Skip to content
OpenWaterAtlas
Rustic facade of an abandoned pirate-themed disco club in a desert setting.
📷 Petr Ganaj · Pexels

Praia de Santa Maria

3.8 — based on 17 community signals
4.2 12 species 29 contributors

Praia de Santa Maria in Cape Verde offers year-round kiting with steady Atlantic wind and a welcoming beach setup.

⭐ Best for intermediate divers chasing reliable wind.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Intermediate
Always windy

At a glance

Activity
kite
Difficulty
intermediate
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Lemon shark

Top operators here

See all operators ↓

Map

This spot Operators POIs Airport Nearby spots
Praia de Santa Maria location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
12.6 kn
Wave
1.4 m
Water
27.9°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: NNE (56%)
Now: NNE (29°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.66m

Next: High at 00:00 (+0.05m)

+0.3 m0 m-0.4 m
▲ 00:00 · +0.05m ▼ 07:00 · -0.29m ▲ 13:00 · -0.08m ▼ 19:00 · -0.27m Now +0.0m
Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24
UV8.5 · very high Air PM2.523 · moderate 06:20 18:31
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-18 15.1 1.4 9 0mm
09-19 15 1.36 7 0mm
09-20 12.1 1.08 7 0mm
09-21 10.8 0.84 8 0mm
09-22 14.9 1.08 7 0mm
09-23 15 1.3 8 0mm
09-24 16.7 1.64 9 1mm

About this spot

Praia de Santa Maria sits on Cape Verde's coast, a destination shaped by the Atlantic trade winds that make it viable for kiting throughout the year. The beach provides direct access to open water with minimal obstructions, and the lack of marine protection area status means fewer regulatory constraints for water sports. Local conditions are consistent enough that riders can plan trips flexibly without worrying about seasonal closures. The area supports a small but active community, as evidenced by video content and observation records from visits. While detailed breakdowns on wind patterns, water temperature, and specific difficulty ratings aren't documented here, the year-round viability speaks to stable conditions. Praia de Santa Maria works best for riders comfortable reading local wind and water on arrival, or connecting with other visiting athletes to dial in the day's conditions. Access is straightforward, and the beach itself has enough space for launching and landing without competing with other users. The nearby Farol da Ponta do Sinó lighthouse marks the coastal geography and serves as a visual reference point.

📖 Guide: 10 Best Diving Spots in Cape Verde

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Lemon shark

Dive types

Shore

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 🪁 IKO/VDWS card if booking lessons
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type C/F · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 4357km · ~1002kg · €18

FAQ

Can I kite at Praia de Santa Maria year-round?

Yes. The spot is viable throughout the year, so you can plan a trip without seasonal blackout dates. Wind patterns should be checked closer to your travel dates for daily conditions.

Is this a beginner or advanced spot?

Difficulty level information isn't documented for this site. Arrive ready to assess conditions on the water, or connect with local kite community members for current advice on that day.

Do I need permits or special authorization to kite here?

Praia de Santa Maria is not inside a marine protected area, which simplifies access. Check with local tourism or kite schools in Cape Verde for any beach-specific rules or local norms before launching.

What's the local kiting community like?

Community video content and observation records show the spot gets visited, indicating an active user base. Connect online or on arrival to tap into local knowledge and session partners.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Eco Dive School Cabo Verde

1.7 km
4.8 (245 reviews) open now
Dive centre
Verified Booked 28+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Praia de Santa Maria

0 km
4.8 (422 reviews) open now
Kite school
Booked 36+ times this month
Hours: Friday: Open 24 hours

Kook Proof Activity Center

0.8 km
4.9 (105 reviews) open now
Kite school
Verified Booked 33+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Mitu & Djo Kite School

4.1 km
4.4 (223 reviews) open now
Kite school
Verified
Hours: Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Kite beach

4.1 km
4.6 (161 reviews) open now
Kite school
Booked 35+ times this month
Hours: Friday: Open 24 hours

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Kite Surfing at Santa Maria Beach, Cape Verde.

Mike Hall

Cape Verde 2018: Santa Maria - Kite Beach

This is Mich
💬 3 top comments
  • Molto bello

    @lucasblackandwhite1482 · 👍 1
  • Nice

    @ilidiodossantos4034 · 👍 1
  • nice vid :)

    @mrblondeee · 👍 1

ION CLUB Sal Cape Verde Season 2023

ION CLUB Surfing Elements GmbH
wind peaks Feb-Jan-Mar, calmest Sep-Jul-Aug, dry Jan-Dec.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)

Nearby spots

Santa Maria — Tiger Shark Point Cape Verde Diving
🇨🇻 Cape Verde

Santa Maria — Tiger Shark Point

Sand bottom in 18-25m where guided baited dives bring tiger and lemon sharks within arm's reach.

Advanced 15–28m 25m Jan·Feb·Sep+
Kite Beach Sal Cape Verde Kitesurfing
🇨🇻 Cape Verde

Kite Beach Sal

Side-onshore NE trade winds from 18-30 knots, flat lagoon inside, kickers outside. Cape Verde's wind reliability is among the world's best.

Intermediate Jan·Feb·Mar+
Kite beach Cape Verde Kitesurfing
🇨🇻 Cape Verde

Kite beach

Kite Beach in Cape Verde offers year-round kiteboarding in a protected coastal reserve with consistent wind and direct beach access.

Beginner Jan·Feb·Mar+

Similar spots

Same activity, shared marine species or similar profile.

Blue Wind Brazil Kitesurfing
🇧🇷 Brazil

Blue Wind

Blue Wind at Cumbuco Beach offers year-round kitesurfing in Brazil with consistent wind and open beach access.

Intermediate Jan·Feb·Mar+
Caños de Meca Spain Kitesurfing
🇪🇸 Spain

Caños de Meca

Caños de Meca offers year-round kiting near Cape Trafalgar, Spain's historic headland with consistent wind and open water.

Intermediate Jan·Feb·Mar+
Fonte da Telha Portugal Kitesurfing
🇵🇹 Portugal

Fonte da Telha

Fonte da Telha is a year-round kite destination on Portugal's Setúbal Peninsula, offering consistent conditions for all skill levels.

Intermediate Jan·Feb·Mar+
Spot Mama Prada Portugal Kitesurfing
🇵🇹 Portugal

Spot Mama Prada

Spot Mama Prada is a year-round kite destination in Portugal's Ria de Aveiro lagoon, offering consistent wind and protected waters.

Intermediate Jan·Feb·Mar+

Suggest an operator

Know a great dive shop, kite school, or local guide at this spot? Tell us — we'll review and add it.

Up to 500 characters
Plan
View →