La Croix (Tartane)
- Wave, Freeride
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Shallow, Small waves
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
La Croix (Tartane) is a small, crystal-clear kitesurfing launch located directly in front of the church in the Tartane fishing village. Conditions feature shallow water and reef-influenced riding where waves and freeride sections coexist, making the spot best suited to riders who are comfortable operating in a technical, reef-adjacent environment. Wind is dominated by Alizés trade winds from the east to north-east (NE, ENE, and E). Peak wind months include January through July, plus November and December, with rain/hurricane season typically described for June to October. Sessions are generally most reliable as the day progresses—improving from late morning into the afternoon as trade winds strengthen. Safety planning is essential: reefs are the primary hazard, and additional risks are noted for sea urchins near shore and anchored fishing boats sharing the launch area. Launch space is narrow and limited, so riders should expect a more technical setup and extra care around boat priority areas. For protection, helmet and impact/impact-vest-style safety are commonly recommended, and boots/foot protection are specifically advised due to sea urchins. Rescue coverage is described as limited and no lifeguard presence is reported, so riders should stay within confident limits and be prepared for self-rescue and local coordination.
- Trade winds from NE to E with strong seasonal reliability
- Shallow, crystal-clear water with reef presence
- Launch in front of the village church (technical narrow beach)
- Trade winds are typically strong and reliable during the season
- Crystal-clear water with shallow, reef-influenced conditions
- Intermediate-friendly kitesurfing with wave and freeride options
- Small beach/narrow launch area with limited setup space
- No lifeguards reported
- Reefs and sea urchins near the shore
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, ENE, E
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Alizés trade winds (east to north-east) powering the sessions.
- Reliability
- High during the trade wind season (Alizés).
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Steady to light gusts reported during typical sessions.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, April, May, June, July, November, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Shallow, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Small to medium wave conditions reported for the water here.
- Launch
- Small — Small beach in a fishing village; narrow sandy launch area shared with local fishing boats.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Launch described as easy to access, though the narrow beach makes kite launching technical.
Through the year
Busier during the winter months when trade winds are most consistent; lively on weekends.
June to October
By sport
What to expect for each.
Shallow lagoon/free-riding sections with reef-influenced wave riding; launch is described as technical due to a narrow sandy beach shared with local fishing boats.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Possible in deeper lagoon sections and outside the reef; shallow reef areas require caution. Foiling is less consistently friendly due to shallow/reef constraints.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil-friendly conditions reported as limited.
- Min Depth
- shallow
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Surf is described as a draw in the Tartane area, with La Croix primarily used as a kite launch; surfing conditions at/near reef breaks are indicated rather than the main dedicated surf-only destination.
- Optimal Swell
- NE, E
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed to incoming swell; reefs help shape local break but do not provide strong overall shelter.
- Wind Effect
- Cleanest in light morning winds before the trade winds strengthen.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Wave quality described as average.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Reported moderate wave power.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling wave shape reported.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Reported medium peel.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Medium ride length reported for the surfing draw in the broader Tartane area context.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for La Croix (Tartane) in the full forecast view.
La Croix (Tartane) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 5–14 ktsGusts 26 kts
- Direction
- E98°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2514 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–1.6 m7s period
- Temperature
- 27–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, La Croix (Tartane) is forecast for daytime winds of 5–14 kts, peaking around 14 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 26 kts. The prevailing direction is E. Waves run 0.9–1.6 m with a period of about 7s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Reefs
- Sea urchins
- Local fishing boats anchored near the shore
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Spot-level rescue described as limited; managed by local services for water incidents.
- Emergency Info
- For emergencies call 112 (and 15 for medical emergencies).
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Local boats and fishermen operate from the beach; priority on-launch behavior matters.
Rules of the spot
Respect local fishermen and their boats, which have priority on the beach.
- Limited space for kite setup and launching.
- Narrow launch area shared with local fishing boats.
- Reefs are present—use appropriate protection and watch for small shore break.
- Watch out for anchored fishing boats in the lagoon ('bwa lélé').
- Booties are recommended to protect against sea urchins.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- La Trinité
- Nearest Town
- Tartane
- Parking
- Parking available at La Croix; limited parking along village streets is also reported.
- Access
- In front of the church in Tartane fisher's village.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Guesthouses and small hotels in Tartane; accommodations nearby are reported.
- Food & Drink
- Food and drink are available in the Tartane fishing village within walking distance.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is available through local sport schools.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at La Croix (Tartane)?
The best overall months at La Croix (Tartane) are January, February, March, April, May, June, July. The best wind months are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, November, December.
Which wind directions work at La Croix (Tartane)?
La Croix (Tartane) works with NE, ENE, E winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at La Croix (Tartane)?
Recommended equipment sizes at La Croix (Tartane): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is La Croix (Tartane) suitable for?
La Croix (Tartane) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Intermediate.