Windsurfing in Bonaire
Caribbean, Dutch Caribbean
By NP7 Crew · Updated
Steady trade winds and a waist-deep turquoise lagoon: effortless windsurfing
Bonaire at a glance
- Best time
- December-August
- Typical wind
- 10-20 knots
- Level
- All levels · dedicated beginner coaching
- Water
- Waist-deep flatwater, sandy entry, 25-30°C water
Bonaire month by month
| Month | Avg wind | Session days | Air |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16 kn | 98% | 27°C |
| Feb | 16 kn | 96% | 26°C |
| Mar | 16 kn | 95% | 27°C |
| Apr | 15 kn | 95% | 27°C |
| May | 17 kn | 99% | 28°C |
| Jun | 17 kn | 100% | 28°C |
| Jul | 17 kn | 100% | 28°C |
| Aug | 14 kn | 96% | 29°C |
| Sep | 14 kn | 98% | 29°C |
| Oct | 12 kn | 68% | 29°C |
| Nov | 13 kn | 81% | 28°C |
| Dec | 15 kn | 97% | 28°C |
Model data from Open-Meteo, Jan 2023 to Jul 2026 (about 3.5 years), daytime 9:00 to 18:00. Session days: days with at least 2 hours in a row of 11+ knots (or 16+ knot gusts) between 11:00 and 19:00. Not a wind meter on the beach.
Bonaire is the definition of effortless windsurfing. Lac Bay's waist-deep turquoise flatwater and steady trade winds make it one of the best places on earth to learn, progress and ride freestyle. Mistakes don't hurt here, you just step off, laugh and try again. The windsurf scene centres on Jibe City at Sorobon Beach. Off the water there are mangroves to kayak, reefs to snorkel, flamingos overhead and the laid-back island life of the Dutch Caribbean.
Watch: Bonaire guide: windsurfing in a swimming pool
What to wear in BonaireNobody has said yet · Tell usNobody has said yet · Tell us
Been here? Pick the season, then tap what you wore.
How windy Bonaire usually isDecember-AugustDecember-August
Each bar: how often it blew between 9:00 and 18:00 in that month, counted over about 3.5 years of weather records for this area. Not a wind meter on the beach: where hills or a gap speed the wind up (Canaries, Tarifa), it often blows more than this shows.
Which forecast works in BonaireVote yoursVote yours
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Which forecast nails it here? Vote the model you trust.
It's the forecast model. In any wind app (Windguru, Windy…) you can pick which one to show. Not sure? GFS is the safe global default; the high-res ones (ICON-D2, AROME…) are sharper at coastal & thermal spots.
Global models
High-resolution (thermal / coastal)
The spots (2)
Lac Cai
Tested by NP7: we've been here · Advanced · Choppy, Flat water
The wild side of Lac Bay. Same steady trade wind, but you launch from the old conch-shell piers on the north shore where the water runs deeper and a short chop builds across the bay.
Sorobon (Lac Bay)
Tested by NP7: we've been here · Beginner · Flat water
A giant natural swimming pool. Lac Bay is waist-deep, turquoise and dead flat almost everywhere, with the trade wind blowing side-onshore across the lagoon.
Info from 1 rider
The wild side of Lac Bay. Same steady trade wind, but you launch from the old conch-shell piers on the north shore where the water runs deeper and a short chop builds across the bay. It's great for full-power blasting and chop-hop practice. No centre, no rescue, no shade: bring everything you need and sail with a buddy.
No one has said yet what to watch out for here, or how easy it is to launch.
- Best
- Works
- No-go
Info from 1 rider
A giant natural swimming pool. Lac Bay is waist-deep, turquoise and dead flat almost everywhere, with the trade wind blowing side-onshore across the lagoon. You can stand wherever you fall, and the water is 27°C+ all year. It's the easiest place on earth to learn, and at the same time a world-famous freestyle training ground: beginners drill tacks on the inside while pros throw culos fifty metres away. Jibe City has the gear, the beach bar and the vibe.
No one has said yet what to watch out for here, or how easy it is to launch.
- Best
- Works
- No-go
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