🇨🇻 Santa Maria, Sal
Cape Verde · Africa · All Cape Verde spots →
Best directionNE
Wind speed18–28kt
SeasonNov – Jul
Skill levelAll levels
WaterFlat + waves
A volcanic island in the mid-Atlantic that catches the NE trade wind almost year-round, with a long sandy bay and reef breaks close by.
View live 5-day wind forecast →Good to know
Getting thereAbout 15km south of Amílcar Cabral International Airport, roughly 15-20 minutes to Santa Maria. A 4x4 or a cheap local Aluguer (shared taxi) is needed for the bumpy dirt tracks to Kite Beach on the east coast, where parking is free right by the sand. Santa Maria Bay is directly walkable from most local hotels for in-town freeriding.
HazardsAt the main Kite Beach, wind is side-onshore, but the entry has a rocky reef ledge that can catch fins at low tide. At Ponta do Sinó or Santa Maria Bay, wind turns cross-offshore — a real drifting hazard where beginners should rely on a local school's jet-ski rescue arrangement, not go it alone.
Best time of dayMid-morning through afternoon, winter trade wind season (November-April). Arrive by mid-morning for the most stable wind and to secure beach space before peak training groups arrive.