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Santa Maria / Sal kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot
Cape Verde · Sal
Overview
Santa Maria is the main tourist town on the southern tip of Sal Island, Cape Verde, sitting in the middle of a wide 3 km bay of white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water. A popular kitesurf and windsurf hub with hotels, restaurants, bars and multiple water sports centres lining the beach.
The bay offers freeride conditions with flat to choppy water inside, while 2-metre waves break at either end of the bay (Ponta Leme to the east, Ponta Sino to the west). The wind blows side-offshore to cross-shore depending on your position along the beach, making it gustier than Kite Beach due to the buildings and land mass disrupting the trade wind flow.
Not ideal for absolute beginners as there can be significant shorebreak when a swell is running, and the side-offshore component requires the ability to go upwind. However, the textbook conditions make it excellent for slalom, speed, freestyle and freeride. The spot is also the starting point for downwind runs to Ponta Sino and beyond.
Santa Maria is the base for most visitors to Sal, with easy access to all the island's spots. The pier in the middle of the bay where fishermen land their daily catch is a local landmark.
Spot forecast for Santa Maria / Sal
Sunrise 06:25 · Sunset 18:07
Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo
Tides
Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 4.8 km from the spot.
- Tuesday 20 October High tide · 0.6 m Low tide · 0.3 m High tide · 0.5 m Low tide · 0.4 m
- Wednesday 21 October High tide · 0.7 m Low tide · 0.3 m High tide · 0.6 m Low tide · 0.3 m
- Thursday 22 October High tide · 0.7 m Low tide · 0.3 m High tide · 0.7 m Low tide · 0.3 m
- Friday 23 October High tide · 0.8 m Low tide · 0.2 m High tide · 0.7 m
- Saturday 24 October Low tide · 0.2 m High tide · 0.8 m Low tide · 0.1 m High tide · 0.8 m
Santa Maria / Sal: when to go?
Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)
386h
in January · 31 rideable days
The spot works year-round: 29 rideable days a month on average, at 28 °C. It peaks in January, with 386 hours of usable wind.
Rideable days per month
Wind strength when it is rideable
When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 13 and 20 knots — 52% of rideable hours. That is the most versatile range, where most kites work. The coldest month is March, at 25 °C. The wettest month is September, with 51 mm.
Monthly averages: Santa Maria / Sal
| Month | Rideable days | Usable wind | Temperature | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31.0 | 386 h | 26 °C | 0 mm |
| February | 28.5 | 390 h | 26 °C | 0 mm |
| March | 31.0 | 434 h | 25 °C | 0 mm |
| April | 30.0 | 408 h | 27 °C | 5 mm |
| May | 31.0 | 452 h | 27 °C | 0 mm |
| June | 30.0 | 466 h | 27 °C | 0 mm |
| July | 25.0 | 302 h | 28 °C | 5 mm |
| August | 25.5 | 268 h | 29 °C | 35 mm |
| September | 28.5 | 350 h | 30 °C | 51 mm |
| October | 30.5 | 400 h | 30 °C | 15 mm |
| November | 30.0 | 379 h | 29 °C | 20 mm |
| December | 31.0 | 415 h | 26 °C | 6 mm |
Photo gallery of Santa Maria / Sal
Ridden here? One photo or video, and the spot comes alive for everyone discovering it.
Technical details of Santa Maria / Sal spot
The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, NNW.
Spot functioning
Launch from the beach in front of the water sports centres. Be aware of swimmers and sunbathers — the beach is busy with tourists.
Inside the bay: freeride conditions, flat to choppy. Good for slalom, speed, freestyle and twin-tip riding.
Ponta Leme (east end): flat water with cross-offshore wind, steeper waves when southerly swell runs. Good for strapless beginners. ION Club windsurf/wingfoil centre is located here.
Ponta Sino (west end): more demanding wave spot with cross-shore to cross-offshore wind. Powerful waves on a reef — excellent for jumps. Watch out for submerged wrecks.
Downwind runs: popular downwinder from Kite Beach to Santa Maria bay. Also possible to ride downwind from Santa Maria to Ponta Sino.
Multiple kite and windsurf schools operate on the beach.
Spot opening date · Required level
- Spot opening date
- Open all year round
Year-round, but the main season runs from November to May/June when the northeast trade winds blow consistently.
Santa Maria is busy with tourists year-round, so the beach is always shared. Peak kite season coincides with European winter holidays.
- Required level
- Intermediate
On the water
Inside the bay: flat to choppy water with wind-blown chop. Crystal-clear turquoise water over sandy bottom. Possible shorebreak near the beach when swell is running.
At the edges of the bay: waves up to 2 metres breaking over reef at Ponta Leme (east) and Ponta Sino (west).
Water temperature 21–27°C depending on season. A shorty or boardshorts/lycra usually sufficient, 3/2mm wetsuit for longer sessions in winter.
Parking
Santa Maria is the main town on Sal Island. Most hotels and accommodation are within walking distance of the beach.
Access directly from the promenade that runs along the length of the bay. Several water sports centres are located on the beach, including ION Club Santa Maria (near Restaurant Atlantis).
From Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID): ~20 minutes drive south. Only one road on the island, impossible to get lost. Taxi from airport ~€25.
Wind specificities
The northeast trade wind at Santa Maria blows side-offshore to cross-shore depending on your position along the 3 km bay. Near the town centre it's more side-offshore, toward the western end (near Ponta Sino) it becomes more cross-shore to cross-onshore.
The wind is gustier than at Kite Beach because it passes over buildings, hotels and the island's land mass before reaching the water. It's also generally not as strong as at Kite Beach.
Season: November to May/June, same trade wind pattern as the rest of Sal. Wind typically 15–25 knots.
Conditions in the bay are good for slalom, speed and freestyle. The flat water combined with moderate chop in side-offshore wind creates excellent conditions for powered riding and tricks.
Hazards
Shorebreak: can be significant when swell is running, especially in winter. Getting in and out of the water requires timing and experience. Some centres offer a shorebreak assistance service.
Side-offshore wind: the wind blows side-offshore at the town end of the beach. If you can't go upwind, you will be blown out into the open ocean. Not suitable for beginners.
Gusty conditions: wind passes over buildings and land before reaching the water, creating more turbulent conditions close to shore compared to Kite Beach.
Swimmers and sunbathers: the beach is shared with tourists. Be extremely careful when launching and landing kites. Never walk with a kite inflated across the beach.
Boats: fishing boats and tourist boats use the pier area. Stay clear of the pier zone.
Wrecks: two submerged wrecks near Ponta Sino area — one visible upwind, one smaller and completely underwater near shore, dangerous at low tide.
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INMG HQ SAL15.2 kmsource WIS2 - WMO
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Additional stations
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Ogimet - Sal (Cape Verde)15.8 km
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