San Giovanni (Cagliari)

San Giovanni (Cagliari) is a long sandy beach spot on Sardinia’s southeast coast, known for crystal-clear water and predominantly chop. It’s typically a kitesurf-first location, with NE and SE winds bringing choppy conditions and small-to-medium wave activity, while the beach width makes launching practical even on busier summer days. Wind is best with NE/SE flow and is supported by a thermal/sea-breeze pattern during summer afternoons, with the strongest reliability reported in spring and early summer. A common pattern is an afternoon peak in the sea-breeze window, and kiters should expect moderate gustiness. Offshore NW conditions are the ones most likely to feel unreliable and turbulent near the shoreline, so plan launch decisions accordingly. Safety is the main operational focus: there is a long concrete mole/breakwater at the southern end of the beach that creates a hard obstacle and can generate dangerous turbulence around it. Expect to treat the mole area as a restricted/low-tolerance zone while you ride, and follow summer separation practices when swimmers are present (designated kite zones). Riders are also advised to avoid the southern river-mouth area due to changing sandbars and currents. Beyond kitesurfing, the spot can work for wingfoiling thanks to deep, sandy water without reported submerged rocks. Windsurfing is suitable for freeride and slalom/bump-and-jump in appropriate conditions, and surfing is only occasional—generally producing average-quality mushy beach-break waves when onshore NE/SE swells coincide with a wind lull, with short ride lengths and a tendency to close out on very large swell.