Best Surf Spots in Boa Vista Cape Verde

Boa Vista in Cape Verde is year-round a perfect sunny destination. Known as a kite and windsurf paradise. You are probably wondering where you can find the best surfing spots on the island? This article is all about the best surfing spots in Boa Vista. 

The best surf spots in Boa Vista are: 

• Ponta Antonia
• Santa Maria
• Praia do Estoril
• Bahia Beach (Praia Carlota)
• Hotel Ria Karamboa (Praia das Dunas)
• Praia das Chaves (Irebostar Hotels)
• Praia de Santa Monica (longest beach in Cape Verde)

Many surf spots are perfect for regular, Kite, and windsurfing. And have different areas for different skill levels. 

We traveled through the Cape Verdean Islands for 10 weeks. In Boa Vista, we stayed for a week to explore the island. The island has many different beaches, and because of the safe bays and reliable wind conditions, it is perfect for Kite and windsurfers. Time to find out more about the best surf spots in Boa Vista, Cape Verde. 

Surf Spot Ponta Antonia

You’ll find this surf spot on the east side of Santa Maria Beach. At the second most northern point of the island. It is probably the best beginner spot in Boa Vista because of the small waves and many flat areas in the bay. It is also a good spot when you’re looking for bigger waves, but you’ve to go further away from shore. Which can be a bit difficult because of the inland wind. 

The bay at Ponta Antonia is not a crowded spot most of the time. There’s a road leading to the beach. However, it is best to drive with a quad bike or four-wheel drive. 

Ponta Antonia is a safe spot, just like every other place in Boa Vista. However, because it is a quiet spot, it is best not to go alone, always go into the sea with a buddy. And inform the local surf shop or at your hotel that you go surfing in Ponta Antonia. 

Surf Spot Santa Maria

A trendy spot on Boa Vista is Santa Maria Beach. Praia de Atalanta, a famous shipwreck, located close to shore, is at this beach. 

During low-tide, it can be a perfect beginner spot, depending on the winds of the day. However, most of the time, Santa Maria is more experienced surfers. Waves and currents can be rough, which makes it challenging to get around when you’re on the water.

Santa Maria is the perfect place if you want to practice your freestyle wind or kitesurfing routines. 

Surf Spot Praia do Estoril

This beach is close to Sal Rei, the main village on the island. Praia do Estoril is not only a good beach for surfing but also perfect for a relaxing day enjoying the sun.

There are a few beach bars at this place, so ideal to combine sporting activities with relaxing. Also, the surf school ‘Planet AllSports Boa Vista‘ is located close to the beach, so easy if you need to rent equipment. 

From Praia do Estoril, you’ll have a perfect view at ‘Ilheu de Sal Rei,’ a small deserted island. Because of this island, the sea conditions are ideal for both beginner as the experienced surfer.

Surf Spot Bahia Beach (Praia Carlota)

Located close to Praia do Estoril, but slightly more south, you’ll find Bahia Beach. Also known as Praia Carlota. 

This spot is perfect for almost every beach and watersport activity. You’ll find a few (Kite)surfing schools along this beach. 

Also, it is the location of one of the most popular beach bars of Boa Vista, Morabeza Beachclub. We went there a few times to relax, have some excellent food and drinks. Always an excellent place to chill after a long day of surfing! 

Surf spot close to Hotel Riu Karamboa & Riu Boa Vista

The largest and one of the most luxurious hotels at Boa Vista are Hotels Riu Karamboa and Rui Boa Vista. It is a perfect place to stay when you’re visiting the island. The travel agency TUI manages both hotels. Later in this article, we’ll tell you the best ways to book a stay. You can directly follow this link to TUI and find out the latest offers in Boa Vista. From these hotels, you’ll have direct access to the beach. 

This beach is locally known as Praia das Dunas and has the same conditions as Bahia Beach and Praia do Estoril.

It is, however, busier at the beach and in the sea with people swimming and enjoying the water. 

With many shallow parts and designated areas for kitesurfers, it is a perfect place to learn Kite or windsurfing.  

Surf Spot Praia das Chaves (Irebostar Hotels)

Located next to Praia das Dunas is the beach Praia das Chaves. Many hotels and restaurants are located alongside this beach. The popular Irebostart hotels, as well as several TUI hotels, have direct access to Praia das Chaves. 

Praia das Chaves is a perfect beach for learning how to kitesurf. The beach is long and has a shallow coastline. So it is easy to get around when you’re making your ‘first steps’ into the kitesurfing sport. Boa Vista Kite is a kitesurf school that’s located directly on this beach. They offer several courses, including equipment. 

When you’re a more experienced kite or windsurfer, you can also rent the equipment at Boa Vista Kite. Praia das Chaves can also be an excellent place for the more experienced surfers. A bit further out the coast, you’ll find stronger winds and bigger waves. 

Surf Spot Praia de Varandinha

Praia de Varandinha is a secluded beach, which you can only reach by following a dirt road on your quad bike or four-wheel-drive through the dunes. It is often quiet, but every few hours, groups of tourists stop at the beach during their island tour. You’ll have a magnificent view, so when you’re not going here to surf, it is still a pleasure to visit this beach. 

Because this beach is so secluded, it is not recommended to visit it alone when you go Kite or windsurfing. Or even swimming can be dangerous. Varandinha beach is known for its big waves, continually changing tides and dangerous cliffs. It is a beach where even the most experienced surfers only go to when the wind is not heavy, and the waves not too big. 

Surfing at Varadinha beach in Boa Vista can be the experience of a lifetime when you get there with the right conditions.

Surf Spot Praia de Santa Monica (longest beach in Cape Verde)

The longest beach in Cape Verde, Santa Monica beach, is 22 kilometers long. The biggest hotel located at this beach is the Riu Touareg hotel from TUI. There’s not much to find at the beach, except for a few bars close to the hotel. 

Santa Monica can be excellent for Kite and windsurfing. However, the conditions can be different in various places along the beach. With a distance of 22 kilometers, you’ll sometimes have areas with better wind and surf conditions.

Kite & Windsurfing in Cape Verde

The trade winds, mostly coming from the African mainland, create perfect conditions on Boa Vista for watersports. 

Between July and September, it is less windy. This period is better for normal surfing (big wave surf) and learning the basics of Kite or windsurfing. The period between October and June is known as the windy months in Boa Vista. These months always have perfect conditions for both Kite and Windsurfing. 

Boa Vista has the longest coastline in Cape Verde, and you’ll find many surf spots along this coastline. Each surf spot has different qualities, and depending on your skill level, you can decide where to go. 

There’s only one big road running through the island. A few other roads are connecting the villages. Many roads are unpaved, and most of the beaches are only reachable by following a dirt road or sandy road. When you want to get around on the island, it is recommended to rent a quad bike or four-wheel drive. Which makes driving around Boa Vista much more convenient. 

Surfing in SAL

The neighboring island SAL is also an excellent place for Kite and windsurfing. Just like Boa Vista, Sal gets the tradewinds from the African mainland. 

So if you have enough time, and you go only for surfing to Cape Verde, I would recommend combining the two islands. In our article Best Things to do in Sal, you’ll find more information about this popular island and its famous surfing spots. 

Activities in Boa Vista

The island Boa Vista is not only famous as a surfing paradise. There’s much more to explore on this tropical Cape Verdean island. 

Did you know that there’s an extension of the Sahara desert in Boa Vista? It is called the Viana Desert and exists because of the trade winds coming from the African mainland, blowing Sahara sand toward the island.

Boa Vista is also known as one of the few places in the world where sea turtles come to shore and lay their eggs. A unique phenomenon that is protected by the Cape Verdean government. You can, when you’re at the island during the season, go on a guided tour and spot the turtles. 

When you’re kitesurfing during the whale season, don’t be surprised to come across humpback whales. These magnificent animals come to Boa Vista island to mate and have their young around the bays of Boa Vista. Its shallow, warm, and protected waters are the ideal environment for Humpback Whales during the mating period. 

Are you curious about the other things to do in Boa Vista? In our article ‘What Can You Do In Boa Vista?‘ I’ll tell you much more about these and many other activities on the island. 

Recommended Articles

When people telling me that they’re going to Cape Verde on holiday, and only visit Boa Vista or Sal, I often feel like they are missing out on something special. Don’t get me wrong, both islands are excellent, and you’ll have a great time. However, Cape Verde is much more than the two sandy, sunny islands of Sal and Boa Vista.  

If you have enough time, I always recommend planning a roundtrip through the island. The locals describe the island as 10 Islands, 10 Faces. Meaning that each island is different and his its own unique identity. 

We spend 10 weeks traveling throughout Cape Verde and visited almost every island. I wrote several articles that can be helpful and interesting to read when you’re preparing for your next trip to Cape Verde. You can find all the articles on our Cape Verde Category Page. 

Articles which you might find interesting are; 

What Can You Do In Boa Vista? 

Where we tell you more about the different highlights of the island Boa Vista. This is article is the complete guide you’ll need for fun activities when visiting Boa Vista

What is Cape Verde Famous For?

A complete article about the highlights of each Cape Verdean island. We also tell you more about the history, language, and culture. 

Do People Speak English in Cape Verde?

The official language in Cape Verde is Portuguese. However, it is also possible to get around speaking English on the more famous islands. In this article, you’ll find out where you can speak English, and which other languages are widely spoken in Cape Verde.