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Praia Chaves kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot
Cape Verde · Boa Vista
Overview
Praia Chaves (Praia de Chaves) is a stunning long beach on the west coast of Boa Vista Island, Cape Verde. It's considered one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Cape Verde — a seemingly endless stretch of white sand backed by dunes.
For kitesurfers, Praia Chaves offers exceptional variety: open ocean waves averaging 1–2.5m along the exposed beach, plus a mangrove lagoon about 300m inland with flat, shallow water. This means you can wave ride on one tack and cruise into the lagoon for flat water on the other.
The Iberostar and VOI resorts are located behind Praia Chaves, and some kite schools operate from this area with boat support. It's a popular downwind destination from Sal Rei.
The spot is more exposed than Praia Carlota, with side-shore to side-offshore wind creating excellent wave riding conditions for intermediate to advanced riders.
Spot forecast for Praia Chaves
Sunrise 06:25 · Sunset 18:07
Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo
Tides
Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 3 km from the spot.
- Tuesday 20 October High tide · 0.7 m Low tide · 0.4 m High tide · 0.6 m Low tide · 0.4 m
- Wednesday 21 October High tide · 0.8 m Low tide · 0.3 m High tide · 0.7 m Low tide · 0.4 m
- Thursday 22 October High tide · 0.8 m Low tide · 0.3 m High tide · 0.7 m Low tide · 0.3 m
- Friday 23 October High tide · 0.9 m Low tide · 0.2 m High tide · 0.8 m
- Saturday 24 October Low tide · 0.2 m High tide · 0.9 m Low tide · 0.2 m High tide · 0.9 m
Praia Chaves: when to go?
Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)
429h
in March · 31 rideable days
The season runs from October to June, peaking in March: 30 rideable days a month and 429 hours of usable wind, at 28 °C. The low point is August, at 14.5 days.
Rideable days per month
Wind strength when it is rideable
When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 51% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is March, at 25 °C. The wettest month is August, with 61 mm.
Monthly averages: Praia Chaves
| Month | Rideable days | Usable wind | Temperature | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.0 | 376 h | 28 °C | 0 mm |
| February | 28.5 | 390 h | 27 °C | 0 mm |
| March | 31.0 | 429 h | 25 °C | 0 mm |
| April | 29.5 | 392 h | 27 °C | 3 mm |
| May | 31.0 | 444 h | 27 °C | 1 mm |
| June | 29.5 | 431 h | 27 °C | 0 mm |
| July | 18.0 | 200 h | 28 °C | 8 mm |
| August | 14.5 | 136 h | 29 °C | 61 mm |
| September | 23.0 | 249 h | 30 °C | 56 mm |
| October | 27.5 | 361 h | 31 °C | 15 mm |
| November | 29.5 | 352 h | 30 °C | 24 mm |
| December | 30.5 | 398 h | 27 °C | 6 mm |
Photo gallery of Praia Chaves
Ridden here? One photo or video, and the spot comes alive for everyone discovering it.
Technical details of Praia Chaves spot
The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, ENE.
Spot functioning
Launch from the long sandy beach. The main riding area is the open ocean with waves breaking along the coast.
The mangrove lagoon (~300m inland) provides a flat water alternative — you can literally ride from ocean waves into the lagoon and back. This unique feature makes Praia Chaves one of the most versatile spots on Boa Vista.
Wave riding: waves break left and right along the beach, 1–2.5m average. Good for building wave skills in a less intimidating environment than Ervatao.
Popular as a downwind destination from Sal Rei/Praia Carlota.
Spot opening date · Required level
- Spot opening date
- Open all year round
Year-round, main season November to May. Waves December to February with northwest swell.
- Required level
- Intermediate
On the water
Open Atlantic with waves 1–2.5m average, bigger on strong swell days. Sandy bottom along most of the beach. Mangrove lagoon flat water nearby.
Water temperature 22–26°C. Shorty or boardshorts, 3/2mm on windy days.
Spectacular white sand beach, turquoise water.
Parking
Praia Chaves is on the west coast of Boa Vista, south of Sal Rei. Accessible by taxi or 4x4 (~15 minutes from Sal Rei), or as a downwind trip from Praia Carlota.
The Iberostar and VOI resorts provide beach access. Some kite schools operate from this area (Boavista Kite at Iberostar).
The beach is very long — choose your launch point carefully relative to the wind direction and lagoon access.
Wind specificities
The NE trade wind at Praia Chaves blows side-shore to side-offshore. The beach faces west, so the trade wind comes from the right and slightly from behind.
Wind strength: 15–25 knots in season (November–May). Can be stronger than at sheltered Praia Carlota. Kite sizes 7–12m.
The open exposure means the wind is clean and consistent, without the gustiness caused by buildings at Sal Rei.
Hazards
Side-offshore wind: the NE trade wind has an offshore component here. If you drift too far downwind (south), you're heading toward the exposed southwest tip of the island with open ocean beyond. Do not ride alone.
Waves: 1–2.5m average, can be bigger. Shore break possible. Not a beginner spot.
No rescue at most of the beach: only the resort areas may have boat support. Most of Praia Chaves is completely wild.
Currents: possible along this exposed stretch of coast.
Lagoon hazards: the mangrove lagoon is shallow with soft bottom. Be careful not to get stuck.
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Live
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Webcams near Praia Chaves
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Schools, shops and places to stay nearby
Directory: Cape Verde
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