Puebloviejo (Magdalena)
- Freeride, Freestyle
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Shallow, Chop, 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Puebloviejo is a large sand beach kitesurfing spot on the Puebloviejo coast area (Magdalena) with shallow, cloudy water and generally small wave conditions. Riding is often flat to lightly choppy, and the presence of stone groynes along the shoreline can create smoother sections that help freeride and freestyle. Wind comes predominantly from the north through north-northeast to north-east, with a high reliability during the dry/peak season. Typical on-water wind is described in the roughly 15–25 knots range, with best months spanning December through April (and also May in some reports). Riders typically find the wind steady enough for routine sessions, with gustiness described as light-to-moderate depending on conditions. Safety is a core consideration: stone wave breakers/groynes can pose serious entanglement or impact risk if you drift or lose control. They may also be submerged at higher tides, so it’s important to watch their position. In addition, there can be fishing nets near the village and the location is remote, with limited medical access; there are no lifeguards and no organized public rescue services reported. Overall, Puebloviejo is a low-profile, quieter alternative for kitesurfing compared with more famous regional kite beaches. Infrastructure on-site is minimal, so preparation matters (supplies and hydration). The local environment supports progression for beginners to intermediate riders, while advanced options like foil are more situation-dependent and limited by cloudy visibility and variable depth outside the groynes.
- Consistent N–NE winds with high reliability in peak months
- Shallow, flat-to-choppy water with small wave conditions
- Stone groynes can form flatter riding pockets
- Low-profile fishing-village atmosphere
- Consistent N to NE wind with a high reliability profile during the dry season
- Large sandy beach with shallow, flat-to-choppy riding potential
- Suitable for progression, especially for freeride and freestyle in the flatter sections created by groynes
- Low-profile, generally quiet atmosphere
- Stone groynes (wave breakers) are a key hazard; submerged at higher tides
- Remote area with limited medical facilities and no organized rescue services
- Water is often cloudy, which can reduce visibility
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NNE, NE
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Gradient — Dominated by trade/gradient winds from the north-northeast (NE Trades).
- Reliability
- high
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Reported as steady; one source characterizes gustiness as moderate.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, April, May, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Shallow, Chop, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Small waves reported.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Described as flat/chop or shallow-flat with some choppiness.
- Launch
- Medium — Wider sandy beach area suitable for rigging; access via sand road off the main highway.
Through the year
Generally quiet; slightly more riders on weekends from neighboring cities.
September to November
By sport
What to expect for each.
Shallow, mostly flat-to-choppy riding with small waves; stone groynes can create flatter sections for freeride and freestyle. Wind is generally consistent with side-onshore alignment. Best conditions are typically from December to April (also noted into May).
- Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Possible mainly in deeper areas outside the groynes; cloudy water makes underwater hazards harder to see.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Puebloviejo (Magdalena) in the full forecast view.
Puebloviejo (Magdalena) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–6 ktsGusts 13 kts
- Direction
- SW234°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 286 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–0.5 m4s period
- Temperature
- 24–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Puebloviejo (Magdalena) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–6 kts, peaking around 6 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 13 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.1–0.5 m with a period of about 4s. 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
- wave breaker
- stone wave breakers (groynes)
- fishing nets near the village
- remote location with limited medical facilities
- groynes can be submerged at higher tides
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No organized public rescue services reported.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major hospitals are in Santa Marta or Barranquilla; national emergency number is 123.
Rules of the spot
Respect local fishing areas and maintain distance from the stone groynes (wave breakers). If you lose gear or drift, avoid getting pulled into the groynes/wave breakers.
- Do not kite into/near the stone groynes (wave breakers).
- Keep an eye on the groynes as they can be submerged at higher tides.
- Arrive with your own water and supplies.
- Respect local fishing areas and maintain distance from the stone groynes.
- The spot is generally less crowded than other nearby, more public kite beaches.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Santa Marta
- Nearest Town
- Puebloviejo
- Parking
- Informal parking available on the sand or dirt near beach access points; also described as accessible by sand-road after the main road.
- Access
- Accessible via the Troncal del Caribe highway; follow unpaved sand tracks from the road to the beach. Also described as using a sand road off the main road.
- Cost Level
- Budget
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Accommodation in Puebloviejo is limited; most visitors stay in Santa Marta or nearby areas.
- Food & Drink
- Local fish shacks are available in the village; facilities on the kite beach are minimal.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental gear is sparse locally; riders usually bring their own or rent via schools in Santa Marta that organize trips to the area.
- Gear Storage
- Limited storage available through mobile kite schools or nearby eco-lodges; generally not available on-site.
- Gear Repair
- No specialized repair shops in Puebloviejo; minor repairs may sometimes be facilitated via schools nearby.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A rugged, locally focused coastal area strongly connected to fishing, with nearby protected natural environments.
A massive estuarine lagoon system and biosphere reserve famous for bird watching and biodiversity.
A traditional stilt-house fishing village located deep within the Ciénaga lagoon.
Hiking through tropical forests and secluded beaches in a nearby coastal park.
Roadside stalls serving fresh fried fish and coconut rice typical of the Magdalena coast.
A small marine park and aquarium accessible by boat from nearby Santa Marta.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Puebloviejo (Magdalena)?
The best overall months at Puebloviejo (Magdalena) are December, January, February, March, April. The best wind months are January, February, March, April, May, December.
Which wind directions work at Puebloviejo (Magdalena)?
Puebloviejo (Magdalena) works with N, NNE, NE winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Puebloviejo (Magdalena)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Puebloviejo (Magdalena): Kitesurfing: 7–12 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Puebloviejo (Magdalena) suitable for?
Puebloviejo (Magdalena) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner to Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Advanced.