Nearby La Boquilla 19 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
around 10am in high season; afternoons are also highlighted
The wind
locals call it Caribbean trade-wind season
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
trade
fills in: around 10am in high season; afternoons are also highlighted
Typical strength
15+
Also on record
18-25 in January-March.
The quiver, in words
Indicative for a 75-85 kg rider, read off the wind range rather than a local kite log: 9 m through the 18-25 kt core of January to March, 7 m when it is at the top of that, 12 m for December and April days sitting nearer 15 kt.
Direction to shore
sideshore to side-onshore
Dominant direction
NE to E, the Caribbean trade. Indicative: it follows the trade pattern and the side to side-onshore angle reported at this beach, not a local wind rose.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan, riders' month75
- Feb, riders' month89
- Mar, riders' month82
- Apr, riders' month49
- May14
- Jun9
- Jul24
- Aug16
- Sep9
- Oct6
- Nov15
- Dec, riders' month32
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec.
- 13Jan30°
- 15Feb29°
- 14Mar30°
- 11Apr30°
- 9May31°
- 8Jun31°
- 10Jul31°
- 9Aug31°
- 8Sep32°
- 8Oct31°
- 9Nov30°
- 10Dec30°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75% | 13.2 kt | NNE | 27.6°C | 29.8°C |
| Feb | 89% | 14.7 kt | NNE | 27.9°C | 29°C |
| Mar | 82% | 14 kt | N | 28°C | 29.6°C |
| Apr | 49% | 11 kt | N | 28°C | 30.1°C |
| May | 14% | 8.9 kt | N | 28.1°C | 31.1°C |
| Jun | 9% | 8.2 kt | SSW | 27.4°C | 31.1°C |
| Jul | 24% | 9.6 kt | NNE | 27.8°C | 31.3°C |
| Aug | 16% | 9 kt | SW | 27.5°C | 31.3°C |
| Sep | 9% | 8.2 kt | SW | 27.5°C | 31.5°C |
| Oct | 6% | 8.3 kt | SW | 27.1°C | 30.8°C |
| Nov | 15% | 8.9 kt | SW | 26.9°C | 30.1°C |
| Dec | 32% | 10.2 kt | NNE | 27.4°C | 30.2°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 (2020-2024), 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 · 2020-2024
The water
Type
open Caribbean sandy beach with choppy water and small waves
Standing depth
No standing-depth zone off the school's stretch: the water is deep from close in, which is why a first solo session belongs elsewhere. Reportedly the bottom is touchable at low water, unconfirmed, so plan for deep water and a working self-rescue.
Tides
Almost no tide to plan around. The range along this coast is roughly 0.4-0.5 m on springs, so the beach and the launch barely change through the day.Low water is reportedly the flatter part of the day, with more chop and a small shore break at high water; the figures come from the Cartagena gauge 25 km south, as there is no local one.
Temperature
30°C summer · 27°C winter
Wetsuit
boardshorts / no wetsuit normally
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
1 school names this spot
On your own
Room to launch: wide, uncrowded beach
Somewhere else
La Boquilla, 19 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Wide sandy beach at Manzanillo del Mar / Las Cometas, with lessons operating near Hotel Estelar.
Space
wide, uncrowded beach
Rules & access
- 2026: no municipal, port or maritime rule specific to kitesurfing at Manzanillo del Mar has turned up. The beach is open and unzoned, with no kite corridor and no bathing-season curfew published.
- 2026: independent kiters using the kite school's beach base pay 30,000 COP a day for the facilities, 35,000 COP a day for storage, and 20,000 COP each way on the shuttle.
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Stay in Cartagena and take the Pure Kitesurf shuttle from Crespo; it is about 15 minutes to the beach.
- Book lessons rather than a solo session if you are still learning: the water is deep from the shore and there is no rescue on record.
- Come January-March for the strongest days; December is a gamble on when the trade actually starts.
- Plan an afternoon downwinder back toward Cartagena and arrange the pickup before you launch.
- Boardshorts only, no wetsuit.
- Riding alone: settle the school's rescue price before you go out, 35 USD or 120,000 COP in 2026, because nobody else is watching this beach.
- Look south along the water line for fishing nets before you rig, and do not leave a kite or a bag unattended on the sand.
Getting there
Airport
Rafael Nunez International Airport, Cartagena
Route
Pure Kitesurf runs a shuttle from Crespo to Manzanillo del Mar; the spot is also reached by taxi or road transfer from Cartagena.
Transfer
25 minutes from Cartagena; 15 minutes from Crespo pickup to Manzanillo; another estimate gives about 20 minutes from Cartagena
Cost level
medium-high by Colombia standards because Cartagena is described as the country's most expensive destination
Staying
Airbnbs and hotels in Manzanillo del Mar, including beach-area options near the school, or hotels/hostels in Cartagena with shuttle access.
No-wind days
Pure Kitesurf lists Hobie Cat, wakeboard, SUP and kayak; Cartagena city, Getsemani, Baru and Islas del Rosario are nearby alternatives.
FAQ
When is the best time to kite at Manzanillo?
The high season runs December to April, with wind strongest in January-March and a secondary southwesterly window from late June to September.
Is Manzanillo suitable for beginners?
Lessons are offered here, but the open-sea beach is not shallow, so beginners should ride with instruction rather than independently.
What is the wind like at Manzanillo?
Trade wind typically runs 15 knots or more, reported at 18-25 knots in January-March, usually building from around 10am.
Are there kite schools nearby?
Yes, Pure Kitesurf Colombia operates lessons at Manzanillo del Mar.
Last updated: August 2026