10 amazing workation destinations for kitesurfing digital nomads

As you probably know there are many reasons why I believe that kitesurfing is one of the best hobbies for digital nomads. One of the best things about the sport is that it allows you to experience amazing places around the world,  and they are often far off the beaten path. Add the fact that even in windy season you’ll often have to wait for the wind to come to you, there’s still loads of time to get things done without missing out on the action.

As many people have asked me about other great spots to go kitesurfing around the world, I thought I’d put together a list of some of my favourites.

Here is a short review of some of the destinations where I’ve been kitesurfing while working online – So you know where to go your next workation ;-)

Cape Town, South Africa – The best city to work and kite

Cape Town isn’t just one of the best cities to work remotely (imo), but it’s also a world class destination for kite surfers. What’s even better is the wind usually only starts in the afternoon, meaning you’ll have loads of time to get your work done in the morning before you enjoy the amazing view of Table Mountain while kiting one of the most beautiful spots in the world.

However, keep in mind that the wind can get extremely strong with waves of up to four meters, so it’s not really a beginner’s spot.  If you’re not an experienced kitesurfer there is a lagoon in Langebaan (100 km north of Cape Town) that is very suitable to learn the sport when you’re in the area.

When to go: November until the end of March are the best months to escape the winter in Europe, and enjoy the amazing kite surfing and the city at it’s best. TIP: Check out some of the best hostels in Cape Town for digital nomads.

Boracay, Philippines – Paradise beaches and a good base

Boracay in the Philippines was the first place I visited on my digital nomad adventures. It’s an amazing island and ‘White Beach’ is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If you walk to the other side of the island (400 meters ;-)) you’ll get to the main kite beach called Bulabog.

There’s loads of accommodation right on the beach and it’s one of the few places in the world where the distance between your office and the sea is only 10 meters. Saying that, Boracay can sometimes get very crowded, but it’s still an amazing place to choose as a base from where you can explore other parts of the Philippines.

When to go: The main windy season is between November and February

Dahab, Egypt is the new Mecca for kitesurfing digital nomads

Nothing gets more exotic than a kitesurfing workation in Dahab, Egypt. This quaint, picturesque little town on the southeastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula was formerly a Bedouin fishing village for hundreds of years. Today it is a diving and kite surfing mecca for adventurous travelers while still retaining it’s Bedouin charm.

Whether you’re just starting out or are a hardcore kitesurfing junkie, Dahab is the perfect workation destination for you. The numerous lagoons offer calm and tranquil seas to learn and get your kitesurfing stripes. It’s a safe and understanding environment for newbies who come from around the world to see how they fair on the still seas. For the pros and avid kitesurfing enthusiasts, Dahab’s coast offers multiple thrilling kitesurfing hotspots to get your pulse racing and to see just how good you really are. If skimming along the top of the ocean isn’t your vibe then take it down a notch and go below the surface – Dahab has some of the best dive spots on the peninsula too.

Dahab is perfectly suited to cater to digital nomads. All of the charming cafes and restaurants have reliable and decent WI-FI of up to 5mbs which is by no means European standard but you can still stream videos, Skype, make and take calls and fire off emails over a hazelnut latte. Cell phone reception is good, and there are plenty of places to stay, from hotels to co-living opportunities. Coworkinn Dahab is an amazing concept and offers digital nomads incredible co-living and co-working spaces. They have cultivated a remarkable network and community of like-minded nomads enjoying all that the town has to offer. They host weekly events to get newcomers and veterans alike on the same page, such as free Arabic lessons, community markets, movie nights and arts and crafts evenings.

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It’s super cheap, too. The 2011 power-shift in Egypt resulted in a dramatic slump in tourism to the country as many feel it is unsafe in the aftermath of the shift. This is of course not the case in Dahab as it is predominantly home to modern-day Bedouins, the hippies, and digital nomads. Nevertheless, the 2011 revolution has resulted in a relatively low price tag attached to everything in the town – which is great for nomads who need to keep an eye on the budget when travelling to remote places.

Due to the town still being relatively unknown on the digital nomad and ‘off the beaten track’ traveller circuit, Dahab currently has struck the perfect balance between being populated and being touristy. It’s a perfect blend of hustle and bustle with calm and chilled. So even if you aren’t a wind junkie travelling with your kiteboard or a deep ocean cave explorer and prefer to simply swim in the cool refreshing water after a day of remote working, Dahab has the perfect chilled vibe that makes it easy to visit and stay for a while.

When to go: In the winter December/January/February you can expect up to 50-60% wind days

Florianopolis, Brazil – Beautiful beaches and great infrastructure

When people talk about kitesurfing in Brazil they are usually talking about the region in the north east (3000 kms north of Florianopolis).  What most people forget though is that Florianopolis in the south also has over 240 wind days a year.

Even though I’ve only been there for less than four days I was very impressed with the destination and one day I want to return for a longer period. The island has an amazing infrastructure, 42 beaches, a vibrant atmosphere, good surf and a thriving nightlife as well. That’s why the ‘Ibiza of Brazil’ is also known for having some of the best quality of life in the country and why I believe that it will become an extremely popular destination for digital nomads over the next few years, even though it’s not the cheapest place to live.

When to go: September until November are the best months but due to it’s geographical region Florianopolis offers good wind almost all year round.

Playa Copal, Costa Rica – Off the track and great to focus

Very close to Nicaragua you’ll find one of the windiest regions in Central America. Similar to Kalapitiya in Sri Lanka, this place is also relatively unknown to  tourists, but a great place to focus and get things done when your not on the water. Even though the region is very remote, the Wi-Fi worked extremely well at Blue Dream resort where I spent a few weeks working and kiting last year.

When to go: It’s windy almost all year around in Playa Copal but the best months to go are from November to April.

San Andres – Colombia – Caribbean kiteboarding destination – A short flight from Medellin

It costs you less than 100 Dollars to fly to the Caribbean Island of San Andres from the digital nomad hotspot of Medellin in South America. On the one hand, you should know that San Andres is a bit of a package holiday island for Colombians but on the other hand, the water around the island is amazing and it’s definitely one of the most beautiful places I’ve been kitesurfing.

If you happen to go to San Andres, also try to make a trip to the nearby paradise island of Providencia, not for the kiting but for the Reggae and laid back vibe you’ll find there. The internet works well on San Andres, but you need to make sure that you book the right accommodation to get it if you don’t want to end up working from an Internet cafe, which are scarce.

When to go: The best time to go is between December and March. Try to avoid Christmas time when the island get’s way too packed, bring a big kite and you’ll have a good time.

Sri Lanka – Kalpitiya – Off the track in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka alone is an amazing workation destination. The country has pristine beaches, amazing food and loads of things to do within a very small radius, and you can kitesurf here too.

Kalpitiya is two hours north of Colombo and is relatively unknown to tourists, but the flat-water lagoons are getting more and more popular with kitesurfers from all around the world. Also there’s not a lot to do when the wind isn’t blowing – perfect to really focus on your work when you’re not on the water.

Getting to Sri Lanka is often much easier than you think. If you’re working from Chiang Mai or Bangkok for example, it’s possible to get there for less than $100 with a budget airline. Something else to note is that many factories manufacture their gear in Sri Lanka, and you’ll be able to score extremely good deals so that you will easily save the money that you spent on flights.

When to go: The main windy season is from May until October when the wind blows almost 24 hours a day.

North East of Brazil

The region in the Northeast of Brazil around Fortaleza is probably one of the best places in the world to go kiting. There are so many amazing spots that it’s hard to just mention one. It all depends on your preferences, but whatever you are looking for you are likely to find it here. It’s perfect for beginners and the water is so warm that you can go kiting in boardshorts.

When I visited I stayed in Pipa, Tibau do Sul, Sao Miguel do Gostoso, Jericoacoara, Ihla do Guajiru and Cumbucco. Wi-Fi isn’t a problem around the whole region, except in Jericoacoara which can make your life as a digital nomad a bit difficult. Go, work, kite and experience the region for yourself and you’ll have the time of your life!

Zanzibar – Africa at it’s best

Do you want to combine Safaris with work and amazing kite sessions in crystal clear waters? Then Zanzibar should be very high on your list. I haven’t actually been kiting in Zanzibar but I’ve visited there twice in the past, and Paje beach (where all the kiting happens) is a simply amazing destination. What’s also important is that  once you’re in Zanzibar it’s relatively easy to book your tickets to another location.

When to go: There are two kite seasons per year in Zanzibar. One is between the middle of June to the end of October and the other lasts from December until the end of February.

Tarifa, Spain – Europe’s kitesurf mecca

I’ve written a lot about Tarifa already, it’s the destination for our next workation and one of the windiest places in Europe. What I like most about Tarifa is that it’s not just about kiting but the town also has a really good infrastructure as well, this is perfect if you want to stay for a longer period of time. Tarifa has so much to offer that you don’t need to be a kitesurfer to enjoy the town and explore the surrounding area of Andalusia. 

When to go: The wind in Tarifa is good almost all year round. The best months to learn kitesurfing are April to the end of June and September to November, when the weather is good and the beaches aren’t too crowded.

I hope this small selection of workation destinations helps you with making your decision on where to go next. You’ll find that a whole new world will open up to you once you’ve taken the time (1-2 weeks) to learn this amazing sport. If you want to start kitesurfing together with other location independent webworkers join us at the Tarifa Workation Camp.

Have you been traveling and working from different kitespots around the world? Share your favourite spots in the comments below.