Whether you are brand new to the sport or a seasoned expert, Puerto Vallarta is a world-class kitesurfing destination, especially in the town of Bucerias.
Due to its geographic & climatic conditions (including strong winds and moderate waves), Bucerías is one of the best kiteboarding destinations in Mexico. It is also very popular for windsurfing and hydrofoil kiteboarding.
Below we’ll go over the wind season, El Festival del Viento, and some Puerto Vallarta kiteboarding schools to get some lessons.
Puerto Vallarta Kiteboarding Wind Season
The best kitesurfing destination in Mexico is found in the Puerto Vallarta area: Bucerias. Kiteboarding & wind season usually covers the months of February to June. After that, the sea temperature rises and the rainy season begins, which causes the wind to slow down.
The north end of Banderas Bay is known to have pretty consistently good wind every afternoon. Usually starts around noon and on a good day continues until 5 – 7 pm. It’s possible to get 3 or 4 good days a week during wind season for kiteboarding in Bucerias & Puerto Vallarta.
- Wind direction: Side on-shore from North-West.
- Wind speed: usually ranges from 4 – 17 kts (5 – 20 mph).
- Location: located in Banderas Bay, often visited by humpback whales, dolphins and turtles.
- Windy season: February to June.
The thermal effect that creates wind is generated due to the warming of the Banderas Valley (Valle de Banderas) behind Bucerias. The key to knowing if it’s going to be a windy day in Bucerias is to check the wind direction. We like to use the Windy app to check wind conditions. Most of the time the wind is onshore but it can swing a little to the west.
Bucerias & Puerto Vallarta Kiteboarding Lessons
Bucerias has an extensive 5-mile beach with golden sands and blue waters. Most begin their kiteboarding lessons around 1:00 pm, when the wind begins to blow more intensely. This causes the beaches to fill up with spectators that are enjoying the show.
The winds here in town are great for kitesurfing beginners, intermediates, and experts. Take a Puerto Vallarta kiteboarding lesson from local experts.
Kite Zone
The Kite Zone offers kiteboarding lessons in Puerto Vallarta & Bucerias for all levels with English and Spanish-speaking instructors that are certified by the IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization). They offer this pricing for their classes.
- Ground Lessons: $90 USD / hr
- Water Assisted Lessons: $115 USD / hr
They also offer a kitesurf package of 6 hours (2 hrs ground + 4 hours water) for $575 USD. The water class includes a boat with your personal instructor following you the entire time and giving you tips along the way. Kite gear and radio helmet are included. We HIGHLY suggest taking a neoprene suit if you have one, as they do not provide one. The Bucerias kiteboarding lessons on the water usually take place from La Cruz, Bucerias beach, or around La Lancha beach by boat.
Surf Mexico
Surf Mexico also offers Puerto Vallarta Kiteboarding classes. Their 3 step course covers Basic Kite Flying, Power Control, & Safety. They also offer the following services:
- Surfboard: $475 MXN / day
- Standup Paddleboard: $15 USD / hr
- Night Excursions: $35 USD
- Morning Excursions: $40 USD
- 4hr Private Surf Class: $95 USD
- 4hr Group Surf Class: $75 USD
Kite Mexiko
Located in the Aventura Pacifico Hotel, you’ll find the kiteboarding school as well as equipment rental and gear for sale. They are IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization) certified.
KiteFest – Festival del Viento
Every May is the Bucerias Kite Festival (Festival del Viento), an International Kiteboarding Championship. It is a very popular event in the area, and it helps support riders to grow professionally and promote the Riviera de Nayarit as one of the best wind destinations in Mexico. They have 3 categories: Regata, Freestyle, and Big Air.
Puerto Vallarta Kitesurfing Forums
KiteForum is a great source of information and has a kiteboarding forum for asking any questions to the community.
To buy or sell kiteboarding gear in Mexico, we recommend joining the Facebook group, KiteMexico.
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