Nearby Almofala 4 km · Moitas 12 km · Ilha do Guajiru 15 km · Icaraí de Amontada 18 km · Praia de Caetanos 30 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
during the day
The wind
locals call it Alísios / Nordeste
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
fills in: during the day
Typical strength
25-30 knots reported for Torrões/Almofala downwind conditions by Itarema360; nearby Almofala/Torrões source gives best NE trade/thermal winds July-December.
The quiver, in words
Indicative for a 75-85 kg rider, derived from the 25-30 kt quoted for the Torrões-Almofala downwind rather than from anything measured here: 7 m is the working size through the season, 8-9 m first thing in the morning or on a soft day.
Direction to shore
Side-onshore. The coast faces north and the northeast trade runs along it from your right as you look out to sea; inside the estuary the same wind crosses the flat water. Read off the coastline orientation, not off a local chart.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan76
- Feb53
- Mar31
- Apr17
- May69
- Jun95
- Jul, riders' month98
- Aug, riders' month100
- Sep, riders' month100
- Oct, riders' month100
- Nov, riders' month100
- Dec, riders' month95
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
- 76%Jan29°
- 53%Feb29°
- 31%Mar30°
- 17%Apr30°
- 69%May30°
- 95%Jun29°
- 98%Jul28°
- 100%Aug28°
- 100%Sep28°
- 100%Oct28°
- 100%Nov28°
- 95%Dec29°
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 | 76% | 89% | 82% | 14.1 kt | E | 13:00 | 27.3°C | 29.3°C | 62 |
| Feb | 53% | 74% | 72% | 13.3 kt | E | 13:00 | 26.9°C | 29.3°C | 57 |
| Mar | 31% | 52% | 45% | 11.1 kt | E | 14:00 | 26.2°C | 29.8°C | 62 |
| Apr | 17% | 45% | 27% | 10.6 kt | E | 14:00 | 26.3°C | 30°C | 60 |
| May | 69% | 97% | 89% | 13.9 kt | E | 15:00 | 26.9°C | 29.6°C | 62 |
| Jun | 95% | 100% | 97% | 15.8 kt | E | 15:00 | 26.7°C | 28.7°C | 60 |
| Jul | 98% | 100% | 100% | 18 kt | E | 14:00 | 26.9°C | 27.9°C | 62 |
| Aug | 100% | 100% | 100% | 19.3 kt | E | 13:00 | 27.1°C | 27.6°C | 62 |
| Sep | 100% | 100% | 100% | 21 kt | E | 13:00 | 27.2°C | 27.6°C | 60 |
| Oct | 100% | 100% | 100% | 19.5 kt | E | 12:00 | 27.5°C | 28°C | 62 |
| Nov | 100% | 100% | 100% | 18 kt | E | 12:00 | 27.7°C | 28.4°C | 60 |
| Dec | 95% | 98% | 97% | 16.7 kt | E | 13:00 | 27.8°C | 28.8°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
estuary and ocean
Standing depth
Shallow and flat behind the sandbars at the river mouth, standing depth in places on the top half of the tide. The channel between the mainland and Ilha Grande is not one of those places.
Tides
The tide runs the day. At high water the channel holds at least 400 m; at low water it narrows to about 30 m and the current through it is fierce. Semidiurnal, and at the nearest reference port on this coast the spring range reaches about 2.4-2.9 m, so the change inside one session is large.
Temperature
29°C summer · 29°C winter
Wetsuit
No wetsuit normally needed; water around 29 C, shorts-only conditions.
Currents
Strong tidal current at low water in the channel between the mainland and Ilha Grande.
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: large
Somewhere else
Almofala, 4 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Long sandy beach with a big launching and landing area, plus the estuary flats behind the sandbars. Parking is available. Which part of it riders actually rig on has never been written down.
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
- Ride the top half of the tide; at low water the channel is about 30 m wide and the current through it is fierce.
- Do the Torrões to Almofala to Ilha do Guajiru downwinder with a guide and a car waiting at the far end.
- Sleep in Almofala or on Praia da Barra; Torrões has a few pousadas and barracas and nothing else.
- Ask the schools on Praia da Barra where people rig at Torrões; no launch zone has been written down.
Getting there
Airport
Fortaleza International Airport (FOR)
Route
Drive west from Fortaleza on the regional highways to Itarema, then on to Almofala and Torrões. Praia de Torrões is 17 km from the centre of Itarema and 4 km east of Almofala.
Transfer
200 min
Staying
A few pousadas and barracas at Torrões; Praia da Barra, Ilha do Guajiru and Itarema have the kite lodging and services.
No-wind days
visit Almofala · Rio Aracati-Mirim scenery · mangroves and quiet beach touring · Ilha do Guajiru restaurants and lagoon area
FAQ
When is the best time to kite at Torrões?
July to December, with NE trade winds reported around 25 to 30 knots for the Torrões-Almofala downwind run.
Is Torrões suitable for beginners?
No, the low-tide channel current makes it a poor default beginner spot unless a school or local guide confirms safe timing.
How does tide affect the spot?
The channel between the mainland and Ilha Grande can narrow to about 30 meters at low tide with a fierce current, while high tide brings much more water.
What are the hazards?
A strong tidal current, a narrow low-tide channel, sandbars and limited infrastructure.
Last updated: August 2026