Barra Grande

Piaui has the shortest coastline of any Brazilian state, around sixty-six kilometres, and Barra Grande occupies a piece of it that turned out to be exceptionally good for kitesurfing: a long shallow flat behind the beach that fills at high tide and gives glassy water with no swell, backed by consistent trade wind from about July to January. That combination brought schools, instructors and a village economy built almost entirely on the sport, in what was a fishing settlement. Sea horses live in the mangrove channels nearby and are the subject of a local conservation project with guided visits. The village stays small, with sand streets and low pousadas, and it empties out when the wind season ends.

What you actually see

• A flat-water lagoon - shallow glassy water behind the beach at high tide.
• Consistent trade wind - reliable from about July to January.
• A fishing village turned kite village - the economy rebuilt around the sport.
• Sea horses in the mangrove - a local conservation project with guided trips.

When to go

July to January for wind. Three days.

Honest expectations

Outside the wind season there is very little to do and much of the village closes. The last road in is unpaved and rough. Facilities are simple and cash is often needed. Beginners should expect strong conditions rather than gentle ones.

Nearby

The Parnaiba Delta is west; Jericoacoara is further along the coast in Ceara.