Everyone told me Salinas del Rey wasn’t worth the detour. On paper, they had a point. The water’s a bit brown, there’s chop on the outside, and it’s first and foremost a wave spot, not the glassy turquoise lagoon you might be picturing when you think Caribbean kiting. But I’d driven up from Cartagena to see it for myself, and by the end of my first sunset session I understood exactly why riders keep coming back – and why so few of them tell you about it.
This is my honest guide to kiting Salinas del Rey, in the village of Santa VerΓ³nica on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. If you’re already heading to Cartagena and wondering whether the trip out is worth it, this is for you.
Getting there: easier than its reputation
Let’s get the logistics out of the way first, because this is the part that surprised me most. Salinas del Rey is roughly a two-hour drive from Cartagena – smooth highway the whole way, no all-day mission and none of the sketchy roads you might brace yourself for. Barranquilla is even closer, around 45 minutes, and both cities have international airports. So while the spot feels remote and wonderfully off the beaten track once you arrive, getting there is genuinely simple.
That combination – a wild, quiet spot that’s still easy to reach – is rarer than it sounds, and it’s a big part of why Salinas works so well.
The conditions: honest version
Salinas del Rey has quietly become Colombia’s most famous kite spot, hosting stops on the GKA Kite World Tour. But it earns that reputation through wind and waves, not through postcard-perfect flat water.
Here’s what to actually expect:
β Wind – steady side-on trade winds (the “Alisios”) from the northeast. The season runs roughly December to April, averaging 20-30 knots, with February and March the windiest months – sometimes pushing 35. May through July still sees lighter 15-25 knot days if you want a quieter, less powered-up trip.
β Waves – this is a wave spot at heart, with swell rolling in from the Atlantic. You’ll find waves of around 1 to 2.5 metres out the back, perfect if you like a bit of action.
β Flatter water – prefer it calmer? The inside of the bay stays flatter and more forgiving, so there’s something here whether you’re a confident wave rider or just want a steadier session.
β Kite sizes – the most-used size is a 9m, but bring a range from 7m to 12m to cover the conditions.
A word of caution, because I’d rather you arrive prepared: the launch area can be narrow and there are rocks nearby, so it’s a spot that rewards a bit of experience. If you’re a total beginner, take a lesson with one of the local schools rather than going it alone.
The sunset session I wasn’t ready for
I can talk about wind stats all day, but the thing that actually stayed with me is harder to put into a spec sheet. The sunset session at Salinas is something else.
Riding into golden light with windmills and palm trees lining the beach behind you – it doesn’t really look real. After a day of trade winds and waves, the evening light softens everything, the crowd thins out, and you get these long golden minutes on the water that feel like the whole reason you came. That’s the image I left Colombia with, and it’s the one that keeps pulling me to recommend this place despite all its rough edges.
Where to stay: Kite Eco House
I stayed at Kite Eco House, about a ten-minute walk down the sand from the spot, and it shaped the whole trip. Beachfront bungalows, a restaurant on site, and an easygoing eco-conscious vibe that fits the wild setting perfectly. Some nights the place next door turns into a proper evening – a DJ, food, the lot – which is a lovely surprise given how remote it all feels.
And it does feel remote. There’s not much else around for miles. But that’s the trade you make, and honestly it made the whole thing better. No noise, no crowds, no distractions – just wind, waves, sunset, and a bungalow a few steps from the beach.
β Kite Eco House – beachfront bungalows, on-site restaurant, ten-minute walk to the spot, genuinely relaxed atmosphere.
If you want somewhere with food, showers, shade, gear rental and lessons all close to the launch, the area around the main spot has you covered too – it’s more set up than its under-the-radar reputation suggests.
So, is Salinas del Rey worth it?
If you want flat turquoise lagoons and effortless beginner conditions, there are easier spots in Colombia – head up to the Guajira region for that. But if you want a real wave spot with steady wind, an easy drive from Cartagena, almost no crowds, and a sunset that you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve flown home, then yes – absolutely make the drive.
The water’s a bit brown. There’s chop on the outside. Hardly anyone talks about it. And after one golden session riding past those windmills, I understood that those were never the reasons to skip it – they were the reasons it stays so special.
If you’re building a bigger trip around it, Salinas slots perfectly into a week on the coast and inland – I’ve put together a full 7 days in Colombia itinerary covering Cartagena, the coffee region, Minca and Santa Marta alongside this spot.
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