Between the two main islands of the Philippines – Luzon in the North and Mindanao in the South – lies the central part, thousands of other islands of all sizes, from several hundred kilometers long to tiny rocks or sandy patches in the middle of the sea. This article will deal with the part of this area that gets the most days of good wind suitable for Kitesurfing during Amihan season. It is located roughly between Bicol peninsula, Mindoro, Panay and the Northern half of Palawan (Area 2).
The two prime Kitesurfing areas in the Philippines
The Area is subject to a transition of the weather pattern similar to the North Coast during Amihan season. Starting from the Northeast on Bicol peninsula, which gets hit by the North-Easterly Monsoon first and is rather rainy and cloudy during this time of the year, it turns to absolutely dry in the North of the Sulu Sea, the Calamianes Islands (Coron) and Northern Palawan. Here, the sun shines almost every day. You can count the days of rain during Amihan season on one hand. They are usually just light showers, except during the odd typhoon. (Amihan is not typhoon season, but they can sometimes occur this time of the year). Generally, the beginning of the season (November and December) is more prone to precipitation than the rest (January to April).
The North of Sulu Sea is one of the areas with the best wind in the Philippines. Check the article on Kitesurfing season in the Philippines to see where it is located. Spots with an infrastructure for kiters around this area are well known: Boracay to its East, the origin so to speak. Cuyo is to its South. Northern Palawan (El Nido – San Fernando) and the Calamianes (Coron) to the West. All of the above get the good wind most of the time but not always, depending on strength and direction of the Amihan. Please check the individual spot descriptions.
Here is a list of reviews for the Kiteboarding spots of the area that have an infrastructure for kite surfers, each highlighting the destination’s pros and cons.
If you have enough time, consider some exploring; there are hundreds – if not thousands—of kite spots out there, and many of them are still virgin territory. Check out the article on Transport if you feel like you need some (Philippine-related) tips.
