Los Bajos (Gibara)
- Freeride, Wave
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Flat, Shallow, Small waves
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Los Bajos (Gibara) is a shallow, mostly flat kitesurfing area with crystal-clear, warm water. The beach setup is described as sandy and small, with a spacious sandy launch zone for rigging and launching, but the water depth can be very shallow in places. The spot’s primary wind comes from Northeast to ENE directions as part of the trade-wind pattern. Most reliable conditions are in the winter season (best months reported as December through April, with November–April often cited regionally), with typical winds around 15–25 knots and gusts sometimes reaching the low 30-knot range. During the warmer months, winds can be reinforced by a localized thermal effect (sea-breeze style), which may pick up later in the day and vary by location. From a safety standpoint, the key constraint is the reef: reef barrier/reef sections sit offshore (reported around ~100 meters from shore in available descriptions), and coral heads and sea urchins are noted in some areas. This makes water shoes/booties especially important and means you should plan your lines with shallow-water and reef clearance in mind. There are no lifeguards and no dedicated private rescue service. For riding style, the lagoon-like, flat-water character makes it well suited to beginner practice and freestyle, with some freeride and wave practice depending on the conditions. Local guidance also indicates you may need to check kitesurfing legality—such as permits or local kite-organization membership—before launching, and bring your own gear since on-beach services and equipment support appear limited.
- NE–ENE trade winds with strong winter reliability
- Shallow flat-water lagoon character for freeride/freestyle practice
- Warm water year-round (~27°C)
- Crystal-clear, warm water and generally calm, flat-water conditions within a protected area.
- Strong northeast trade-wind season aligns well with kitesurfing (especially November through April).
- Beginner-friendly on the calmest flat-water sections with ample room to set up.
- Very shallow water with reef hazards (coral/reef sections).
- No lifeguards and no dedicated rescue service.
- Potential permit/registration or local membership requirement for kitesurfing.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, ENE
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Northeast Trade Winds (Alisios) with some thermal influence in warmer months.
- Reliability
- high in winter trade-wind season (Nov–Apr); moderate during the thermal season (May–Sep).
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Gusts reported up to around 30 knots in the peak wind range.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, April, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Shallow, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Sources describe small wave conditions/chop depending on the definition of the water state in the lagoon.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Chop described as small/light in the lagoon/nearshore conditions.
- Launch
- Medium — Reported riding/launch zone around 245 m with a sandy strip (~20 m) and dunes up to ~1.5 m; also described as spacious for setup/launch.
Through the year
Low in off-season (May–October); moderate in peak season (Nov–Apr).
June to November (hurricane season).
By sport
What to expect for each.
A shallow, flat (lagoon-like) kitesurfing area with crystal-clear water. Conditions are generally suited to beginners and freestyle practice, but there are reef hazards and the water is very shallow in places.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Possible in the flatter sections of the lagoon area, but less commonly used here than kitesurfing.
Flat-water learning conditions are available, but foilers need extra caution due to shallow depth variations and reef heads; deeper water may be further out near the reef break.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil-friendliness described as limited/variable due to shallow depth and reef sections.
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Los Bajos (Gibara) in the full forecast view.
Los Bajos (Gibara) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–7 ktsGusts 14 kts
- Direction
- E96°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 247 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.3–0.5 m7s period
- Temperature
- 23–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Los Bajos (Gibara) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–7 kts, peaking around 7 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 14 kts. The prevailing direction is E. Waves run 0.3–0.5 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
- coral reef
- coral reef barrier
- coral heads
- reef sections
- sea urchins
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No dedicated private water-sports rescue service; maritime safety is overseen by the Cuban Coast Guard.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major medical facilities are in Holguín (about 35 km away). General emergency numbers in Cuba: 106 (police) and 104 (ambulance).
Rules of the spot
Verify local kitesurfing legality/requirements; some sources suggest you may need a special permit or local kite organization membership.
- possible permit or local kite-organization membership requirement
- Wear water shoes/booties to protect feet from reef and sea urchins.
- Check any permit or local kite-organization requirements before riding.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Holguín
- Nearest Town
- Gibara
- Nearest Airport
- Frank País Airport (HLG)
- Parking
- Informal parking available near the beach.
- Public Transport
- Viazul bus to Holguín, then local taxis/‘almendrones’ to Gibara.
- Access
- Accessible via the east entrance road to Gibara (about 2 km from the east entrance of Gibara Bay) / accessible via a dirt track from Gibara; a 4x4 or taxi is recommended.
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Accommodation in Gibara includes casas particulares and small hotels; camping near the beach is also mentioned.
- Food & Drink
- Some sources report restaurant/bar facilities at a nearby camping area; another set of findings indicates no on-beach facilities and recommends bringing supplies from Gibara.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental described as generally unavailable/very limited on-site; bring your own gear.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Gibara is an authentic coastal town with preserved colonial character and nearby caves and outdoor scenery; tourism infrastructure is focused more on small-scale guest accommodation than large resorts.
Known as ‘La Villa Blanca,’ the town features well-preserved colonial architecture and a charming seaside malecón.
Historic town of Gibara where Christopher Columbus set foot during his first voyage to Cuba.
An internationally recognized low-budget film festival held annually in Gibara.
An extensive cave system near the town offering guided exploration of unique geological formations.
Fresh seafood—especially crab and local fish—served in private family-run restaurants.
A scenic waterfront promenade for evening walks and sunset viewing.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Los Bajos (Gibara)?
The best overall months at Los Bajos (Gibara) are November, December, January, February, March, April. The best wind months are January, February, March, April, December.
Which wind directions work at Los Bajos (Gibara)?
Los Bajos (Gibara) works with NE, ENE winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Los Bajos (Gibara)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Los Bajos (Gibara): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Los Bajos (Gibara) suitable for?
Los Bajos (Gibara) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate.