Useful Preparation

• Google Translate: download the app and set Brazilian Portuguese to offline mode, so you can always make yourself understood, even without internet access.
• Money: You can withdraw cash almost everywhere — make sure your card is set to “world” or “South America.” It’s also handy to keep some cash with you.
• Internet & Coverage: depending on your provider, you can purchase a data bundle. There’s good Wi-Fi almost everywhere, and along the entire route the mobile signal is generally good — except in the Parnaíba Delta, where it can be weak or unavailable.
• Time Difference: Brazil is usually 4 to 5 hours behind the Netherlands. Tip from the instructors: go out and enjoy the nightlife the first few evenings! It’ll help you adjust to the Brazilian rhythm right away.
• Sun Protection: on the first day, be extra careful with the sun. The UV index is extremely high — apply plenty of sunscreen and wear a lycra, otherwise you’ll feel it later in the week.

Fun Facts About Brazil
Here are a few fun facts — useful to know or great for your next pub quiz:

• Brazil is the only country in South America where Portuguese is spoken.
• The Brazilian real (BRL) is the local currency; 1 euro equals about 6 reals.
• Cachaça, the local rum, is the main ingredient of the famous caipirinha cocktail.
• The country has the longest kiteable coastline in the world — over 7,400 kilometers!
• Brazilians love football and music, especially samba and forró.
  In the northeast, the wind blows almost all year round — that’s why it’s the hotspot for downwinders and kitesurf trips.
• The standard European plug works in Brazil.
• It’s best not to drink tap water; buy bottled water instead — it’s cheap and available everywhere.

Are you arriving a few days early in Cumbuco? Then you’ll be staying with Isaac, the friendly and proud owner of Kitesoul — our spot in Cumbuco 🇧🇷 His place is in a great location, just outside the center and only a five-minute walk from the beach and kitespot — perfect for a few extra days of kiting, relaxing, and getting into the flow.

During the day, we usually kitesurf right out front, and for lunch, we always go to Outro (highly recommended!):
👉 Outro on Google Maps

Fancy a downwinder in Cumbuco? Call our trusted buggy driver and local legend Mateus.
Available via WhatsApp: +55 85 9768-9200
💪 He’ll arrange your pickup at the lagoon and can also organize guided downwinders. ⚠️ Important: never go on a downwinder alone — always go with a group for safety.

During these days, there will be no KiteActive crew present at Kitesoul, as we’ll be busy with other downwinders at that time. If you need anything, you can always contact the KiteActive office in the Netherlands via WhatsApp or email, or simply talk to Isaac — he’ll be happy to help you out, even with finding a nice restaurant in Cumbuco’s center.
📞 Isaac [WhatsApp]: +55 85 9762-0351

Here you can find the route and briefing for the Cumbuco downwinders:
👉 Downwinders Cumbuco

Airport Transfers – Fortaleza to Cumbuco or Jericoacoara
As soon as you land at Fortaleza Airport (FOR), your Brazilian kite adventure begins. To keep everything running smoothly, it’s important that we receive your flight details and arrival time (AM/PM).

Double-check your details
Please check whether your name and flight details appear on this transfer list.

Do you see your name? Then you can be sure you’ll be picked up.
Haven’t submitted your details yet or need to make a change? Please add or edit them yourself via this link — this keeps everything up to date and ensures no one is forgotten.

Transfer to Cumbuco
For everyone, the airport transfer from Fortaleza to Cumbuco is included.

Our regular driver André will be waiting for you at the airport exit. You’ll easily recognize him by the KiteActive logo he’s carrying clearly.

André: +55 85 8888-2772
Felix: +31 627881463
Roderick: +31 613177079

There’s Wi-Fi at the airport, so you can contact André and/or our team via WhatsApp if needed.

The drive to Cumbuco takes about 1 hour, depending on traffic.
Most participants spend the first nights at KiteSoul — a great place to acclimatize, rest after the flight, and ease into the Brazilian rhythm.

KiteSoul / Isaac: +55 85 9762-0351

Not staying at KiteSoul? No problem — just share the exact location where the driver can drop you off in Cumbuco.

Transfer to Baleia
Baleia is approximately a 3–4 hour drive from Fortaleza. KiteActive offers transfers from Fortaleza and Cumbuco on October 31 around 17:00 and on November 7 at 17:00. Arriving at another time? Please contact our team!

Transfer to Jericoacoara
Want a transfer to Jericoacoara?
It’s not included in the price, but we’re happy to help arrange it.

Costs range between €80 and €250, depending on the vehicle type (car, SUV, or 4×4) and the number of passengers.

The ride takes about 5–6 hours, but along the way you’ll experience the real Brazil: vast sand dunes, colorful villages, and a beautiful coastline. Our drivers are happy to stop for a snack or a photo break.

Flight delayed or coming on your own?
If your flight is delayed, let our team know via WhatsApp or email.
Also try to update your arrival time in the sheet — our local team monitors this list continually so André knows when to expect you.

Coming to Cumbuco on your own?
Then please indicate in the sheet (or directly to our team) what time you expect to arrive, so that if possible someone from the team can be there to welcome you.

• Drink plenty of water (from bottles, not from the tap).
• Protect yourself well from the sun with sunscreen and a lycra.
• There are hardly any mosquitoes along the coast, so no worries there.
• Make sure you have your basic vaccinations (DTP and Hepatitis A).
• Bring a small travel first-aid kit (band-aids, painkillers, ORS, etc.).
• And very important: a good travel insurance that covers kitesurfing! 🏄‍♂️🇧🇷

Important: it is crucial that you always listen carefully to the crew and skipper briefings and stay alert at all times!

You’ve booked a high-risk adventure: some of you will be kitesurfing in the Parnaíba Delta, one of the largest deltas in the world. Participation is always at your own risk.
If you’re unsure about your gear, your skill level, or the water conditions, always consult with our crew — they do their utmost to ensure your safety.

In general, all places we visit with KiteActive are safe and friendly, but it’s still important to be sensible with your belongings and surroundings.

Safety Tips

• Do not drive yourself: we ask you not to drive our jeeps. We have dedicated local drivers who know the routes and conditions well. This keeps things safe for everyone.
• Stay with the group: traveling together is always safer and more fun than going solo. Especially during downwinders or transfers, it’s important to stay with the group.
• Watch your gear: make sure your kite equipment is packed in your boardbag each day. Our team will store it safely, but it’s still your responsibility to ensure your gear isn’t left lying around on the beach or at the accommodation.
• Valuables: don’t bring too many valuable items and use a waterproof drybag or waist pouch while kiting.

Insurance (mandatory and your own responsibility)
It’s mandatory that you arrange the following insurance coverage — this is your personal responsibility:

• Travel insurance with worldwide coverage.
• Insurance that covers kitesurfing and other watersports (not all standard policies include this).
• Check your health insurance: medical costs abroad are not always fully covered.
• Optionally, consider additional sports coverage or an “extreme sports” add-on for extra security.
• If you’re unsure about good coverage or the right insurance, feel free to ask us — we’re happy to advise based on experience.

During the downwinders in Brazil, we make sure you never hit the water hungry or thirsty. 🌴

Breakfast is included every day. Expect a delicious Brazilian start to the day with fresh fruit, bread, tapioca, eggs, coffee, and juices. ☕🍉

During the downwinders themselves, we provide snacks and drinks along the way — think energy bars, water, soft drinks, and occasionally some fresh fruit or an ice-cold coconut 🥥 to refuel on the beach.

Lunch and dinner are not included, but we eat together every day at the most beautiful spots along the way. You can expect fresh fish, local dishes, rice, beans, and tropical flavors. Each day has its own charm — from small beach shacks to local restaurants overlooking the ocean. 🇧🇷🐟

💰 Splitwise – fair and transparent sharing
To make all group payments smooth and clear, we use the Splitwise app during the trip.
This app automatically keeps track of who paid what and ensures that all costs are shared fairly within the group.

👉 Important:
Download Splitwise in advance (free for iOS & Android) and make sure to join the correct group for your week.

Are you in the Explore week?
→ Brazil Explore 1 / 24 Oct To 31 Oct / Roderick
→ Brazil Explore 2 / 1–9 November / Felix
→ Brazil Explore 3 / 13–21 November / Roderick
→ Brazil Explore 4 / 21–29 November / Felix

Are you in the Adventure week?
→ Brazil Adventure 1 / 31 Oct to 11 Nov / Roderick
→ Brazil Adventure 2 / 8 to 19 Nov / Felix
→ Brazil Adventure 3 / 20 Nov to 1 Dec / Roderick
→ Brazil Adventure 4 / 28 Nov to 9 Dec / Ian

Have you booked the XXL trip?
→ Then you’ll join both groups (Explore and Adventure).

Baleia – Relax
→ Brazil Relax 1 / 31 Oct – 7 Nov / Roos
→ Brazil Relax 2 / 7 Nov – 14 Nov / Roos

For each meal, we create different categories, for example:

Drinkers 🍹 / Non-drinkers 🚫
Main course only 🍽️
Starters and dessert included 🍤🍨

This keeps everything fair, transparent, and relaxed — no math, no confusion, just pure enjoyment. 😎

Communication is the Key to Success. Stay up to date!

→ Explore 1 / Starts 24 Oct with Roderick
→ Adventure 1 / Starts 31 Oct – Roderick
→ Explore 2 / Starts 1 November – Felix
→ Adventure 2 / Starts 8 November – Felix
→ Explore 3 / Starts 13 November – Roderick
→ Adventure 3 / Starts 20 November – Roderick
→ Explore 4 / Starts 21 November – Felix
→ Adventure 4 / Starts 28 November – Ian / Juliano

→ Relax 1 / Start 31 October – Roos
→ Relax 2 / Start 7 November – Roos 

The soundtrack of your trip

Music makes a journey. It adds atmosphere, energy, and emotion — during the sessions, in the jeeps, at the drinks, and on the beach. And let’s be honest: once you’re back behind your desk, one song will instantly take you right back to that moment in Brazil. 🌴💨

That’s why this year we’ve created two Spotify playlists:
🎧 Roderick Brazil 2025
🎧 Felix Brazil 2025
During the week, you can add your own songs — think road trip tracks for the jeeps, chill tunes after kiting, or beach party anthems at sunset.

🔊 JBL Speakers – we need you!

SUPER important: to keep the music pumping everywhere, we need as many JBL speakers as possible (preferably the models that can be linked together for extra volume 🔥).

👉 Let us know via WhatsApp or email if you’re bringing one, so we can coordinate and spread them across the jeeps.
Thanks a lot in advance! 🙌

📸 Photos & Videos – Memories for Life
During the downwinders in Brazil, there will be countless amazing moments — and of course, we want to capture them! We’ll use the WhatsApp groups for daily photo dumps so everyone can easily share and find their pictures.

💡 Pro tip: don’t forget to enable the HD option when sending your photos on WhatsApp — otherwise, those beautiful colors and details will be lost. Just tap that little HD icon before hitting send 😉

We from the KiteActive team will also be taking plenty of great shots and videos along the way — on the water, in the jeeps, and of course during the parties. We’ll collect everything so that after the trip, we can create an awesome recap video of the entire Brazil Downwinder. 🇧🇷🔥

📵 Prefer not to be on photo or video? No problem at all — just let one of the crew members know.

🎁 Photo Challenge!
Whoever captures the most epic photo during the trip wins a Wadden Weekend in 2026! 🏝️ So, charge your GoPro, drone, or phone, keep your eyes open, and go for that perfect Brazil shot 🌅📷

Most important of all: TRAVEL LIGHT! ✈️

We’ll be traveling across Brazil in 4x4s, and the less you bring, the smoother and more relaxed the trip will be.

If you care about your gear (which you should!), bring a board bag for your kiteboard. It helps prevent damage during loading and unloading. Every day, make sure to pack all your kite gear neatly back into your board bag — that way everything stays together, and nothing gets lost or broken. Don’t leave your gear lying around — the wind, sand, and sun won’t be kind to it. 😉

On travel days (non-rest days), please have your board bag ready after breakfast, around 9:00 AM. Our team will start loading the jeeps to make sure everything fits well and is safely secured.

Your other luggage — the one with your clothes — can be placed near the other jeep once you’re ready to go.

Keep your hot bag (carry-on or day bag) small and light (preferably not big or heavy!). You really don’t need much: two pairs of boardshorts, a few lycras, and your party shirt — done! 🏖️

In short: travel light, pack smart, and don’t leave things lying around. That’s how we keep everything safe, intact, and running smoothly throughout the adventure! 💨🇧🇷

The last day is usually one where everyone’s feeling it a little 😅 — the party in Jeri tends to hit just right. The vibe is relaxed, everyone’s a bit tired but filled with amazing memories from the trip.

On this day, everyone basically goes their own way. Some drive back to Cumbuco with our jeeps, while others extend their stay to chill a bit longer in Jeri or somewhere along the route.

👉 From Jeri, we usually depart around 11:00 AM and, with a lunch break on the way, arrive back in Cumbuco around 3:00 PM.
👉 From Atins, we leave a bit earlier, around 7:00 AM, and usually arrive in Cumbuco around 4:00 PM, with several stops and breaks along the way.

If you’d like to stay an extra night at our Kitesoul Pousada in Cumbuco after the downwinder, please let us know in advance so we can reserve your room. 🏠

Would you like to get off somewhere along the way, for example at a nice spot between Jeri and Cumbuco? That’s totally possible — just coordinate with us. As long as it’s on the route, we can drop you off, and you can easily take a taxi for the final stretch to your next destination. Easy! 🚙✨

It’s always a beautiful ending — the last few kilometers with sand in your hair, a smile on your face, and a head full of new memories. 🇧🇷💨