Ponta das Canas has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance
When it fills in
Afternoon. The point is close to a sure thing from early afternoon onward in season, and the morning is the gamble. No published time for when it dies.
The wind
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
fills in: Afternoon. The point is close to a sure thing from early afternoon onward in season, and the morning is the gamble. No published time for when it dies.
Typical strength
8-25 kt in the Ilhabela high season; 10-30 kt days at Ponta das Canas.
Thermal or synoptic
channel acceleration, sea breeze and frontal winds
Also on record
8-25 kt in the Jun-Oct Ilhabela high season; no spot-specific average exists.
The quiver, in words
8-14 m is suggested for Ilhabela high season, depending on rider weight and wind speed.
Direction to shore
Side-offshore for E/NE at Ponta das Canas; channel-inside/offshore risk depends on exact launch and route.
Dominant direction
E and NE are the working directions at the point, with SE also named, and the E/NE arrives side-offshore. The sandy Ilhabela beaches — Perequê, Siriúba, Pinto — run instead on S and SW, side-onshore; NW is also credited to the north tip.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan3
- Feb0
- Mar2
- Apr0
- May3
- Jun, riders' month2
- Jul, riders' month10
- Aug, riders' month10
- Sep, riders' month18
- Oct, riders' month13
- Nov2
- Dec3
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.
- 3%Jan28°
- 0%Feb29°
- 2%Mar29°
- 0%Apr27°
- 3%May26°
- 2%Jun24°
- 10%Jul22°
- 10%Aug22°
- 18%Sep24°
- 13%Oct25°
- 2%Nov26°
- 3%Dec28°
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 | 3% | 13% | 8% | 8.3 kt | ENE | 14:00 | 24.9°C | 28°C | 62 |
| Feb | 0% | 9% | 4% | 7.8 kt | E | 13:00 | 25.3°C | 28.9°C | 57 |
| Mar | 2% | 8% | 6% | 7.9 kt | ENE | 14:00 | 25.1°C | 28.7°C | 62 |
| Apr | 0% | 5% | 2% | 7.6 kt | E | 14:00 | 22.8°C | 26.8°C | 60 |
| May | 3% | 10% | 5% | 7.8 kt | ENE | 14:00 | 21.2°C | 25.5°C | 62 |
| Jun | 2% | 3% | 2% | 6.9 kt | ENE | 14:00 | 20°C | 23.7°C | 60 |
| Jul | 10% | 15% | 11% | 7.8 kt | ENE | 14:00 | 19.5°C | 22.2°C | 62 |
| Aug | 10% | 15% | 11% | 8.6 kt | E | 14:00 | 19.5°C | 22.2°C | 62 |
| Sep | 18% | 25% | 23% | 9.9 kt | E | 13:00 | 21°C | 23.9°C | 60 |
| Oct | 13% | 26% | 24% | 9.8 kt | E | 14:00 | 22°C | 24.6°C | 62 |
| Nov | 2% | 18% | 10% | 8.5 kt | E | 13:00 | 22.6°C | 26.4°C | 60 |
| Dec | 3% | 18% | 11% | 9 kt | E | 13:00 | 24°C | 27.8°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
sea
Standing depth
No standing-depth training area confirmed; sailing is channel/open-water from a steep, rocky north-coast area with a public nautical ramp.
Tides
Regular sea-tide variation affects depth and launch margin in the Sao Sebastiao channel.
Temperature
26°C summer · 20°C winter
Wetsuit
Rash vest or boardshorts are usually enough in summer; a shorty or light wetsuit can be useful in winter or longer sessions.
Currents
No measured current data found; the spot is in the Sao Sebastiao nautical channel, so open-water drift and boat traffic are relevant.
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: small
Somewhere else
No neighbour on record
No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.
Rescue
Launch
Public nautical ramp/launch area at the north of Ilhabela near Farol da Ponta das Canas; the steep rocky coast means riders use a public ramp for rigging, takeoff and landing.
Space
small
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Hire a boat for the day when the E/NE is side-off; it pushes you into the channel and there is no public rescue.
- Read a wind station on the channel itself, not the mainland forecast.
- Bring 8-14 m; the island season is 8-25 kt and the point sees 10-30.
- Do not go out in front of rain or a storm front; that is the dangerous wind here.
- Stay on the north side around Armacao, and if you arrive by bus cross the ferry as a pedestrian for free.
- Expect boats everywhere on holidays, weekends and in summer; the channel is a working sailing lane.
- Plan the session for the afternoon. That is when the point delivers, and the morning often gives nothing.
- Carry cash for the deck. Access is reported as free, but a R$40 daily pier fee is also reported and nobody has confirmed which is current.
Getting there
Airport
Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) is the main international airport; Sao Jose dos Campos is closer but smaller.
Route
Drive or bus to São Sebastião, then cross to Ilhabela by ferry. Buses arrive beside the ramp on the mainland side and pedestrians cross free. From the island ferry terminal the point is about 16 km north up the coast road, 25-30 minutes clear of traffic.Local buses, taxis and apps run on the island. Ferry queues in January, July and December can add hours.
Transfer
240 min
Cost level
medium
Staying
Ilhabela has a broad range of pousadas, hotels and vacation rentals; staying in the north/Armacao side reduces road time to Ponta das Canas.
No-wind days
Sailing, SUP, kayaking, beaches, boat trips, Ilha das Cabras snorkeling, waterfalls, forest trails and Ilhabela's historic center.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kitesurf at Ponta das Canas?
Ilhabela's higher-wind season runs from June to October.
Is Ponta das Canas suitable for beginners?
No. The launch is a public nautical ramp on a steep, rocky coastline, and local guides recommend boat support rather than treating it as a first-time spot.
What is the wind like?
E and NE are the best-reported directions, described as more constant and less gusty than other angles, with wind commonly 8-25 knots in season.
Are there kite schools or rental?
Yes, including Kitesurf Ilhabela - Escola and BL3 Kite Center, which also offers sailing.
What hazards should riders know about?
The spot sits in the Sao Sebastiao boat channel, so anchored and moving vessels, side-offshore wind on E/NE, and a small launch area are all relevant.
Last updated: August 2026