K
Kite/the/Planet

Your ever growing guide to:

  • Kite spots across the entire world
  • Kite schools across the entire world
  • Kite surfaris across the world
  • Accommodations, photographers, instructors — and more

The last place you'll ever go to plan a solo or group trip.

No spam. One launch announcement, then occasional updates only if you ask.

Have a beta account?

Los Roques Archipelago, Federal Dependencies

LOS ROQUES

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve archipelago 160km north of Caracas — turquoise tidal flats between the cays, NE-E trade wind from December through August, and no roads, cars, or ATMs. The entire logistics chain runs on USD cash and posada relationships. The lagoon's famous flat-water session zones are tide-dependent: the massive shallow sandbars that make Los Roques sessions distinctive are exposed at low water and submerged at high. Local posada guides track the tidal schedule as part of their daily operation.

Dec – Aug (peak Jan – May)
Wind Season
28–30°C / 82–86°F
Water Temp
18–28 kts
Peak Wind
Jan – May
Peak Months
Click to interact

Launch Spots

Launch Spots

◆ Click a pin to jump to the launch below

Los Roques Main Lagoon

Intermediate
Click to interact

The primary session environment — the shallow lagoon between the cays of Los Roques. At low tide, vast sandbar flats are exposed, creating the distinctively flat and turquoise kite conditions that define the destination. At high tide, portions of the flat-water zone are submerged and less accessible. Session planning requires matching tide schedule to the best exposed flats — local posada guides track this daily. The NE-E trade wind crosses the open lagoon without obstruction. Posadas in Gran Roque coordinate kite gear transport between cays and provide guide service to the best session areas on any given day. Kite Los Roques and a small number of other local operators provide instruction and rental.

FreestyleFreerideFoilTide-dependent

Hazards: Tide-dependent session zones — submerged hazards at high water on some flats. Sharp coral edges on cay perimeters — water shoes required for walking sections. No rescue infrastructure between outer cays. Self-sufficient gear management between islands. Jellyfish presence seasonal — ask posada guide before sessions.

Access: Fly-in only: flights from Caracas (CCS) or Porlamar (PMV) to Gran Roque airstrip (LRV). Small prop planes; 30–45 min flight. No advance booking of flights without direct contact with local operators or airlines — online booking infrastructure is unreliable. Posadas typically coordinate arrival logistics.

Gran Roque Village Area

All Levels

Coordinates pending: local verification required

The main inhabited island and access point — the Gran Roque airstrip (LRV) is here, along with the majority of posadas and restaurants. The beach immediately adjacent to Gran Roque village has some kite activity but is not the primary session area. Its value is as the logistics hub: posadas here coordinate gear transport to the best lagoon flats, organize daily sessions with guide knowledge, and manage the cash economy that runs the entire archipelago. First-time visitors should start at Gran Roque and let the posada structure route them to the right cay for their first session.

BeginnersFreeride

Hazards: Boat traffic near the village waterfront. The village beach is not the primary kite zone — use it for orientation, not primary sessions.

Access: Gran Roque airstrip (LRV) is the entry point for the archipelago. All logistics begin here.

Wind & Conditions

Wind & Conditions

69/100Wind Reliability
MonthWindWindy DaysWater TempNotes
Jan18–26 kts
85%
28°C / 82°FPeak season. NE trade wind strong and consistent across the lagoon.
Feb18–26 kts
87%
28°C / 82°FPeak. Best overall conditions. Trade wind dominant.
Mar18–28 kts
88%
28–29°C / 82–84°FPeak. Often the strongest month. Tidal flats at their most consistent.
Apr16–25 kts
84%
29°C / 84°FPeak. Very good trade wind; one of the best booking windows.
May15–23 kts
78%
29°C / 84°FGood. Trade wind reliable; shoulder season. Last strong month before summer lightening.
JunPEAK13–20 kts
68%
29–30°C / 84–86°FGood. Wind easing but still reliable. Lower visitor density than peak.
JulPEAK12–18 kts
62%
30°C / 86°FModerate. Wind lightening toward summer low. Foil-friendly conditions more common.
AugPEAK11–17 kts
56%
30°C / 86°FTail end of season. Lighter and more variable. Ferrying to the right flat becomes more critical.
Sep8–13 kts
38%
30°C / 86°FOff-season. Lightest month. Not recommended for kite travel.
Oct9–14 kts
42%
29–30°C / 84–86°FOff-season. Wind unreliable. Trade wind rebuilding late month.
Nov13–19 kts
62%
29°C / 84°FTrade wind rebuilding. Improving from mid-November. Some posadas reopen for season.
Dec17–24 kts
80%
28–29°C / 82–84°FSeason opens. Reliable trade wind returns. Posadas begin filling with kite travelers.

Kite Size Guide

More info coming soon for this spot.

Water & Wetsuit

Water Temp
28–30°C / 82–86°F

Stays & Safaris

Where to Stay

Stay

Accommodation with Kite School

Every camp below includes a kite school or gear rental operation. The camp you pick shapes your whole trip — position, gear brand, and vibe vary significantly.

beach

Kite Los Roques (Gran Roque based)

Duotone

Sessions from ~$80–120 USD/day including guide and transport to session zone
beach

Posada-Inclusive Model (Gran Roque posadas)

Varies by posada

$150–200 USD/day all-in (posada + meals + kite logistics); full USD cash

Safaris

Operator-Led Safari Trips

More info coming soon for this spot.

Culture & Landscape

Culture & Landscape

The Land

Los Roques is a coral atoll archipelago — roughly 350 islands, cays and islets scattered across 40.61 km² of land, ringed by two barrier reefs (24 km on the east, 32 km on the south) that enclose a 400 km² shallow central lagoon. Declared a National Park on August 8, 1972, and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1996, it is administered by INPARQUES. Gran Roque is the only permanently inhabited island; the rest are sand-and-coral cays — Francisquí, Madrisquí, Crasquí, Nordisquí, Cayo de Agua — whose '-quí' suffix derives from the Carib/Arawak word for 'key.'

The People

Gran Roque was settled around 1910 by fishing families from Margarita Island, and that Margariteño lineage still defines the village. The permanent population is roughly 1,500, augmented by ~300 seasonal fishermen who set up temporary camps on the outer cays during open-season months. Spanish is the only language. Gran Roque produces around 90% of the lobster consumed in Venezuela — the village economy runs on a tight loop of artisanal fishing (langosta, queen conch, finfish) and posada tourism, with the same families often working both sides.

Traditional Culture

The Virgen del Valle is the patron saint of Los Roques, Margarita, Coche and most of eastern Venezuela's coast — and the protector of fishermen and sailors. Every September 8, Gran Roque holds a week of celebrations: boats first visit the underwater statue of the Virgin off Francisquí, then return to the village for mass, a procession that stops at decorated home altars, and fireworks. The Venezuelan Navy carries her image on every vessel. The lighthouse on Gran Roque dates to the 1800s and was rebuilt by a Dutch contractor — Dutch and Italian influence shaped local trade and place names, layered over the Margariteño fishing base.

Music

Music in Los Roques follows the eastern Venezuelan coastal tradition that the Margariteño settlers brought with them — gaita oriental, polo margariteño, joropo, and the four-stringed cuatro at the center of any informal gathering. Afro-Venezuelan rhythms (carángano, marimba barloventeña, tambor drums) circulate through the broader Venezuelan musical canon and appear at the larger Virgen del Valle and Christmas-season parrandas. There is no nightclub scene; village music happens at posadas, on the dock, and around the September festival.

Heritage & People

Heritage & People

The Land

Los Roques is a coral atoll archipelago — roughly 350 islands, cays and islets scattered across 40.61 km² of land, ringed by two barrier reefs (24 km on the east, 32 km on the south) that enclose a 400 km² shallow central lagoon. Declared a National Park on August 8, 1972, and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1996, it is administered by INPARQUES. Gran Roque is the only permanently inhabited island; the rest are sand-and-coral cays — Francisquí, Madrisquí, Crasquí, Nordisquí, Cayo de Agua — whose '-quí' suffix derives from the Carib/Arawak word for 'key.'

The People

Gran Roque was settled around 1910 by fishing families from Margarita Island, and that Margariteño lineage still defines the village. The permanent population is roughly 1,500, augmented by ~300 seasonal fishermen who set up temporary camps on the outer cays during open-season months. Spanish is the only language. Gran Roque produces around 90% of the lobster consumed in Venezuela — the village economy runs on a tight loop of artisanal fishing (langosta, queen conch, finfish) and posada tourism, with the same families often working both sides.

Traditional Culture

The Virgen del Valle is the patron saint of Los Roques, Margarita, Coche and most of eastern Venezuela's coast — and the protector of fishermen and sailors. Every September 8, Gran Roque holds a week of celebrations: boats first visit the underwater statue of the Virgin off Francisquí, then return to the village for mass, a procession that stops at decorated home altars, and fireworks. The Venezuelan Navy carries her image on every vessel. The lighthouse on Gran Roque dates to the 1800s and was rebuilt by a Dutch contractor — Dutch and Italian influence shaped local trade and place names, layered over the Margariteño fishing base.

Music

Music in Los Roques follows the eastern Venezuelan coastal tradition that the Margariteño settlers brought with them — gaita oriental, polo margariteño, joropo, and the four-stringed cuatro at the center of any informal gathering. Afro-Venezuelan rhythms (carángano, marimba barloventeña, tambor drums) circulate through the broader Venezuelan musical canon and appear at the larger Virgen del Valle and Christmas-season parrandas. There is no nightclub scene; village music happens at posadas, on the dock, and around the September festival.

Pro Scene

Pro Scene

More info coming soon for this spot.

Community & Events

Community & Events

Fiesta de la Virgen del Valle

September 8 (week-long lead-up)

The patron saint festival of Los Roques. Boats visit the underwater Virgen del Valle statue off Francisquí, then converge on Gran Roque for mass, a procession past home altars, and fireworks. The most concentrated cultural event of the Los Roques calendar — but September is also the lightest wind month, so it does not overlap with kite season.

Lobster season opening (apertura de langosta)

October 1 (close: end of January)

The seasonal opening of the spiny lobster fishery is the village's economic anchor — by national regulation the season is closed February through September. The opening week brings ~300 seasonal fishermen back to outer-cay camps and shifts the lancha and dock economy. Lobster on posada menus is in season October–January only; what shows up on plates the rest of the year is frozen or imported.

Beyond the Kite

Rest-Day Itinerary

More info coming soon for this spot.

Food, Dining & Social

Food & Drink

More info coming soon for this spot.

  • Posada-Inclusive Dinner (Gran Roque posadas)

    Venezuelan Creole / Included

    Most Gran Roque posadas include dinner in the room rate — fresh fish, Caribbean vegetables, and local Venezuelan cooking. The meal is part of the posada structure, not a separate restaurant visit. This is the primary dining mode for kite travelers on Los Roques. Ask your posada specifically about the dinner arrangement when booking.

  • Chiringuito El Canto (Gran Roque)

    Seafood / Beach Bar

    Casual seafood restaurant on Gran Roque's main street — one of the few standalone dining options outside the posada structure. Fresh fish, grilled lobster (when available), cold beer (Polar, the Venezuelan national beer). Cash only — USD. One of the few places to eat independently without a posada dinner included.

  • El Coqui (Gran Roque)

    Local / Venezuelan

    Small local restaurant on Gran Roque serving traditional Venezuelan dishes — pabellón criollo (black beans, rice, shredded beef, plantains), fresh fish preparations, and arepas. The closest thing to mainland Venezuelan cooking available on the island. Cash only — USD.

More info coming soon for this spot.

Transport & Logistics

Getting There & Around

✈️

Airport

LRV — Gran Roque Airport, Los Roques Archipelago

🛂

Visa

Visa-free for most nationalities to Venezuela — verify current travel advisories

Most nationalities enter Venezuela visa-free for tourism. However: Venezuela's political situation means travel advisories from US, UK, EU, and Canadian governments currently advise against or recommend caution for Venezuela travel. Los Roques is generally considered safer than mainland Venezuela but Venezuelan entry and exit rules apply. Check your government's current advisory before booking. Travel insurance with medical evacuation is non-negotiable.

🛟

Safety

Archipelago generally safe relative to mainland Venezuela — travel insurance essential

Los Roques is consistently described by experienced travelers as significantly safer than mainland Venezuela. The archipelago is small, well-known to tourists, and the posada community has strong incentive to maintain safety for visitors. However: Venezuela travel advisories apply at entry and exit. Medical facilities on the archipelago are minimal — serious injuries require evacuation to Caracas. Medical evacuation insurance is not optional. Only use established posadas and kite operators with known track records — avoid informal arrangements from unknown contacts.

KTP Differentiation

What Nobody Else Tells You

Cash-only USD economy — bring $150–200/day in cash, then add a buffer

Los Roques has no ATMs and accepts no card payments at any posada, restaurant, kite operator, or shop. The Venezuelan bolívar is not useful for foreign visitors. The entire economy runs on USD cash. A realistic daily budget is $150–200 all-in — posada, meals, kite session, transport between cays. Running out of cash on a fly-in island with no access to money has no good solution. Experienced Los Roques travelers carry 20–30% more USD than their estimated budget. This is not a contingency — it is the standard practice.

Posada booking IS the kite logistics booking — one decision, not two

Los Roques posadas typically include breakfast, dinner, and logistical support — including kite gear transport between islands and guide knowledge of the best cays on a given tide schedule. This is structurally different from other kite destinations where accommodation and kite school are separate bookings. On Los Roques, the posada owner often IS the kite guide or has the direct relationship with the right operator. When booking, the question to ask is not 'is there a kite school?' but 'does this posada coordinate kite sessions?' Those that do are a different product category from those that don't.

Tidal flat sessions are tide-specific — arriving without a guide misses the windows

The Los Roques lagoon has sections where low tide exposes massive shallow sandbars — these are the session zones that define the destination's visual identity. At high tide, the same sections are submerged. Local posada guides track the tidal schedule as a core part of their daily operation and route riders to the right cay at the right time. Arriving in Los Roques without guide service means either missing the flat-water windows (by being at the wrong place at the wrong tide phase) or spending significant effort figuring out the tidal schedule independently — tide charts exist but knowing which flat works at which tide level requires local knowledge accumulated over seasons.

From the Community

No stories yet

Be the first to share what made this spot worth the trip.

Share your story →