Puntone Beach (Scarlino)
- Freeride, Freestyle
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Flat, Chop
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Puntone Beach (Scarlino) in the Gulf of Follonica is a large, sandy kiting and windsurfing beach where the main wind engine in summer is the Maestrale (NW/W) thermal wind. Multiple sources describe sessions commonly starting after early afternoon and running into late afternoon/evening, with a steady feel to the wind during the warm season. Conditions are generally described as small waves/chop rather than big surf, with clean water overall and a long sandy riding/training area. A shallow zone extends roughly 50–100 meters from shore, which can make it practical for learning and early progression; deeper water is available once you move beyond the nearshore shallows. In spring and autumn, sources also note frequent stronger NW-leaning winds (often described as around the high 20s to ~30 knots in typical ranges). Kite and windsurf activity is supported by the beach’s size and the presence of designated lanes/zones during the summer season, which helps manage swimmer overlap and the busiest areas. Safety is mainly about respecting the regulated kite channels in summer and avoiding the pier/port jetty and harbor entrance areas to reduce collision risk and hazards from swimmers/boat traffic. Medical and rescue services are available in the nearby area, and a local rescue/response setup is described as seasonal through the local schools, but spot-level rescue is still described as limited—so beginners should stick to the designated zones and launch properly from the marked lanes.
- Thermal wind in summer with afternoon build (commonly around 13:00–19:00)
- Large sandy beach with long launch space (about 1000 meters of available area mentioned)
- Shallow training area close to shore (about 50–100 meters)
- Summer kite lanes/channels and swimmer exclusion zones are used
- Wind reliability described as high in summer
- Very large sandy beach with ample launch space and training-friendly shallow water close to shore.
- Reliable thermal Maestrale NW/W wind in summer plus frequent spring/autumn NW winds.
- Beginner-friendly environment for kitesurfing and windsurfing (flat/chop; organized lanes in summer).
- Summer kiting is regulated; you must use kite channels/lanes and stay outside the swimmer zone.
- Rescue availability is described as limited at spot-level; hazardous areas include pier/port jetty and harbor traffic.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W, NW, SW
- Wind Range
- 12–30 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Summer Maestrale thermal wind from the west/NW; spring/autumn also see NW-leaning strong winds.
- Reliability
- high in summer; frequent in spring/autumn
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Sources describe steady/consistent wind with typical gust behavior as steady.
- Best Months
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Chop
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Winds typically produce chop; waves are generally described as small.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Choppy water is repeatedly mentioned for this spot.
- Launch
- Big — Long sandy beach with large open space; designated lanes are used during summer.
Through the year
July and August: many tourists; other months: quieter.
Late autumn (October/November) and winter are described as the wettest/stormiest periods.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Flat-and-chop conditions on a large sandy beach with shallow training water close to shore; widely described as safe/reliable for beginners and also suitable for freestyle, freeride, and foil once in deeper water.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Freeride and freestyle on flat/chop water; slalom/foil mentioned with the afternoon thermal kick.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Suitable for wingfoiling with consistent moderate winds; deeper water after the initial shallow sandbar (about 50–100 meters from shore).
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil friendly once past initial shallow area.
- Min Depth
- Approximately 1.5 meters after the first 50-100 meters from shore.
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Puntone Beach (Scarlino) in the full forecast view.
Puntone Beach (Scarlino) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–17 ktsGusts 26 kts
- Direction
- NNE23°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2417 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–1.7 m3s period
- Temperature
- 10–22 °C
Over the next 7 days, Puntone Beach (Scarlino) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–17 kts, peaking around 17 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 26 kts. The prevailing direction is NNE. Waves run 0.1–1.7 m with a period of about 3s. 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
- Pier and port jetty to the north
- Swimmers near the beach outside the kite zone
- Boat traffic near the harbor entrance
- Possible underwater debris near the canal mouth
- Muddy/yellowish water reported in summer
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguards reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability described as limited at spot-level; nearby medical and rescue services are available.
- Emergency Info
- Medical center and rescue services available in Scarlino and Follonica; emergency medical/rescue access mentioned nearby.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Sources indicate no localism.
Rules of the spot
During the summer season (June to September), use designated kite lanes/channels and stay outside the swimmer zone; launch from designated lanes only.
- Use launching areas only
- No riding inside the swimming area
- Respect port entrance exclusion zones
- Use designated kite lanes/channels in summer
- Use designated launching areas and kite lanes during the summer season
- Expect wind to be stronger and cleaner 200–300 meters offshore compared to the launch site
- Check local beach club rules, as some zones are managed/controlled by specific schools
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Follonica
- Nearest Town
- Scarlino
- Nearest Airport
- Pisa International Airport (PSA) (also Florence Airport referenced)
- Parking
- Nearby parking available; many areas paid during summer.
- Public Transport
- Accessible via Follonica railway station with onward local bus connections; also described as reachable by road to the port area.
- Access
- Short walk from parking; drive south from Follonica to the pier and access water south of the pier (directions via SS1 highway/port area also mentioned).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Italian
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping sites, holiday apartments, and hotels are described as plentiful in Puntone and Follonica.
- Food & Drink
- Multiple beach bars and restaurants are described as located directly on or adjacent to the spot.
- Equipment Rental:
- Full rental for kitesurfing, windsurfing, and wingfoiling is available at local schools.
- Gear Storage
- Gear storage available at local sports centers and beach clubs for a daily/seasonal fee.
- Gear Repair
- Basic kite and board repairs offered by local centers.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
One of Italy’s most famous white-sand beaches, accessible via a forest trail.
Extensive network of hiking and mountain-biking trails through Mediterranean macchia.
Upscale dining and bars overlooking the yacht harbor.
Large tropical-themed water park for children and families.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Puntone Beach (Scarlino)?
The best overall months at Puntone Beach (Scarlino) are May, June, July, August, September. The best wind months are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November.
Which wind directions work at Puntone Beach (Scarlino)?
Puntone Beach (Scarlino) works with W, NW, SW winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Puntone Beach (Scarlino)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Puntone Beach (Scarlino): Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–30 kts.
What skill level is Puntone Beach (Scarlino) suitable for?
Puntone Beach (Scarlino) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner · Windsurfing: Beginner · Wingfoiling: Beginner.