Nearby Genipabu - Barra do Rio 30 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
Wind often works from the morning and strengthens in the afternoon; exact Maracajaú onset unconfirmed.
The wind
locals call it Alísios / trade winds
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
fills in: Wind often works from the morning and strengthens in the afternoon; exact Maracajaú onset unconfirmed.
Typical strength
15-20 kt; the broader RN season can reach 18-30 kt.
Thermal or synoptic
thermal and trade
The quiver, in words
At the 15-20 kt the season normally delivers, a 75-85 kg rider is on 9-12 m. Keep a 7-8 m for the afternoons that push toward the top of the 12-25 kt seasonal range, and a 12-14 m for the edges of the season. Indicative, derived from the published wind range: no local quiver has been documented.
Direction to shore
Side-onshore for SE; E is more onshore/side-on depending on exact beach angle.
Dominant direction
E, ESE, SE
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan48
- Feb59
- Mar37
- Apr31
- May58
- Jun76
- Jul, riders' month89
- Aug, riders' month95
- Sep, riders' month96
- Oct, riders' month91
- Nov, riders' month73
- Dec, riders' month76
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
- 11Jan29°
- 11Feb29°
- 10Mar30°
- 10Apr30°
- 11May29°
- 12Jun28°
- 14Jul27°
- 14Aug27°
- 15Sep27°
- 14Oct28°
- 13Nov28°
- 12Dec29°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48% | 10.8 kt | ESE | 27.4°C | 29.2°C |
| Feb | 59% | 11.3 kt | ESE | 27.6°C | 29.4°C |
| Mar | 37% | 10.1 kt | SE | 26.8°C | 29.9°C |
| Apr | 31% | 9.9 kt | SE | 26.7°C | 29.8°C |
| May | 58% | 11.2 kt | SE | 26.5°C | 29.2°C |
| Jun | 76% | 12.2 kt | SSE | 25.5°C | 27.9°C |
| Jul | 89% | 14.1 kt | SSE | 25°C | 27.1°C |
| Aug | 95% | 14.4 kt | SSE | 25.2°C | 26.9°C |
| Sep | 96% | 14.7 kt | SE | 25.6°C | 27°C |
| Oct | 91% | 13.8 kt | SE | 26.6°C | 27.6°C |
| Nov | 73% | 12.6 kt | ESE | 27.1°C | 28.2°C |
| Dec | 76% | 12.4 kt | ESE | 27.3°C | 28.6°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
ocean bay with reef/parrachos influence
Standing depth
A wide area of very shallow calm water in the bay; exact depths unknown.
Tides
Rideable through the tide on paper, but the range is considerable and it changes what is around you: the offshore parrachos pools only form near low water, which is exactly when the tour boats and snorkellers are out on the reef. Read the table before you plan the session.
Temperature
29°C summer · 26°C winter
Wetsuit
shorts or boardshorts; rash vest for sun protection
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
3 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: medium
Somewhere else
Genipabu - Barra do Rio, 30 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Medium sandy beach launch in Maracajaú, with food, parking, showers, toilets and kite-center/school support nearby.
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 the kite center where to ride relative to the parrachos boats and the bathers that day.
- Check the tide table; the tidal range is considerable, whatever you read about the spot being tide independent.
- Stay upwind of the central beach; the tour boats sit downwind of it.
- Keep away from the rocks at both ends of the beach.
- Get cash and fuel in Natal; the village has no ATM and no gas station.
Getting there
Airport
Natal International Airport (NAT)
Route
Maracajaú is in Maxaranguape, about 55 km from Natal by the local count and about 58 km by road, roughly 50 minutes from Natal airport. A taxi is the standard door-to-door option and costs less booked a day ahead; there are also daily buses from the Natal bus station, rental cars at the airport, and buggy transfers along the beach. The village has no ATM and no fuel station.
Transfer
50 min
Cost level
mid-range
Staying
Lodging in and around Maracajaú; the village has kite centers, restaurants and places to stay, but no ATM and no gas station.
No-wind days
Parrachos reef/snorkel tours, beach restaurants, buggy trips, nearby Punaú, Rio do Fogo, Maxaranguape and Natal excursions.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kitesurf at Maracajaú?
The season runs July through November or December, sometimes extended to January, with the best months averaging 15-20 knots.
Is Maracajaú suitable for beginners?
Yes, local schools market beginner through advanced lessons, and the bay has broad, very shallow, calm water suited to lessons.
What is the wind like?
Trade and thermal wind blows E to ESE to SE, often strengthening from morning into the afternoon.
What hazards should I know about?
Rocks sit near the ends of the beach, a reef and parrachos tourism area lies nearby, and tidal variation can be considerable.
Are there kite schools nearby?
Yes, including Maracajaú Kite Center and Parrachos Kite Clube.
Last updated: August 2026