Kitesurfing in Aruba

Aside from kitesurfing, there are also many different activities and water sports that will keep you entertained, and the island has many accommodations to fit everyone’s needs.

You can find yourself in an all-exclusive hotel overlooking the ocean close to a kite beach.

You could also settle down in a comfortably priced inn or apartment in a more relaxed and quiet part of the island away from most of the tourists. Either way, Aruba has something for everyone.

Let’s start with one of the main concerns for kiters – when is the kiteboarding season in Aruba?

Kitesurfing Season in Aruba

Aruba – with its consistent trade winds, has wind almost year-round with the main season lasting from December – August.

Even then, the three months of September – November during hurricane season still have great winds just only have some days off where the wind dies down. The unique geographical location of Aruba makes it so that it almost never gets hit by tropical storms.

In October, the winds are at the most in-consistent level of the year, but you could still have 20+ days kiting on the water.

The ideal wind range varies from 17 knots to 30+ knots but has many days that fall in a comfortable 22 – 27 knot range.

As an 85kg rider, I found myself almost always using a 9m kite, with only a handful of days each month I would use a 12m or 7m kite.

Now that you know Aruba has incredible wind almost year-round, here are some of the kitesurfing locations on the island of Aruba.

Kitesurfing Spots in Aruba

Boca Grandi – San Nicolas, Aruba

Wind: Onshore wind that is constant with stronger thermal winds in the afternoon.

Swell: Constant with an East to North direction.

This beach is known as one of the best spots to kitesurf on the island with the steady onshore winds and a large 500+ meter bay. While it is not as popular as the offshore Fisherman Huts near the high-rise hotels – it might be the best spot on the island with the consistent onshore wind.

Inside the bay, you can find plenty of little waves to use for jumps and outside the reef, you can find large swell to keep you on your toes.

This kitesurfing beach is in the south of Aruba – near the town of San Nicolas. It has a more local vibe and is quite far from any large tourist developments. This gives a unique charm for those looking to stay in a more cultural part of the island as opposed to crowded tourist developments.

Here at the Kite Inn, we offer comfortable accommodations about a 5-minute drive from the kite beach and provide everything one would need for a kitesurfing vacation including air conditioning, full kitchen, gear washing station, and outdoor terrace.

If you wake up for a morning session at 5:30am – 6:00 am, you will find yourself with the kite beach all to yourself for a few hours until others show up around 8:00am – 9:00am. There are multiple self-launch stations that make it comfortable to self-launch and land (for the experienced kiter).

As the day continues and the sun rises, more and more kiters come out on the water at Boca Grandi. During the sunset hours, you can find up to 10-20 kiters in the bay which makes for a good time with the local and tourist community – kicking back and enjoying a few beers after a good session on the water.

While this spot is on the more secluded part of the island, the other main kite beach is located minutes from the high-rise hotels and the more developed and tourist town of Noord.

Fisherman Huts – Noord, Aruba

Wind: Off-shore, gusty wind.

Swell: Rarely consistent with a Northeast to West direction.

The fisherman huts kite beach has that perfect picturesque Aruban beach with the iconic white sandy beaches and flat, clear blue water. The offshore winds allow for completely flat water – at the cost of gusty wind conditions. The wind is made a bit more challenging due to the large high-rise hotels located within proximity of the beach.

Never less, it is a unique and beautiful location where professional kitesurfers can show off their skills and beginners can learn in a relaxing atmosphere.

If you decide to go to Aruba with the whole family and stay in Noord, then the Fishman Huts is the perfect place to learn or progress your kiting skills while staying close to most of the accommodations.

Even if you are not a kiteboarder, watching some of the locals with their crazy tricks is always an incredibly entertaining time – especially when sitting back with a cocktail or beer in hand on the beach.

While Fisherman Huts and Boca Grandi are the main kiteboarding beaches on the island, there are a handful of other spots that you can go if you are experienced and open for an adventure.

Arashi Beach – Noord, Aruba

Wind: Off-shore, gusty wind.

Arashi Beach is another beautiful beach that is frequented by locals and tourists alike and can be an extremely busy beach on the weekends. Similar to the Fisherman Huts kite beach, it features off-shore wind and flat waters near the beach with more waves the further you go out.

This is a popular beach and has many people there swimming and relaxing, so it is not the most ideal beach to try and launch or land a kite. With the right conditions, you could kite from the Fishman Huts location all the way north to the Arashi Beach location – if you are extremely comfortable in off-shore wind conditions.

One thing is for certain… you will have quite the crowd if you are kiting at Arashi Beach so bring out your best tricks and turns!

Other Kitesurfing Locations in Aruba

While these are the main kite beaches on the island of Aruba, there are other more remote and secret locations that can be found for the adventurous “thrill-seekers”.

If you are an advanced/expert kiteboarder and are interested in exploring some of the remote and potentially dangerous spots on the island, then we recommend speaking with Armando’s Kite Shack as he has mapped out every potential location.

As with most kiting locations, we recommend always going out with a buddy and not going out on the water alone. Most of the locations in Aruba do not have rescue boats and going out by yourself can always be potentially dangerous should a problem arise.

Where to Stay for a Kitesurfing Vacation in Aruba

Here at the Kite Inn, we are one of the closest accommodations to the Boca Grandi kite beach in the south of Aruba near the town of San Nicolas. You can expect a quieter and more relaxing vibe as we are far from the main tourist destinations on the island. If you would like to learn more, check out the link below for rates and pictures of the location.

Now, if you are looking to visit Aruba with the whole family or looking for lessons as a complete beginner, then you may consider staying in the north of the island. The town of Noord has many comfortable amenities for people of all ages and needs and has many different kite schools for lessons on the Fisherman Huts beach.

Either way, you will not go wrong with a vacation to the Dutch colony of Aruba. The white, sandy beaches mixed with clear water make this spot one that will not disappoint – no matter what you end up doing during your stay.

The locals and tourists are all extremely friendly and accommodating and you will feel welcome and comfortable at each spot you visit while on the island.

We love the tourists, and we welcome you to our little island of paradise in Aruba. Enjoy your stay and reach out to us if you need anything or have any questions about your kitesurfing holiday!