Pantano del Ebro - Corconte has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance
When it fills in
early afternoon
The wind
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
thermal
fills in: early afternoon
Typical strength
A working thermal afternoon sits in the mid-teens: 65-80 kg riders rig 10-12 m, with 7 m kept for the strong days, which puts the usual band around 14-18 knots and the strong days above 22. A single afternoon can swing from 8 to 27 knots, gusting to 24 out in the middle of the reservoir. Forecast models under-read this thermal by roughly 4 knots. Indicative: no long-run measured average is published for the spot.
Thermal or synoptic
thermal winds commonly start early afternoon
The quiver, in words
8-12 m. The most used sizes are 10-12 m for 65-80 kg riders, with some 7 m days.
Direction to shore
southerly wind is the Corconte setup; likely onshore to the north-side Corconte access
Dominant direction
S at Corconte; N at Cabanas de Virtus
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan29
- Feb28
- Mar44
- Apr53
- May, riders' month45
- Jun, riders' month35
- Jul, riders' month79
- Aug, riders' month74
- Sep, riders' month42
- Oct, riders' month48
- Nov33
- Dec27
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
- 29%Jan
- 28%Feb
- 44%Mar
- 53%Apr
- 45%May
- 35%Jun
- 79%Jul
- 74%Aug
- 42%Sep
- 48%Oct
- 33%Nov
- 27%Dec
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+) · season highlighted
| Month | Windy days | Force 4+ | 12 kn or more | Knots | From | Peaks at | Air | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29% | 53% | 48% | 12.5 kt | SW | 16:00 | 4.1°C | 62 |
| Feb | 28% | 49% | 40% | 13 kt | NNE | 17:00 | 5°C | 57 |
| Mar | 44% | 81% | 66% | 15.6 kt | SW | 17:00 | 7.2°C | 62 |
| Apr | 53% | 85% | 78% | 15.2 kt | N | 17:00 | 8.5°C | 60 |
| May | 45% | 82% | 73% | 13.7 kt | N | 17:00 | 11.2°C | 62 |
| Jun | 35% | 87% | 62% | 13.6 kt | N | 17:00 | 14.8°C | 60 |
| Jul | 79% | 98% | 97% | 16 kt | N | 18:00 | 16.9°C | 62 |
| Aug | 74% | 95% | 90% | 15.9 kt | N | 17:00 | 17.4°C | 62 |
| Sep | 42% | 85% | 73% | 14.4 kt | NNE | 17:00 | 14.6°C | 60 |
| Oct | 48% | 79% | 73% | 15.8 kt | SW | 16:00 | 13.7°C | 62 |
| Nov | 33% | 57% | 52% | 12.9 kt | SW | 16:00 | 8.7°C | 60 |
| Dec | 27% | 42% | 39% | 10.4 kt | SW | 12:00 | 5.6°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
reservoir lake
Standing depth
constant shallow depth in the school area; standing depth reported across much of the kite zone
Tides
none
Temperature
20°C summer · 12°C winter
Wetsuit
long wetsuit recommended because the reservoir is at altitude and wind can be cold even in summer
Currents
no waves or currents reported in the school area
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: large grass, sand, and reservoir-shore setup areas; Corconte beach size depends on reservoir level
Somewhere else
No neighbour on record
No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.
Rescue
Launch
From the balneario at Corconte, take the track near the water factory and cross the fields to the reservoir shore. There is a cattle grid and gates on the way, and the ground is shared with horses and livestock. Rigging is on grass and sand at the water's edge; how much sand there is depends on the reservoir level.A power line runs to the east of the riding area.
Space
large grass, sand, and reservoir-shore setup areas; Corconte beach size depends on reservoir level
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Take Corconte for south wind and Cabanas de Virtus for north wind.
- Check the reservoir level before you drive up: around 95-100 percent the high-voltage cable becomes a real problem.
- Park on the track, never on the exposed reservoir bed.
- Pack a long wetsuit and dry warm layers for after the session; at 860 m the evening bites even in August.
- Keep out of the ZEPA/LIC reserve zones and close the livestock gates behind you.
- Add about four knots to whatever the model gives you; the thermal here reads stronger on the water than on the forecast.
- Water is around 20 C in July-September and about 12 C from November to February: 2/2 in high summer, 3/2 in May-June, 4/3 with hood and boots outside the season.
Getting there
Airport
Santander (SDR) or Bilbao (BIO)
Route
Most users arrive by car or campervan; the nearest train station is Reinosa, about 25 km away, and the Corconte track starts near the balneario and water factory.
Staying
Lodging and restaurants around Corconte, La Poblacion, Arija and the nearby villages: Restaurante Conchita, Albergue de Corconte, Balneario de Corconte and Camping de Arija.
No-wind days
Birdwatching at the Embalse del Ebro wetland, walking interpretive routes near Corconte, kayaking, windsurfing, local food, and mountain/rural tourism around Campoo.
FAQ
When is the best time to kite at Corconte?
Mid-May through late September is the main season, occasionally extending into October, with thermal wind that typically builds in early afternoon.
Is Corconte suitable for beginners?
Yes, schools use the shallow, flat reservoir for initiation and progression, while more experienced riders use the same flat water for freestyle.
What is the wind like at Corconte?
It is thermal, blowing from the south at the Corconte shore and from the north at the nearby Cabanas de Virtus side of the reservoir.
Are there rules or restricted zones at Corconte?
Parking on the reservoir bed is not allowed, and protected ZEPA bird and plant reserve areas must be avoided.
Are there kite schools at Corconte?
Yes, including Ebrokite, Explora Playa and Northwind.
Last updated: August 2026