Johnny Cay (San Andrés Island)

Johnny Cay (San Andrés Island) is a small, sand-fringed coral islet with crystal-clear Caribbean water and shallow reef-associated riding conditions. Water is typically shallow over reef areas (with reported reef waves roughly 1–2 m on the reef side), producing flat-to-choppy surfaces rather than deep, smooth lagoons. The spot is highly visual and clear, but the shallow coral environment makes careful route/launch planning important. Wind is dominated by consistent Caribbean trade winds from the East/Northeast (NE, ENE, E). Seasonally, the best wind months are reported in December–February and June–July (with additional reports listing January/February and several months in the broader trade-wind season). Typical wind speeds cited for the area are around 10–35 knots, with generally steady wind rather than a highly gusty pattern. The key operational limitation is access and rules: you must reach Johnny Cay by boat from San Andrés, and launching/landing kites on the island itself is forbidden. This means most sessions rely on transfers and using the appropriate launch/landing area on the main island (Downtown Beach) before riding to the flying area. Launch timing also matters because the island is extremely crowded with day-trip tourists. Safety-wise, the dominant hazards are swimmers, buoys, and reefs (with additional notes on sea urchins) plus heavy boat traffic from water taxis. Rescue is described as limited, so riders should be prepared with proper protective gear (including boots/impact protection where recommended), and ideally coordinate with a safety boat when crossing from the main island.