Technical details of spot

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.

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.

Required level

Intermediate

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.

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.

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.

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.

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