# Bariloche - Costa Kite — San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina

Costa Kite is the most popular spot in Bariloche, five minutes from the centre: the pebble beach to the east of the mouth of the Ñireco stream, in front of the Asociación Patagónica de Kitesurf. It is one of the two beaches in the city where you can kite, with the Nahuel Huapi and the mountain range in front.

From November to April the western thermal blows five to seven days a week, with 20 to 30 kt on average and some days 35 to 40; here it comes in side-onshore from the left. With less than 20 kt the water is choppy with small waves at the shore; with more than 30 there are one-metre waves at the shore and two metres or more further out in the lake. The lake is cold all year round and gets deep quickly: it is a spot for experienced riders. The south wind blows from the city: do not go out.

To the west of the stream is Playa Centenario, with swimmers and lifeguards: do not ride there. Park in the neighbourhood streets.

Photos: "Kitesurfing in Bariloche - Argentina" by Gabo15 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; "Kitesurfing in Bariloche, Argentina" by Tobalkite (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; "Kitesurfing in Bariloche, Río Negro - Argentina" by Gabo15 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; "Kitesurfing in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina" by Gabo15 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

- **Sports:** Kitesurf, Wingfoil, Windsurf
- **Difficulty:** Advanced
- **Location:** San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina (-41.12797, -71.28431)
- **Favourable wind directions (where the wind blows from):** W (270°), WNW (290°), NW (315°)
- **Wind range (knots):** 15–35
- **Best months:** November, December, January, February, March, April

## Wind by month (% of days per strength)

| Month | <7 kn | 7–13 kn | 13–20 kn | 20–35 kn | >35 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14 | 74 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| February | 17 | 60 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| March | 14 | 63 | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| April | 32 | 49 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| May | 38 | 53 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| June | 34 | 57 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| July | 48 | 49 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| August | 35 | 56 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| September | 21 | 69 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| October | 21 | 62 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| November | 13 | 66 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| December | 14 | 61 | 22 | 3 | 0 |

## Local winds

- **Térmica del oeste** — W (280°), 15–35 kn. The thermal from the mountain range: from November to April it blows almost every day, with 20 to 30 kt on average and some days 35 to 40. At Costa Kite it comes in side-onshore from the left when looking at the lake.. It picks up quickly and gets gusty in the afternoon: have your small kite ready. The lake water is around 14 °C in summer, wear a wetsuit.
- **Noroeste** — NW (315°), 15–35 kn. With the northwest fronts the wind arrives stronger and gustier, with waves on the lake.. With more than 30 kt there are 1 m waves at the shore and 2 m further out: only for experienced riders.
- **Sur** — S (180°), 12–30 kn. South wind: comes down from the city towards the lake, gusty and with no waves near the shore.. Offshore wind on a large and cold lake: do not go out.

## Zones

- **Launch** — Launch zone
- **Costa Kite** — Navigation zone

## Points of interest

- **Costa Kite launch**: Pebble beach in front of the Asociación Patagónica de Kitesurf.
- **Asociación Patagónica de Kitesurf**: Headquarters of the association, behind the beach (OpenStreetMap).
- **Mouth of the Ñireco stream**: Stream that separates Costa Kite from Playa Centenario.
- **Playa Centenario**: Beach with lifeguards and swimmers, to the west of the stream: do not ride there (OpenStreetMap).

## Hazards

- Cold water (around 14 °C in summer): wear a wetsuit
- 1 m waves at the shore and 2 m further out with more than 30 kt
- Strong gusts with the thermal and fronts
- Swimmers at Playa Centenario, to the west of the stream

## Obstacles

- Remains of an old pier (pilings) on the beach
- Mouth of the Ñireco stream to the west

## Facilities

- School
- Parking

[See it on Ventus Surf (3D map, zones and live forecast)](https://ventus.surf/spots/bariloche-costa-kite-aUimHyrFwPeqx3jPpFzL?lang=en)