Destinations · Roundup

Where to Go in July: Best Watersports Bases

by Yannick SchrothAug 5, 20267 min read

A paraglider prepares for takeoff on a scenic sandy dune by

Photo: Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto via Pexels (free licence).

July starts the Brazilian wind season, which runs for half a year, opens the short Azores window, and brings the strange, cold-water attractions of Indonesia and the Maldives into their peak. Every pick below is a base we have a full guide for, and the reason it works in July comes from that guide's own season notes. Seasons shift year to year, so treat these as planning windows and confirm conditions before you book.
This is a summary; the guides hold the verified figures.

How we chose

July is the month with the most options and the least value, so the useful question is not where works but where is worth the peak-season price. July is peak season in two hemispheres at once. It is the most expensive month on this list and the most reliable, with Indonesia, the Mediterranean and northern Europe all working together. Every base here is included because its own guide names July as part of its working window, not because the weather is generally nice, and where a place is marginal we say so rather than padding the list to a round number.

2°50′S 40°24′W · Kitesurfing

Prea

The trade winds blow almost daily at 20 to 35 knots from roughly July to January.

Wind season startsRead the guide → 3°37′S 38°44′W · Kitesurfing

Cumbuco

The wind season runs broadly July to December, with warm water year-round.

Trades fill inRead the guide → 2°47′S 40°31′W · Kitesurfing

Jericoacoara

The reliable window is roughly July to January, with the sweet spot September to November.

Season opensRead the guide → 37°44′N 25°40′W · Diving & adventure

The Azores

Best conditions run roughly mid-July to mid-October, when water peaks near 23C and the pelagic sites open.

Short window opensRead the guide → 8°44′S 115°33′E · Diving

Nusa Penida

Mola mola season runs roughly July to October, on cold, deep dives; mantas are there all year.

Mola mola seasonRead the guide → 3°54′N 73°21′E · Diving

Maldives local islands

Manta season peaks July to October, and the wet southwest monsoon is the best time for the big filter-feeders.

Manta peakRead the guide → 63°00′N 150°00′W · Packrafting

Alaska

July and August are the warmest and most predictable months, which is why most first-timers book then.

Safest windowRead the guide → 34°23′S 72°00′W · Surf

Pichilemu

July is often the most consistent and the most serious month at Punta de Lobos.

Most consistentRead the guide →

Also good in July

Essaouira, where July is the windiest and gustiest month.
Arugam Bay, most consistent July to August.
El Gouna, in its June to September core wind season.

FAQ

Where can I see mola mola or mantas in July?

Nusa Penida has its mola mola window roughly July to October, on cold, deep dives that suit confident divers, plus mantas year-round at Manta Point. In the Maldives, manta season peaks July to October and the southwest monsoon draws in the big filter-feeders.

Is July the start of the Brazil kite season?

Yes. Prea and Cumbuco start around July, and Jericoacoara's reliable window runs roughly July to January. The strongest weeks come later: Prea peaks August to November and Jeri's sweet spot is September to November.

Sources

Every entry above is drawn from our own destination guide for that place, and the claims here are the ones those guides already verify: Prea, Cumbuco, Jericoacoara, The Azores, Nusa Penida, Maldives local islands, Alaska, Pichilemu.

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