Map › Portugal › Algarve - Lagos/Alvor › Praia do Martinhal
Algarve · Sagres · Faro
Praia do Martinhal
also known as Martinhal / Sagres, Martinhal, Martinhal Beach
Nearby Praia do Tonel 2 km · Praia do Amado 16 km · Praia da Bordeira 20 km · Praia de Porto de Mós 23 km · Meia Praia 26 km · Ria de Alvor (Alvor Lagoon) 30 km · Praia de Monte Clérigo 37 km · Praia da Rocha 37 km · Praia Grande de Pêra 53 km · Praia dos Salgados 54 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
afternoon
The wind
locals call it Nortada
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
thermal
fills in: afternoon
Typical strength
18-25 on good summer thermal days
The quiver, in words
For a 75-85 kg rider the summer afternoon at 18-25 knots is a 9m, with a 7m for the top of that range and an 11-12m for light mornings and the June and September edges of the season. Wingfoilers ride 4-5m wings on the same Nortada.The kite figures are indicative, derived from the local wind range; no local quiver numbers were found.
Direction to shore
N is offshore to side-offshore at Martinhal.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan39
- Feb46
- Mar35
- Apr47
- May55
- Jun, riders' month50
- Jul, riders' month77
- Aug, riders' month74
- Sep, riders' month35
- Oct37
- Nov25
- Dec31
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
- 39%Jan16°
- 46%Feb16°
- 35%Mar16°
- 47%Apr16°
- 55%May17°
- 50%Jun19°
- 77%Jul18°
- 74%Aug17°
- 35%Sep18°
- 37%Oct20°
- 25%Nov18°
- 31%Dec17°
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 | 39% | 60% | 50% | 12.1 kt | N | 15:00 | 13.9°C | 16.3°C | 62 |
| Feb | 46% | 58% | 53% | 13.5 kt | ESE | 14:00 | 14.3°C | 16.1°C | 57 |
| Mar | 35% | 53% | 47% | 12.1 kt | WNW | 15:00 | 14.7°C | 15.7°C | 62 |
| Apr | 47% | 70% | 60% | 12.8 kt | NNW | 17:00 | 16.2°C | 16.4°C | 60 |
| May | 55% | 66% | 58% | 13.2 kt | NNW | 17:00 | 18.1°C | 16.8°C | 62 |
| Jun | 50% | 68% | 62% | 13.3 kt | NNW | 18:00 | 19.9°C | 18.8°C | 60 |
| Jul | 77% | 87% | 82% | 15.1 kt | NNW | 17:00 | 20.6°C | 17.7°C | 62 |
| Aug | 74% | 85% | 79% | 15.4 kt | NNW | 17:00 | 20.6°C | 16.7°C | 62 |
| Sep | 35% | 52% | 47% | 11.1 kt | NNW | 17:00 | 20.2°C | 18.2°C | 60 |
| Oct | 37% | 48% | 44% | 12.1 kt | NW | 14:00 | 19.8°C | 19.7°C | 62 |
| Nov | 25% | 43% | 37% | 11.1 kt | NNW | 14:00 | 17.2°C | 18.2°C | 60 |
| Dec | 31% | 45% | 39% | 11 kt | E | 12:00 | 14.9°C | 17.4°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
ocean
Standing depth
Calm and shallow close in — this is the family swimming bay of Sagres and you can wade well out from the sand. How far the wadeable band runs before the bottom drops away is unconfirmed, and the offshore Nortada takes you past it quickly.
Tides
Atlantic tidal bay; tide information is published for Sagres Praia do Martinhal.
Temperature
19-23°C summer · 15-17°C winter
Wetsuit
3/2 or shorty in summer depending on wind chill; 4/3 and possibly boots in winter.
Currents
Winter south winds bring shorebreak and current. In the summer flat-water Nortada setup, no current problem is flagged.
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: large
Somewhere else
Praia do Tonel, 2 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 in a sheltered Sagres bay, 800 m long and fine-grained, with a lifeguard post, toilets, showers, parking and restaurants through the bathing season. Blue Flag 2026, and the beach sits inside the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina. It is not certified as an accessible beach for reduced mobility.
Space
large
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Stay close in and upwind of the swimming zone; the N wind pushes you away from the beach.
- Wait for the afternoon thermal, which is what produces the 18-25 knot days.
- Have a self-rescue plan and someone watching from the sand before you launch; no kite rescue is confirmed at Martinhal.
- Through the 1 June to 30 September bathing season, rig at the edges of the bay away from the flags and the sunbathers.
- Sleep in Sagres for a walk-to-the-water trip, or in Lagos if you want schools, transport links and a night out.
Getting there
Airport
Faro Airport (FAO)
Route
Faro Airport to Sagres is 116-120 km, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by car. Public transport changes in Lagos and takes much longer.
Transfer
90 min
Cost level
medium-high
Staying
Stay at Martinhal/Sagres for immediate beach access or in Lagos for more nightlife, schools and transport options.
No-wind days
surfing · SUP · kayaking · Sagres Fortress · Cape St Vincent · Lagos old town
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite at Martinhal?
The main season is June to September, when the summer thermal Nortada is active; winter south winds can bring shorebreak and currents.
Is it suitable for beginners?
No, it is rated intermediate to advanced because the normal summer wind is offshore or side-offshore and rescue was not verified.
What is the wind like?
Expect an 18-25 knot northerly Nortada in the afternoon that is offshore to side-offshore, flattening the water but raising safety risk.
Are there rules or restricted zones?
The 2026 bathing season runs 1 June to 30 September, and riders should respect flags, posted signage and lifeguard instructions.
Last updated: August 2026