Nearby Praia de Manguinhos 20 km · Praia Seca 28 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
No onset time is published for this spot.
The wind
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
Typical strength
Commonly 11-22 kt with gusts into the mid-20s. Mid-teens is the everyday number and the area logs over 160 days a year above 12 kt. No measurement exists for this beach on its own.
Thermal or synoptic
thermal northeast sea breeze plus synoptic cold fronts
The quiver, in words
For a 75-85 kg rider: a 12 m covers the common mid-teens days, 9-10 m once the NE fills past 20 kt, and a 14 m makes the 12 kt end rideable. Indicative — worked from the wind range rather than from a local rental log.
Direction to shore
NE/N is cross to cross-on for the SE-facing open beach; SW is terral, offshore, for the surf break.
Dominant direction
N/NE for the surf break; the wider Praia do Forte/Praia do Foguete stretch takes wind from all directions.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan, riders' month55
- Feb, riders' month42
- Mar, riders' month59
- Apr36
- May46
- Jun50
- Jul49
- Aug66
- Sep, riders' month82
- Oct, riders' month63
- Nov, riders' month64
- Dec, riders' month57
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
- 11Jan24°
- 11Feb25°
- 12Mar26°
- 10Apr25°
- 11May24°
- 11Jun23°
- 11Jul23°
- 13Aug22°
- 14Sep22°
- 12Oct23°
- 12Nov23°
- 12Dec24°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55% | 11.3 kt | NE | 25.9°C | 24.1°C |
| Feb | 42% | 10.6 kt | NE | 26.5°C | 25.3°C |
| Mar | 59% | 11.6 kt | NE | 26.5°C | 25.5°C |
| Apr | 36% | 10.2 kt | NE | 24.7°C | 25.1°C |
| May | 46% | 10.8 kt | NE | 23.3°C | 23.9°C |
| Jun | 50% | 10.9 kt | NE | 22.2°C | 23.2°C |
| Jul | 49% | 11 kt | NE | 21.8°C | 22.5°C |
| Aug | 66% | 12.5 kt | NE | 21.8°C | 22.3°C |
| Sep | 82% | 14 kt | NE | 22.9°C | 22.1°C |
| Oct | 63% | 12.4 kt | NE | 24°C | 22.8°C |
| Nov | 64% | 12.3 kt | NE | 24.6°C | 23.3°C |
| Dec | 57% | 12 kt | NE | 25.7°C | 23.6°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
sea
Standing depth
There is no dependable standing area on the open beach. The bottom is uneven, holes sit between the banks and rip currents run out through them, so waist deep and out of your depth can be one step apart. Swimming here is widely advised against.Lagoinha do Foguete beside it is the shallow patch, and its usable size has not been measured.
Tides
Low tide is the better tide for the surf break. Whether the kite session cares about tide is not confirmed.
Temperature
Summer Can drop to about 18 C or lower during Cabo Frio upwelling events driven by NE winds; otherwise not spot-quantified.
Wetsuit
Shorty or light full suit is often prudent because Cabo Frio is known for cold upwelling water; exact seasonal requirement is unconfirmed.
Currents
Strong waves and frequent currents on the open beach, with rips running out through the holes in the bottom. The Cabo Frio upwelling is documented for the region; beach-level current strength has not been measured.
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
2 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: Praia do Foguete is a long, comparatively quiet beach; Lagoinha do Foguete is described as a very small area.
Somewhere else
Praia de Manguinhos, 20 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Sandy beach launch on Praia do Foguete; Lagoinha do Foguete is a smaller learning area nearby.
Space
Praia do Foguete is a long, comparatively quiet beach; Lagoinha do Foguete is described as a very small area.
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Ask which spot the session is at: open Praia do Foguete or the tiny Lagoinha do Foguete learning patch. They are not the same session.
- SW is terral, straight offshore; treat it as a no-go without downwind support.
- Pack a shorty even in summer; NE wind means upwelling and the water can hit 18 C.
- Low tide is the better tide for the surf break; check it before a kitewave day.
- It is 4-5 km from central Cabo Frio, about 15 minutes by car or local bus; the quieter sections have no services, so bring water.
Getting there
Airport
Cabo Frio International Airport (CFB); Rio de Janeiro airports are the larger regional gateways.
Route
Praia do Foguete lies about 5 km from central Cabo Frio on the RJ-102 toward Arraial do Cabo, reached off Avenida Litorânea. There is parking near the sand and local buses run past.
Transfer
About 15 minutes from central Cabo Frio or the Cabo Frio bus station; about 10-15 minutes from CFB depending on exact launch and traffic.
Cost level
medium
Staying
Guesthouses, apartments and surf-camp style lodging around Praia do Foguete, plus broader hotel supply in Cabo Frio and Arraial do Cabo.
No-wind days
surf at Praia do Foguete/Praia do Forte when swell is suitable · Arraial do Cabo boat trips · Cabo Frio beaches and dunes · snorkeling/diving in Arraial do Cabo
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite at Praia do Foguete?
The season runs roughly September through March, combining a thermal northeast sea breeze with synoptic cold fronts.
Is Praia do Foguete suitable for beginners?
The open beach suits intermediate and advanced riders best, while the small, sheltered Lagoinha do Foguete nearby is used specifically for learning.
What is the water like?
The open Atlantic water is cold and clear, and can drop further during Cabo Frio upwelling events driven by northeast winds.
What are the hazards?
Shorebreak, cold upwelling water, currents, and an offshore southwest wind at times.
Are there kite schools nearby?
Yes, including Vibe Kite and Caio Kite School.
Last updated: August 2026