Nearby Praia da Barra 15 km · Costa Nova 17 km · Praia de São Pedro de Maceda 20 km · Praia de Mira 35 km · straight-line distance
Nortada
13:00
The Nortada usually fills in from about 13:00 and keeps building through the afternoon into the evening. Mornings are the quiet half of the day through the thermal season.
The marks are the clock times the record names, laid on a 24-hour day. The bar between the first and the last covers those hours; it is not a promise of wind.
The wind
locals call it Nortada
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
thermal
fills in: The Nortada usually fills in from about 13:00 and keeps building through the afternoon into the evening. Mornings are the quiet half of the day through the thermal season.
Typical strength
10-25 kt
Also on record
19.6 kt, an area climate average rather than a spot measurement
The quiver, in words
7-13m depending on conditions
Direction to shore
side-shore to side-onshore in the dominant north-northwest setup
Dominant direction
N, NNW and NW in summer; S also reported in winter.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan40
- Feb44
- Mar68
- Apr, riders' month67
- May, riders' month73
- Jun, riders' month58
- Jul, riders' month73
- Aug, riders' month65
- Sep, riders' month49
- Oct, riders' month59
- Nov52
- Dec52
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
- 11Jan15°
- 11Feb14°
- 14Mar15°
- 13Apr16°
- 14May16°
- 12Jun19°
- 13Jul18°
- 13Aug18°
- 12Sep18°
- 13Oct19°
- 12Nov17°
- 11Dec15°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40% | 10.9 kt | NNE | 11.1°C | 14.5°C |
| Feb | 44% | 11.4 kt | N | 11.9°C | 14.4°C |
| Mar | 68% | 13.6 kt | NNW | 13°C | 14.8°C |
| Apr | 67% | 13.1 kt | NNW | 14.7°C | 16.3°C |
| May | 73% | 13.8 kt | NNW | 16.9°C | 16.4°C |
| Jun | 58% | 12.4 kt | NNW | 18.5°C | 18.9°C |
| Jul | 73% | 12.9 kt | NNW | 19.6°C | 18.3°C |
| Aug | 65% | 12.9 kt | NNW | 19.4°C | 17.9°C |
| Sep | 49% | 12.1 kt | NNW | 18.9°C | 17.9°C |
| Oct | 59% | 12.8 kt | S | 17.9°C | 19.2°C |
| Nov | 52% | 11.9 kt | N | 15.3°C | 17.2°C |
| Dec | 52% | 11 kt | SSE | 12.2°C | 15.3°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
flat
Standing depth
Shallow and standable, waist-deep in the riding area at both high and low tide, over a bottom stable enough for long uninterrupted crossings. On a falling tide it thins out faster than a foil wants.
Tides
The lagoon changes with the tide: chop at high water, flatter at low. Treat the channels with care or stay out of them.
Temperature
22°C summer · 19°C winter
Wetsuit
Shorts or shorty in summer, shorty in spring/autumn, normal full wetsuit in winter.
Currents
The tidal channels run stronger than the open lagoon. Avoid them, or cross with care.
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
7 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: Large private area: 15,000 m2 in all, about 2,000 m2 of it green space for launching and landing.
Somewhere else
Praia da Barra, 15 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Private lagoon-side launch at Clube Nortada in Bunheiro, Murtosa, with grass and sand right at the water.
Space
Large private area: 15,000 m2 in all, about 2,000 m2 of it green space for launching and landing.
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Watch the flag and the other riders; the gusty afternoons are underreported by the weather apps.
- Ask the school where the tide and the channels put the limit before you ride away from the launch.
- Use the lagoon for first lessons, freestyle and progression, and drive to the Atlantic side only if you want waves.
- Aim for the afternoon in the Nortada season.
- Carry a shorty or a full suit outside the warmest weeks, even though the lagoon is warmer than the open ocean.
- Check with Clube Nortada whether you can use the private launch.
Getting there
Airport
Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, Porto (OPO)
Route
Drive south from Porto towards Aveiro and Murtosa, then west to Bunheiro and the lagoon. Public transport reaches Murtosa but slowly; a car makes more sense with gear, and for getting to Barra, Costa Nova or Sao Jacinto.
Transfer
About 45-70 minutes by car from Porto Airport depending on route and traffic; public transport can take around 3 hours.
Cost level
medium
Staying
Clube Nortada advertises accommodation and camp options at the spot. There are guesthouses and hotels in Murtosa, Torreira, Aveiro, Barra and Costa Nova.
No-wind days
SUP and kayak tours, wakeboard, windsurf, cycling or walking around the Ria de Aveiro, the striped houses at Costa Nova, the moliceiro boats in Aveiro, and the Atlantic beaches at Barra, Costa Nova and Torreira.
Photos
FAQ
Is Murtosa suitable for beginners?
Yes, shallow flat-to-choppy water with a dedicated school and club launch makes it one of the more beginner-friendly lagoon spots in Portugal, while intermediate and advanced riders also use it for freestyle and freeride.
When is the best time to kite at Murtosa?
The main season runs from May to September, driven by the summer Nortada thermal wind from the north to northwest, with April and October as shoulder months.
What is the wind like?
Wind is thermal, mainly a north-to-northwest Nortada in summer with south wind reported in winter, averaging around 19.6 knots with 7-13m kites typical.
Are there rules to follow?
As of 2025, all kiters at this beach are required to use a leash, and riders should follow the private Clube Nortada launch access rules.
What are the hazards?
There are no lifeguards on the lagoon side, and riders should watch for quickly draining tidal channels and stronger current near channel edges.
Last updated: August 2026