Wingfoil Cape Verde: Sal and Boa Vista Spot Guide

Wingfoil in Cape Verde comes down to two islands: Sal and Boa Vista. The archipelago has ten volcanic islands, about 570 km off the coast of Senegal, but these two are where the wind, the spots and the schools are. Both are flat, dry and treeless, which is exactly why the wind blows so cleanly. The northeast trades arrive over open Atlantic with nothing in the way, and they stay for months. Both islands have waves, both have flat water. Boa Vista has the big, easy bay in front of Sal Rei. Between them you get flat water to learn on, side-offshore wind for freeride, and one of the best wave spots on the wingfoil tour. Sal has one of the most iconic breaks in the world: Punta Preta, and other iconic spot Alibaba (only for super pro's). But there is something for everyone. This guide covers where to launch, what the wind data says, and which months are worth the flight.

The wind here is the northeast trade wind, the same system that pushed sailing ships across the Atlantic. It is not a thermal and it does not depend on fronts passing through. It blows because of the permanent pressure gap between the Azores high and the equator, and it blows hardest in winter. Local riders and most guides put the reliable window from November or December to April or May.

The ERA5 record backs that up. Ten years of daytime data at Praia do Estoril show northeast wind on nearly nine days in ten from November to February. From January to May the average is 13 to 14 knots, and wind of 13 knots or more blows during 54 to 65 percent of daytime hours. In April and May the wind slides toward north, which matters for how the waves line up. July and August fall to 13 and 9 percent. ERA5 has a coarse 31 km grid and reads a little low on small islands. The Windfinder station at Rabil airport on Boa Vista averages 14 to 16 knots from January to May, with gusts of 23 to 25, and the Sal airport station averages 13 knots over the whole year. Riders on the ground put a normal session at 15 to 23 knots from January to April.

Sal is the island most people mean when they say Cape Verde. Santa Maria, the town on the south coast, has the airport connection, the shops and the spots within a short drive. The island is small enough that you can chase wind and swell in the same day.

Kite Beach sits on the protected side of Sal, where the reef takes the swell out of the water and leaves a wide, shallow stretch of flat water. The trades blow side onshore, so a drifting rider ends up back on the beach. It is the obvious place for first sessions and for riders working on gybes and foil control.

Punta Preta is the other end of the scale. It is on the southwest coast, where Atlantic groundswell hits a reef and the northeast wind blows side offshore, grooming the faces. It has hosted wingfoil world tour wave events, including the 2024 stop. The reef is exposed at low tide and the break is for confident riders who can read sections and handle a real ocean. Check the tide and the swell before you commit to the walk.

Alibaba breaks on the northern tip of Sal and has the reputation of being the heaviest wave on the island. Powerful swell stacks onto shallow reef. It works when Punta Preta is too small, and it asks more of you when it is big. This is not a spot for a first reef session.

Boa Vista is flatter, emptier and quieter than Sal. The main town is Sal Rei, a small port with a handful of restaurants, a few guesthouses and the wingfoil stations along the beach. Outside the town you find long beaches and almost nobody on them. It never feels crowded, even in peak season. There is not much to do besides riding and eating, which is part of the appeal.

Praia do Estoril is the home spot of Sal Rei, a short walk from the town and the most accessible launch on the island. The wind comes offshore from the buildings, so the first few hundred metres can be gusty, and it steadies as you move downwind. Past that, the water is flat and shallow without current, which suits learning. A harbour wave breaks a bit further out toward the port. It is forgiving at normal size, powerful when the swell is big, and riders who do not want to take it on can gybe in the leftover swell instead. When there are no waves, the beaches to the left of Estoril get cleaner wind because nothing blocks it.

Praia Varandinha runs along the southwest coast, an empty desert beach where dunes meet turquoise water. The trades blow cross offshore and the break is for advanced riders. There is no town, no shade and no help close by, so go with a plan and a second person.

Pick Sal if strong and powerful waves are the goal, if you want more spots within reach, or if you want a town with more life in the evening. Pick Boa Vista if you want wide open flat water, an easy home bay and quietness and a more easy going wave (there are more powerfull waves though, it just needs more driving) . Both islands have the same wind. Many riders do a week on one and add a few days on the other, but the inter-island ferries are slow and the crossing can be rough, so plan on flying.

The season is starting. Wind is northeast and steady, with enough days to plan around but fewer than in spring. The water is at its warmest after summer. Early swell can arrive. A 3/2 wetsuit is usually enough.

The core of the season. Northeast wind on most days, the best waves of the year from December to February, and water around 22 degrees with air at 20 to 25. Bring a 4/3 for long sessions. This is also the busiest period, though crowds on both islands stay small by European standards.

Still windy, with the wind drifting north. Swell is smaller. A good time for flat water sessions and cheaper flights. Punta Preta gets less consistent.

June is workable. July to September is light and unreliable, and the rainy season runs from roughly July to October. Do not book a wingfoil trip here in those months. October starts to recover.

Both islands have wingfoil schools on the beach. Most seasonal stations close in summer, so check the opening dates before you book.

Surfhub Cabo Verde teaches wingfoil on Kite Beach in group courses from three to eleven hours and as private training. They do not rent out wingfoil gear. ION Club Santa Maria sits on the beach in Santa Maria and offers lessons, rental and storage. Santa Kite Cabo Verde teaches wing foil lessons and rents gear, with a base in Santa Maria.

Planet Allsports has its station in the bay of Sal Rei, with boat based training and rescue support, which matters when the wind is offshore. Courses start daily in groups of two or four. Wind Sports Center works from Bahia Beach Club on Praia do Estoril. Beginners always go out with a boat, and rental can be booked. Duotone Pro Center Boa Vista, run by ION Club, offers wing foil lessons and rental with Duotone and ION gear, ten minutes on foot from Sal Rei. Windclub François Guy on Praia do Estoril lists wingfoil among its activities, so confirm it when you book.

Whichever school you pick, check that it follows students by boat. Offshore wind is the thing to respect. At Estoril the water in front of the station is flat because the wind blows from land, but it also means a rider who loses the board drifts out to sea. Do not ride alone and do not go beyond the range of the rescue boat. Outer reef breaks on Boa Vista are for experts only, with a boat escort.

Getting there. Direct flights run from several European cities to both Sal and Boa Vista. From Amsterdam it takes about six hours. Book early, since last-minute prices climb. Airlines differ on sports gear, so check the baggage rules before you pack a board.

Getting around. In Sal Rei you can walk. For the other beaches on Boa Vista, hire a 4x4 or join a driver-led day trip, roughly 70 to 80 euros a day for a pickup. On Sal, Santa Maria to the spots is a short drive.

Gear. The water is shallow in many places. A 90 cm mast works, and shorter masts such as 80 cm are often enough at Estoril. Sand and rocks mean booties are a good idea. Wing sizes of 4 to 5 m cover most of the winter days. On light days a 6 m helps.

Money and water. The currency is the escudo, though euros are widely accepted. Do not drink tap water. Buy bottled. Most food is imported and groceries cost more than at home, while restaurants are affordable and the fish is good.

Families. The beaches suit children, but family accommodation is limited on Boa Vista, so check before booking with a young child.