Ikarus Kiteboard Mexico (Cancun, Mexiko)

ABOUT THE SURF CAMP

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LOCATION AND SURF CONDITIONS

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You can inform yourself about the weather and wind conditions at windguru.cz,
ikitesurf.com, windy.com, buoyweather.com, wunderground.com and windfinder.com

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CAMP CHARACTER

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First kiteboarding school in the Riviera Maya since 2002, 18 years of experience.
We can teach all ages between 10 and 99 years, and all levels from beginner to expert.

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CAMP OPERATOR

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We began the Ikarus Project in 2002, the same year we opened up in Playa del Carmen IKARUS SURF SHOP the first Kite shop in México. A year later we started with the first Kite School in the South-East region of Mexico.

ACCOMMODATION AND CATERING

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ACCOMMODATION TYPES

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Ikarus is an ecological hotel and camping site located only 20 minutes north of Cancun´s downtown in the Chacmuchuch lagoon Natural Reserve.

You can stay in one of our 10 rooms:

1 room with king size,

2 rooms with 2 full size beds,

3 rooms with 1 full size bed + 1 single bed and

4 rooms with one full size bed and 2 single beds.

All rooms have a private bathroom, hot shower, free WI-FI, fan.

(sorry NO Air conditioned),

We generate our own electricity with a solar system you can also Camp in one of our tents (or in your own), or sleep in a hammock “Mexican style”. Camping, RV and eco-travelers welcome….

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CATERING

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There is a Cafe Restaurant in the Camp.

SURF COURSE AND ACTIVITIES

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SURF COURSE DETAILS

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Student’s standards
Kiteboarder level 1
The following tables are a detailed explanation of the different skill levels that you can achieve.

The certification standards have been designed to:
– validate your levels, from your first body drag to your first jump,
– allow instructors to know exactly what you have learned and from what point to take up your training,
– allow kiteboarding centers to know exactly what kind of equipment you are capable of renting.

DISCOVERY KITEBOARDER PROGRAM
Level Competences

A-1
Carry and set up the lines and kite.
Determine the wind direction and upwind and downwind (windward, leeward).
Fly a small kite (inflatable, stunt kite, foil.) on the wind window edge and maintain it close to the ground.
Know how to stop the kite power in case of a problem by releasing the bar. Be aware that the kite leash must be worn at all times, before kite launching and until landing.

B-1
Be aware of the area where the kite can fall downwind to the pilot.
Recover the kite on land.
Position the kite on request from 9 to 3 o’clock on the wind window edge.
Launch a kite with an assistant and choose the right angle to the wind.
Fly the kite in the power area without crashing it.
Twist and untwist the lines while the kite flies.
Recover a kite and secure it on land.
Land a kite with the help of an assistant.

C-1
Fly a kite hooked to the harness.
Pilot hooked to the harness with one hand.
Activate the harness release system or quick release located on a leader line.

D-1
Perform a downwind course by body dragging and using the power of the kite.

E-1
Relaunch a kite from the water.
Wind the lines in the water and recover the kite.
Perform a self-rescue in deep water.
Launch a kite alone on land.
Identify potential wind obstacles creating lift or down draft and be able to define the wind direction. Understand that practice with onshore wind is dangerous.
INTERMEDIATE KITEBOARDER PROGRAM
Level Competences

F-2
Define if the practice area is safe for practice.
Set up and check the equipment alone (kite, line, control bar).

G-2
Go away from the shore (with side-shore and side-on-shore wind) while body dragging, go downwind and come back to the shore.
In the water, pilot a kite with power from one side of the wind window to the other, passing by the power area. The pilot must be able to perform while piloting the kite at different heights from the water.
Perform the previously mentioned exercise while piloting with one hand.

H-2
. Know the water start theory: board and body positioning, kite piloting.
Recover the board in deep water and position the feet in the foot-straps and keep the position while flying the kite.

I-2
Stand up on the board and ride while moving the kite up and down.
Tie the board leash alone.
Set up a 4 line kite alone and check that it is properly done. Obligatory at this point if it hasn’t been done before.
Fly 4 line kite.
Activate the safety systems of a 4 line bar (power loop, leash).
Adjust a four-line kite while using the power loop.
Adjust the trim system of a 4 line kite to avoid it to fly backward or to adjust the power.
INDEPENDENT KITEBOARDER PROGRAM
Level Competences

J-3
Know the right of way rules.
Ride away from the shore and come back to the shore.

K-3
Edge on the heel and toe side to change the course.
Accelerate by edging down and moving the kite.
Stop by edging.
Be able to keep an edge.

L-3
Ride away from the shore and come back at the starting point. Ride upwind.
Constantly ride upwind.

M-3
Recover the board without the leash, by body dragging upwind.
Ride a twin tip. Optional if it has been done before.
Switch of direction.

N-3
Know the theoretical approach to jumps.
Perform a small jump and land it.

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SURF MATERIALS

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You can buy and rent the materials in the Shop of the Camp.

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OTHER ACTIVITIES

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- S.U.P.
- Kayak
- Kiteboarding Meditation
- Swimming Pool
- Beach
- Bar
- Garden
- Kids Playground
- Amazing Sunsets

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MORE INFO, HOW TO GET THERE & FAQ

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 SURF CONDITIONS

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Breaks directly at the main spot and at nearby spots
Flat and shallow water, professional instruction, special gear designed to learn/teach, watercraft support.

Seasonal conditions
best winds starts in jan and ends may.

Windy Season nov to june

Nov to march is called (TEMPORADA DE NORTES) winds are affected by north fronts coming from north america … , winds from the north can be strong (35+kts) and cold (3/4 full wetsuit suggested). especially the first 2 days , first wind come from N-W , than from the NORTH then switch clockwise ..N-E, EAST, S-E, and losing usually power and getting warmer , until another north comes in.
Normally nice warm south-east wind blows the days before before the north comes. we normally use 8mt ,12mt, 15mt kites for average 70 kg rider

During wimter oct to march some days temp can go down to 12 grades celcius with north winds and winds from 12 to 30 kts but can be strong as 45 kts s

When south east temp can be from 18 to 27 and wind 12 to 25 and up to 30 kts with gust some days

Important:
STING RAYS are often around, if you get stung you need to submerge your foot in very hot water to neutralize the poison of the protein injected , for about one hour. Is very painful but usually pain disappear after one-two hours.

SCORPIONS there are scorpions around as in all mexico, the one in this area are not very dangerous the stung just is little painful and can produce cotton-mouth and light buzzy effects

SNAKES we have few around but they are mostly boa they are harmful.

CROCODILES  lives in remote areas of the lagoon, be sure not to end up far away downwind when off-shore , in many years we didn t see many

MOSQUITOS at sunset they can be very annoying, during the day if there is now wind we can have no-see-hum, tiny mosquitos.

TRAFFIC POLICE they are hiding to get you speeding the limit, be careful

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 SURROUNDINGS / REGION

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Characterization of surroundings/region
As the peninsula is located in cancun, it is full of white sandy beaches with water at bathtub temperature.

Activities and facilities
One must have done is go to the Cancun downtown. There you can do several things like vistit the ancient Mayan ruins of El Meco, go taking a dinner or lunch at La Habichuela or partying in the Yaxchilan Avenue.

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 JOURNEY

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Ways to get to the camp

From CANCUN AIRPORT
the cheapest way is an ADO (airport-cancun) bus to downtown (every half an hour) , then from downtown a taxi will cost around 200-300 (15 usd)
Taxis from airport and shared shuttle vans runs from 40 usd  to 90 usd

From CANCUN DOWNTOWN
Taxi from Cancun Downtown should cost around 15 usd
Driving, the easiest way is to follow Av. Bonampak  all the way towards north, then this same street turns into a road called PROLONGACION BONAMPAK …a drive between the mangrove, leaving on your right side Puerto Juarez and Punta Sam pass Hotel Villas del Palmar until you arrive to a roundabout with the Playa Mujeres Hotels entrance ( A BIG GATE!)
Next right you find a paved road. You follow that paved road all the way with the golf course on your right until there´s a roundabout where there starts a new big paved road. You follow this road until it becomes a dirt road. Drive 3 km of dirt road until you find an IKARUS sign on your left, and a big blue post on your right! You turn left and follow the sandy road few hundred meters until the end, and you’ve arrived! We are on the lagoon side!

From CANCUN HOTEL ZONE
Hotel taxi (expensive), or a  taxi on the street (cheaper) or a
Hotel-zone Bus to downtown and then a taxi from there to Isla Blanca should be around 15 usd
If you are driving from the hotel zone. at km Zero turn right and take  Av. Bonampak then this same street turns into a road called PROLONGACION BONAMPAK …a drive between the mangrove, leaving on your right side Puerto Juarez and Punta Sam pass Hotel Villas del Palmar until you arrive to a roundabout with the Playa Mujeres Hotels entrance ( A BIG GATE!) Next right you find a paved road. You follow that paved road all the way with the golf course on your right until there´s a roundabout where there starts a new big paved road. You follow this road until it becomes a dirt road. Drive 3 km of dirt road until you find an IKARUS sign on your left, and a big blue post on your right! You turn left and follow the sandy road few hundred meters until the end, and you’ve arrived! We are on the lagoon side!

Important details
If you are driving be careful to follow the speed limit (60 Km – 37 Mph)  Police with radar checking speed are often on the road.

The PUBLIC TRANSPORT minibus stop in Cancun is at the (EL CRUCERO) corner with Av. Tulum and Av. Lopez Portillo next to the Farmacia CANTO. You take the minivan White and red that says Isla Blanca….minibus .schedule should be 7 am, 11 am, 4 p.m. and back half an hour later if you take a taxi, just say Isla Blanca almost at the end,, 1 km after Cabañas Pirata Morgan (now Cabañas Playa Blanca) . Just in case you miss it after 1 mile the dirt road ends on the beach and you cannot go further.

From ISLA MUJERES  You can take a taxi from the dock of Puerto Juarez or the minibus coming from El CRUCERO  will pass by   7,10 am, 11,10 am, 4, 10 pm

From PLAYA DEL CARMEN – TULUM   Take a bus to Cancun and a taxi from Cancun bus station to Isla Blanca.

PACKAGES & PRICES

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Kitesurf prices - from70 USD per Person

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PRIVATE BEGINNER LESSON PACKAGES - from 195 USD per person / 2 hours

GROUP BEGINNER LESSON PACKAGES - from 150 USD per person / 2 hours

PRIVATE ADVANCED LESSONS - from 100 USD / 1 hour

PRIVATE LESSON WITH PERSONAL EQUIPMENT - from 85 USD / 1 hour

SUPERVISION W/EQUIPMENT RENTAL - from 85 USD per 1 hour

SUPERVISION WITH PERSONAL EQUIPMENT - from 70 USD per 1 USD

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Rentals - from 10 USD per 2 hours

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COMPLETE EQUIPMENT RENTAL - 80 USD

KITE RENTAL - 55 USD

BOARD RENTAL - 30 USD

HARNES RENTAL - 10 USD

WETSUIT RENTAL - 10 USD

S.U.P. RENTAL - 15 USD

* Credit card voucher and valid ID required for equipment rental

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Accommodation prices - from 10 USD per Night / Person

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Double Room - 75 USD per night (2 person Extra person 10 USD - Child 5 USD . Max. capacity 4 persons per room. )

BIG TENT Ikarus Ecological Hotel - 25 USD per night (one person with shared bathroom and shower +10 USD for second person)

SMALL TENT Ikarus Ecological Hotel - 15 USD per night (one person with shared bathroom and shower)

HAMMOCK Camping - 10 USD per night (one person with shared bathroom and shower)