Caribbean
When Is the Best Time for a Kite Cruise?
There is no single best month for a kiteboarding cruise, because our four destinations run in different seasons. Antigua and Barbuda runs from November to July, the Grenadines from December to May, the Greek Cyclades from June to October, and Los Roques from April to June. Between them, there is a good option in almost every month of the year.
The more useful question is which season suits you, not which is objectively best. Below is what each one is actually like.
Season at a glance
| Destination | Season | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | November to July | The longest season, reliable trade winds, easiest to reach from Europe and North America |
| The Grenadines | December to May | Escaping winter, remote anchorages, new spots almost every day |
| Greek Cyclades | June to October | Strong Meltemi wind, island culture, a European summer trip |
| Los Roques, Venezuela | April to June | Over 300 islands, cays and sandbanks in a marine park, almost no other visitors |
Winter: the Caribbean
From November through the northern winter, the Caribbean is where we are. Antigua and Barbuda has the longest season of any of our destinations, running all the way to July, and it is where we are based for most of the year.
The Grenadines run from December to May. This is the trip for people who want to be furthest from ordinary life: a chain of small islands, quiet anchorages, and the feeling of moving to a new spot every day rather than returning to the same beach.
One practical note: we stay in Antigua through the season and move to the Grenadines a few times a year depending on bookings. If your dates are flexible, tell us what you are looking for and we will tell you honestly where the boat will be.
Summer: the Greek Cyclades
From June to October we are in Greece, sailing the Cyclades. The wind here is the Meltemi, a northerly that blows through the Aegean in summer and gives the Cyclades their reputation among kiters.
The Meltemi is strongest in July and August. If you want the most wind, that is your window. If you would rather have slightly lighter conditions and quieter islands, June and September are excellent and often more pleasant for a mixed group.
Spring: Los Roques
Los Roques runs from April to June. It is an archipelago of more than 300 islands, cays and sandbanks, and it is a marine park, which means it stays empty in a way few kite destinations still are. A catamaran is the only sensible way to see it, because the distances between the good spots are on the water, not on land.
How to choose between them
- You want to escape winter: the Grenadines or Antigua, December through March
- You want the strongest wind: the Cyclades in July and August
- You are travelling with a partner who does not kite: the Cyclades, where the islands and towns give a full holiday between sessions
- You want somewhere genuinely remote: Los Roques or the Grenadines
- It is your first catamaran trip: Antigua, the easiest to reach and the longest season
Frequently asked questions
When is the best month to kitesurf in the Caribbean?
January through March is the heart of the Caribbean season, with steady trade winds. Antigua extends much further, from November to July.
What is the Meltemi and when does it blow?
The Meltemi is the northerly summer wind of the Aegean. It blows through the Cyclades from roughly June to October and is at its strongest in July and August.
Can I do a kite cruise all year round?
Between our four destinations there is a season running in almost every month. The boat itself moves between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, so the destination changes with the time of year.
Which destination is best for beginners?
Antigua, for its long season and easier logistics. Whichever you choose, lessons and supervision are available, and the tender is on the water while you ride.
Written by Tomaz Belina, Founder and Skipper of Kiteboarding Cruise, running kite and wing foil catamaran cruises since 2013.
