thermal, lake and valley winds far better than coarse reanalysis but still tends to understate a strong local thermal. A windy day has at least three consecutive daylight hours at 12 knots or more. 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.
High-resolution weather model (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical forecast archive — best-match operational model (ICON-D2 / AROME / ICON-EU / GFS by region), not a ground station · 2023-2024
The water
Type
lake
Tides
Tide independent freshwater lake.
Wetsuit
A wetsuit is always needed because of cold water, with shorty in summer and normal/thick suits outside summer.
Currents
No current hazards on record; wind shadow and lake or weather changes are the relevant concerns.
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: medium
Somewhere else
Praia das Milícias (São Roque), 19 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
The grassy west shore is the rigging ground in east wind, with enough room to launch safely. The car park and village side serve the kayak and SUP traffic. No kite-specific corridor has been found.
Space
medium
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Ask locally before you rig, above all near the SUP and kayak rental area.
- Use the west-shore launch only when east-sector wind is really filling the lake.
- Give the trees a wide margin; the grassy launch is enclosed.
- Pack a wetsuit even in summer, because the lake water is cold.
- Have a non-kite day ready: Sete Cidades is good for kayak, SUP, bike and the crater viewpoints.
Getting there
Airport
João Paulo II Airport (PDL), Ponta Delgada
Route
Drive or take a taxi from Ponta Delgada/PDL toward Sete Cidades; a car is most practical for carrying kite gear and checking other São Miguel spots.
Transfer
25 min
Cost level
medium
Staying
Guesthouses and rural stays around Sete Cidades, with broader hotel and apartment choice in Ponta Delgada.
No-wind days
kayaking on Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde · stand up paddle · bike rental around Sete Cidades · Miradouro da Vista do Rei and crater viewpoints · Ferraria hot spring area · Ribeira Grande surf beaches
Photos
FAQ
Is Lagoa Azul suitable for beginners?
It is marked for all levels, but no local kite school, rescue service or current kiting rule was verified, so this should be treated cautiously.
When is the best time to kitesurf here?
January-April and October-December are listed as best, with modeled wind averaging 9-17 knots and strongest around December-February.
What is the wind like?
Only a few directions work inside the volcanic crater, and east wind, onshore at the west-shore launch, is the usable one.
What hazards should riders know about?
Trees around the grassy launch, high crater walls that limit workable wind directions, and the lack of verified kite rescue are the main concerns.
Last updated: August 2026