# Cumbuco - Lagoa do Cauípe — Cumbuco, Brazil

Lagoa do Cauípe is the freshwater lagoon at the mouth of the Cauípe river, in Barra do Cauípe, separated from the sea by a sandbank. It is one of the most famous flat-water spots in Brazil: small (about 250 m long), shallow and smooth, good for learning and training tricks. It is also the end of the classic downwind from Cumbuco, about 7 km along the beach.

It works with the trade wind, which blows almost daily from July to January, strongest in September and in the afternoon; from May to July it comes more from the southeast and is more irregular. From February to April is the rainy season and the wind is less constant.

There are two launch areas: the west shore, next to the barracas and the Bê Kite Cauípe school, and the sandbank between the lagoon and the sea. The southern part is reserved for beginners and schools; the northern part for everyone else. It gets crowded at midday and on weekends: the best times are from 8 to 11 and from 16:00. Watch out for very shallow areas when the level drops and do not go near the river mouth to the southeast, where the current pulls towards the sea. Cars and buggies drive on the sand. There are barracas with food and accommodation in the village. In case of emergency call 193 (fire brigade) or 192 (SAMU). The best time is from August to December.

Photos: "Kite Cauipe" by Elissonm (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons; "Kite Cauipe 3" by Elissonm (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons; "Kite Cauipe 2" by Elissonm (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons; "Kites Surfes na Barra do Cauípe Caucaia-CE" by Leonardo Ibiapina Paz (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; "JADEQ BARRADOCAUIPE CAUCAIA CE (40260897774)" by MTur Destinos (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.

- **Sports:** Kitesurf
- **Difficulty:** Beginner
- **Location:** Cumbuco, Brazil (-3.59000, -38.77999)
- **Favourable wind directions (where the wind blows from):** E (90°), SE (125°)
- **Wind range (knots):** 14–28
- **Best months:** July, August, September, October, November, December, January

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

| Month | <7 kn | 7–13 kn | 13–20 kn | 20–35 kn | >35 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2 | 69 | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| February | 2 | 91 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| March | 10 | 88 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| April | 13 | 86 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| May | 4 | 93 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| June | 1 | 89 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| July | 1 | 64 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| August | 0 | 29 | 71 | 0 | 0 |
| September | 0 | 16 | 84 | 0 | 0 |
| October | 0 | 17 | 82 | 1 | 0 |
| November | 0 | 27 | 73 | 0 | 0 |
| December | 0 | 39 | 61 | 0 | 0 |

## Local winds

- **Alísio del este** — E (90°), 15–28 kn. The trade wind that crosses the Atlantic: blows almost every day from July to January, strongest in mid-September and in the afternoon. From August to December it comes from the east; from November to January, slightly more from the east-northeast. It crosses the lagoon from the sandbank towards the barracas.. From the sandbank the wind is offshore, but the lagoon is enclosed: if you fall, you drift towards the west shore.
- **Alísio del sudeste** — SE (125°), 14–24 kn. At the beginning of the season (May to July) the trade wind turns east-southeast and southeast and is usually lighter and more irregular in the morning.. With southeast wind the drift goes towards the north of the lagoon: leave space downwind.

## Zones

- **West launch (Bê Kite)** — Launch zone
- **Sandbank launch** — Launch zone
- **Lagoa do Cauípe** — Navigation zone
- **Beginners** — Navigation zone
- **River mouth (current)** — Restricted zone

## Points of interest

- **Bê Kite Cauípe**: Kite school and restaurant on the west shore, next to the launch (approximate position).
- **Lagoon barracas**: Barracas with local food on the west shore, overlooking the lagoon.
- **River mouth to the sea**: River exit to the sea: current towards the open sea. Do not ride towards here.
- **Beginner zone**: The southern part of the lagoon is reserved for beginners and schools.
- **Arrival of the downwind from Cumbuco**: End of the downwind from Cumbuco, about 7 km along the beach. Organise the return buggy before leaving.

## Hazards

- Small lagoon and very crowded at midday and on weekends
- Very shallow areas depending on the water level
- River mouth to the sea to the southeast: current towards the sea
- Beginners, schools and swimmers in the southern part
- Cars and buggies driving on the sand

## Obstacles

- Barracas and coconut trees on the west shore
- Cars and buggies on the sand

## Facilities

- Parking
- Toilets
- School
- Restaurant

[See it on Ventus Surf (3D map, zones and live forecast)](https://ventus.surf/spots/cumbuco-lagoa-do-cauipe-zKOocXiJ4ueiTf5y43y1?lang=en)