Country and Location

---

The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago which, in turn, forms one of the Spanish Autonomous Communities and an Outermost Region of the European Union. The archipelago is located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the disputed border between Morocco and the Western Sahara.

Fuerteventura, a Spanish island, is one of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. At 1,660 km² it is also the second largest of the islands.

Costa Calma is a village that is used as a holiday resort in the Canarian island of Fuerteventura. Costa Calma is located in the beginning of the Jandía peninsula in the southern part of the island. Costa Calma is a tourist community which brought tourism in the 1970s and created famous hotels. It also brought in restaurants as well as businesses which brought economic development to the vicinity of Costa Calma. Also a park exists today, from the clear waters of the hotel, and the flora of the area are listed as endangered species. The harmonic buildings in the area integrated and flatten solidiums in the years 2003 and 2004, today they were replaced by large hotels, so that a change took place in Costa Calma for the disadvantage for the aesthetics which was the impression that time. Next to this town is Playa Sotavento, one of the PKRA spots.


The seasons and Accommodation info

---

The best months to kite on Sotavento are May-September. There is a hotel right at the beach (Hotel Los Gorriones). But you can choose out of more different hotels or rental appartments. Check the links for more accommodation info.


Possibilities besides kiting

---

Besides kitesurfing you can:
-Enjoy Fuerteventura full array of watersport activities (diving, whale watching etc)
Besides these watersporst you can:
-Go biking
-Explore the whole island in a rental car
-Try out all different restaurants and bars



Climate

---

The climate on Fuerteventura is pleasant throughout the year. The island is also often referred to as the island of eternal spring. The sea adjusts the temperature making the hot Sahara winds blow away from the island. The island's name in English translates as "strong fortune, or luck", as the Spanish word for wind is viento. During the winter months, temperatures average a high of 22°C and a low of around 15°C, whereas during the summer a mean high of 35°C and a low of 20°C can be expected.


Spot conditions:
The beach

---

The big sandy beach of Sotavento is very wide and long (3km). There is space enough for save launching and landing. There are no obastacles on the beach.


The water conditions

---

With high tide you can kite on a shallow flat lagoon. Further out are small waves. The ocean is deep immediately.


The wind conditions

---

The geographic conditions allow the prevailing north-east trade wind to accelerate between two ridges. In addition to this, the air on the island is heated by the sun and rises upwards, compressing the slightly cooler trade wind as it pushes itself beneath the warm air. When the wind reaches the sea, the compression and the wind become free, generating a renewed acceleration. This double acceleration effect makes the wind substantially stronger than in the surrounding area. The wind is sideoffshore and a littlebit gusty. During wintertime the wind can blow from the south or east, these winds are more constant but less strong and not that often.


Facilities

---

All facilities you need are available on the spot at the Rene Egli centre. This centre (and kiteschool) had compressed air, showers, toilets, sunbets, a bar and wireless internet.


Downwinder and trip possibilites

---

The kitespots on Fuerteventura are:
Jundia Playa (wind is weaker, more tourism on this spot)
Punta de Jandia (rocky launch, wind weaker than Sotavento, but cross-offshore and a powerful reef-break)
La Pared (surf spot, king-size waves in winter, wind is weaker here)
El Cotillo (can be gusty, big waves and shore break, watch out for thieves when car is parked above the cliffs)
Punta Blanca (one of the consistently windiest spots in the north)
Majanicho (strong current, laucn on the rocks, first class point break, sea urchins)
Mejillones (go here when the wind is south-west and there is a NW swell for epic conditions)
Shooting gallery (westerly wind with N to NW swell brings 6-7 meter waves)
Flagbeach (big sandy white beach, turquoise water, sideshore wind)
Waikiki (start at Flagbeach and go upwind to the bay)
Rocky point (very populair spot by surfers all year)
Glass Beach (steep and powerful waves are possible here)
Puerto Lajas (northerly winds with N swell brings nice middle size waves)


Travel info

---

The nearest town is Costa Calma. The nearest airport is Fuerteventura. The best way to get to Sotavento is to hire a car and drive to the town Costa Calma.


Links

---

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canary_island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuerteventura
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Calma

Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLtuooB3slM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KblluzkXreE&feature=fvw

Schools:
http://rene-egli.com/

Info:
http://rene-egli.com/
http://www.apartments-sotavento-fuerteventura.co.uk/kiteboarding_sotavento_fuerteventura.html
http://www.fuerteventuraholidays.net/sotavento-jandia-beach-fuerteventura