Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain
magazine article
magazine article
Kitesurfing Catches On!
- Ecuador Reporter Online
Holidays where a little goes a long way
- The Guardian UK

IKO Certified Kite Lessons

Impress your friends and family when you return home, have a blast learning this amazing new sport. Our lesson packages are the cheapest in the world with full courses starting as low as $300.00 USD! What are you waiting for? more

Learn Spanish & Kitesurf

Learn and study the Spanish language in full immersion with our partner language school in Ecuador. Enjoy spanish classes in the morning followed by ripping kite sessions in the afternoon. What could be better? more

Have a question? Ask Robert...

A veteran with over 10 years in this infant sport, Robert Bedoya is an accomplished and renowned Level 2 Senior IKO Instructor who can answer all your questions about kiting in Ecuador... more

Gliding over the water, being powered by the wind and warmed by the sun.

Ecuador is the new kitesurfing hotspot on the Pacific Coast. If you love the outdoors, feel at home by the ocean and share that passion for travel then Kitesurfing is the sport for you.

Ecuador's kitesurfing haven (Santa Marianita), is a best kept kite secret - an ideal kiteboarding location for all types of riders beginner or experienced.

As a beginner you will be comforted by the 4 km long white sandy beach, with lots of space for you the take your time and learn at your own pace.  The warm water and friendly faces on the beach make Santa Marianita it a relaxed learning atmosphere.

Wind like clockwork, blowing in at 10am on the side on direction and winding down as the sunsets around 6pm. At the Southern end of the beach there is a great point that offers a great spot to start a downwinder, and on the days with swell you will not need to go anywhere as the point provides some fun waves for riding.

Enjoyed by all riders it doing the down wind to Manta.  This is an impressive 20km stretch of Pacific Coast that you get to see the land from the unique view from the water. Passing little fishing towns a long the way.

A hilite for most riders is riding along side whales.  These big guys are cruising down the coast from July until the end of August.  This is truly a once in a life time experience, forget Galapagos and snokelling with seals, be part of the real adventure in Santa Marianita.

Conditions

For those who are already addicted here is the need to know info:

  • Wind average: 16-24 knots
  • Kite Size: 8-12 meter
  • Wind season: May to mid Jan
  • Swell season: Nov to April
  • Water Temp: 20 Celsius

Please note: wind guru does not give a true reading of our wind conditions. We are happy to send you up-to-date conditions report via email Contact us for more information

Courses

We guarantee after taking our IKO based courses, you will need to be close to the water for the rest of your life! Be it lake, ocean or bay, you will be scouting your next playground.

For all the course have the duration of 8 hours instruction and we supply everything, the kite, harness, life jacket, helmet, board. All you need to bring is a good attitued and your board shorts! After your time with us at Ecuador Kitesurf, you will recieve your own IKO card, that will enable you to rent gear all over the world.

We certify at all IKO Levels, please click on the level you are interested in for the course layout:

IKO Leve1 1 - Basic Course

  1. Basic knowledge and understanding of the wind
  2. Equipment
    • Parts
    • Set-up
  3. Security systems
  4. Controlling the kite
  5. Practice with the foil (training kite)
  6. Raising the kite in the correct direction
  7. Neutral points, points of power, points of traction, self rescue
  8. Body dragging (practicing controlling the kite in the water)
  9. Re-launch
  10. Self rescue
  11. Water start
    • Exercises on the sand
    • Practice using the board in the water

IKO Level 2 - Intermediate

  1. Theory of wind patterns, currents and tides
  2. Practice in the water with kite and board
  3. Learning to tread on the edges of the boards and obtaining more precise control of the kite
  4. Direction control
  5. Basic jibe
  6. Board recovery in deep water without leash
  7. Adjust a 4 line kite using the power loop

IKO Level 3 - Advanced

  1. The right of way rules
  2. Ride Point to point (ride away from the shore arrive back to the shore inline with where you started)
  3. Constantly ride upwind
  4. Change direction
  5. Know the theoretical approach to jumping
  6. Perform a small jump and land it

IKO Assistant Instructor's Course

This 3 day will provide you with a  qualification to start you off in a career of kitesurfing:

  • Day 1 - Assessment of Prior knowledge and Riding level
  • Day 2 - Learning how to teach the IKO based program, and the role of an Assisstant
  • Day 3 - Assisstant an instructor with a real student

Each day is 4 hours, if your riding or knowledge is not up to standard then you will be asked to take additional days reach the standard required.

Why IKO?

The correct and safest way to get started with kiteboarding is to take a course with an instructor certified by IKO (international organization of kiteboarding). In Kiteboarding it is important to follow the safety rules no matter what your technical level may be. This is why it is best to learn in a safe supervised environment with experienced IKO instructors.