Tortuga / Abruzzo / Italy

Pescara is located along the Adriatic coast of Italy and sits in a beautiful spot in the Abruzzo region. It is here that you will find Tortuga beach, located to the north of the harbor at Pescara. It is a popular spot with windsurfers and kitesurfers who have at least intermediate experience since there are a few potential hazards here. The season runs from April to November.

The beach is large and sandy and quite wide. There is a harbor wall to the south and some wooden pillars around which could be hazardous and why this spot is not suited to beginners. It gets quite crowded here during the summer months of June, July and August and time restrictions could well be in place.

The winds come mainly from the south west, which can bring relatively high temperatures in the winter months and also north east winds which can bring rain and even snow, from Siberia. The summer months mostly see fairly stable south west winds which work well at this spot. The water is crystal clear and is mainly flat to choppy. There is also a large shallow area. Further out there are some wave breaks which you need to be aware of. The summers are warm and you can get by with just a pair of shorts or a shorty, although come the winter months and you will need to suit up accordingly.

There is a lovely promenade at Pescara and plenty of small beachside bars and cafes serving up fresh fish of the day. Pescara has a good choice of accommodation as well as shops and restaurants. The nightlife is fairly laid back and centers mainly around the sea front bars and hotels.

Be careful to stay clear of the harbor wall and surrounding pillars and also watch out for the wave breaks in the water. During the summer months look out for swimmers in the water.