Map › Spain › Praia do Vao & Praia de Cesantes › Praia do Vao
Galicia · Ria de Vigo · Vigo
Praia do Vao
also known as Playa del Vao, Vigo - Praia do Vao, O Vao, Playa de O Vao
Nearby Praia de Cesantes 19 km · Praia de Lourido 27 km · Praia da Lanzada 28 km · Moledo 38 km · Praia do Bao 39 km · Praia da Canteira 39 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
No onset time is published for this spot.
The wind
Direction
Character
synoptic
Strength
Direction to shore
NW and W are the working directions, with N and NE also given for this beach and neighbouring Samil. SW is offshore here: anything that goes wrong drifts you out across the ria toward Cangas, which is why nobody teaches on it.
Dominant direction
NW, W, N, NE
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan, riders' month38
- Feb, riders' month31
- Mar, riders' month55
- Apr39
- May49
- Jun32
- Jul33
- Aug35
- Sep38
- Oct47
- Nov, riders' month53
- Dec, riders' month41
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec.
- 11Jan14°
- 10Feb14°
- 13Mar14°
- 11Apr16°
- 11May16°
- 10Jun18°
- 10Jul18°
- 10Aug17°
- 10Sep17°
- 12Oct19°
- 12Nov17°
- 11Dec15°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38% | 10.7 kt | E | 10.9°C | 14°C |
| Feb | 31% | 10.1 kt | E | 11.4°C | 13.6°C |
| Mar | 55% | 12.5 kt | S | 12.4°C | 14.2°C |
| Apr | 39% | 10.6 kt | S | 14.2°C | 15.7°C |
| May | 49% | 10.7 kt | NNE | 16.7°C | 15.9°C |
| Jun | 32% | 9.6 kt | NNW | 18.8°C | 18.1°C |
| Jul | 33% | 9.9 kt | NNW | 21°C | 17.5°C |
| Aug | 35% | 9.8 kt | NNW | 21.2°C | 17°C |
| Sep | 38% | 10 kt | S | 19°C | 16.8°C |
| Oct | 47% | 12.2 kt | S | 17.7°C | 18.7°C |
| Nov | 53% | 11.9 kt | S | 14.8°C | 16.8°C |
| Dec | 41% | 10.8 kt | ESE | 11.6°C | 15°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
estuary beach
Tides
Low tide adds about a third to the beach surface, so the launch is far wider then and closes up again on the flood. How the tide stage changes depth or current for kiting is not documented.
Temperature
18°C summer · 13°C winter
Wetsuit
Cold Atlantic water: a full wetsuit is normally appropriate; summer water averages around 17-18 C and winter around 13 C.
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
5 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: wide beach but constrained by bathers in summer
Somewhere else
Praia de Cesantes, 19 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Fine grey-white sand in the Vao inlet, closed by the Toralla causeway breakwater to the southwest and a small rocky point shared with O Baluarte to the east.The beach runs 800 by 45 m with several level and adapted accesses along its length, wooden walkways laid over the sand in summer, showers, foot-washes, toilets, seasonal kiosks from 1 June to 30 September and several medium car parks. A dune cordon under regeneration sits behind the sand.
Space
wide beach but constrained by bathers in summer
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Do not assume summer access: check the signed channels and how full the sand is before you rig.
- Wear a full wetsuit; the water is around 17-18 C even at the end of summer.
- Aim at winter and shoulder-season frontal days rather than crowded beach afternoons.
- Take bus L10 or L11 from Vigo if you are not driving; the beach has its own parking.
- Talk to a Vigo school if you are learning or unsure how the ordinance is applied on the day.
- If the sand looks tight, wait for the ebb. Low water gives back about a third of the beach surface.
- Treat SW as a no-go direction here. It blows straight offshore and the ria takes you toward Cangas.
- Lifeguard cover only exists 15 June to 15 September, and in June and September only from the afternoon.
Getting there
Airport
Vigo Airport (VGO)
Route
O Vao sits on the Vigo coast off Rua Canido - Oia and the carretera do Vao, with several medium car parks. Urban bus lines L10 and L11 serve it at two stops, one on Rua Canido - Oia and one on the carretera do Vao, with extra services in summer.It is about 19 km by road from Vigo Airport and about 6 km from the city centre.
Transfer
15 min
Staying
Stay in Vigo for the widest range of hotels and apartments; beach-area options are also available around Samil/O Vao/Canido.
No-wind days
Vigo old town, Cies Islands trips, Samil beach, Toralla/Roman villa area, seafood restaurants, coastal walks and nearby surf at Patos.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time?
Mainly winter, from November to March; summer sessions happen only occasionally because bathers make teaching impractical.
What is the wind like?
Northwest, west, north and northeast wind directions all work at this west-facing beach.
Are there rules or restricted zones?
A 2020 Vigo ordinance requires kitesurfers to launch and navigate through signed zones or channels and bans riding within 200 m of shore outside them.
Are there kite schools nearby?
Yes, Kite Galicia, Feel Kitesurf and Senda Natura are based in the area.
Last updated: August 2026