Kite destination · Cape Verde

Kitesurfing in Boa Vista: Sal Rei Bay, Praia de Chaves and Where to Stay

Long, quiet Atlantic beaches in the north-east trade wind: lessons in Sal Rei bay, side-shore waves at Praia de Chaves and a beach resort 3 km from the airport.

Trade wind November to May
Strongest January to March
Sea at 22 to 27 °C
Airport 3 km from Praia de Chaves

Where to stay Wind forecast

In short

Boa Vista is Cape Verde's quieter kite island: bigger and emptier than Sal, with the same north-east trade wind from about November to May and the strongest months from January to March. Most kite centres sit on the beaches just south of Sal Rei, the island's small capital, where the bay has flatter water but a gusty side-shore to side-offshore wind close to the shore. Further south, Praia de Chaves is an open Atlantic beach with side-shore wind, waves from December to February and some shorebreak.

Our hotel here is the VOI Praia de Chaves Resort, the former Iberostar Club Boa Vista, about 3 km from the airport. A paid kite centre run by an outside company is listed at the resort, and Boavista Kite says its centre is inside the hotel, so confirm which one is open before you book. The sea is about 22 °C from February to May. Torn between islands? See how Boa Vista compares with Sal.

At a glance

Boa Vista at a glance

Main spots: Sal Rei bay (Praia Carlota, the Dunes, Estoril) and Praia de Chaves; wave spots further out
Wind: North-east trade wind, about 20 knots on average from December to April (school figures)
Season: About November to May; strongest from January to March
Water: 22 °C from February to May, 26–27 °C from August to November (Sal Rei averages)
Wetsuit: A shorty or a 3/2 mm from January to March
Best for: Confident riders who want space; families happy in a beach resort
Airport: Boa Vista (BVC), about 3 km from Praia de Chaves
Time zone: One hour behind the UK in winter

Verified with the official sites of VOI Hotels, Boavista Kite and the Duotone Pro Center Boa Vista, IKSURFMAG, ION Club, Planet Kitesurf Holidays, Sportif, The Trip Verdict, Cape Verde Experience, alltours, weather2travel and Google Maps listings · Updated October 2026

See the place

Video

The spots

The kite spots of Boa Vista

Most riding happens on the north-west coast, between Sal Rei and Praia de Chaves, where the centres and hotels are. The rest of the island is wild, with spots you reach on a trip.

Sal Rei bay: Praia Carlota, the Dunes and Estoril

Just south of Sal Rei, about 10 minutes from the airport

Wind:: Side-shore to side-offshore, usually 15 to 25 knots
Water:: Flatter water, with a shallow area for learners at some centres
Watch out:: Gusty close to the shore, cleaner further out
Centres:: Duotone Pro Center, Kitekriol, Wind Sports Center and others

Most of the island's kite centres line these beaches, a short walk or taxi ride from the town. Buildings and dunes break up the wind near the shore, so the inside can be gusty while the air further out is clean, which suits foilers. Sportif describes a big flat-water area with shallow water for beginners in front of its centre, and IKSURFMAG notes that Morabeza beach, within walking distance of the town, is flat but gusty and side-off.

Praia de Chaves

West coast, about 5 km south of the Sal Rei centres

Wind:: Side-shore
Water:: Open Atlantic: waves from December to February, some shorebreak
Lessons:: On the beach first, then from a boat (Boavista Kite)
Beach:: Long, dune-backed sand

A long sandy beach backed by dunes. IKSURFMAG describes side-shore wind, waves in midwinter and some shorebreak, which is why Boavista Kite starts lessons on the beach, then teaches from a boat in front of the hotel and moves to Sal Rei bay when the sea is too big. The VOI Praia de Chaves Resort sits right above the beach.

Wave and wild spots

By 4x4 or boat, for experienced riders

Varandinha:: South-western tip: big waves, side-offshore, no room for error
Ponta Antonia:: Side-onshore bay with waves and flat patches; 4x4 needed
Getting there:: A 4x4 with driver, about €60 to share between riders (IKSURFMAG)

The centres in Sal Rei can organise trips to the wilder spots and help you find riders to share a 4x4. At Varandinha a mistake can carry you out to sea or onto volcanic rock, so it is for experts only. ION Club adds that some clubs drop riders by boat at wave spots near Santa Mónica beach, as getting there by car is not recommended.

On the spot

Where to stay on the spot

VOI Praia de Chaves Resort, the former Iberostar Club Boa Vista, is our hotel on Boa Vista: a 5-star, 276-room resort above Praia de Chaves, about 3 km from the airport, with the sea under 200 m from the rooms. Tour operator alltours lists a paid kite centre run by an outside company at the resort; the main centres in Sal Rei bay are about 15 minutes away by car.

VOI Praia de Chaves Resort - Kitesurf Hotel in Boa Vista, Cape Verde

Kite centre listed on site

5-star beach resort

Boa Vista, Cape Verde

VOI Praia de Chaves Resort

About 200 m, 3 min on foot to the kite station

5-star resort above Praia de Chaves, formerly Iberostar Club Boa Vista: 276 rooms, two seawater pools, kids' clubs and a kite centre listed on site.

BeachfrontInfinity poolChildren's pool

Schools

Kite schools in Boa Vista

Boavista Kite says on its website that its centre is inside the hotel on Praia de Chaves and teaches with IKO instructors and boats; its Google listing, however, now places it at Praia Carlota near Sal Rei. Most other centres are in Sal Rei bay, among them the Duotone Pro Center Boa Vista, Kitekriol and Wind Sports Center.

Boavista Kite - Kite School in Boa Vista, Cape Verde

IKO instructors

At VOI Praia de Chaves

Boa Vista, Cape Verde

Boavista Kite

Kite school that places its centre inside the former Iberostar Club Boa Vista, now VOI Praia de Chaves: IKO instructors and lessons from a boat.

7 services

English

Wind forecast

7-day wind forecast at Sal Rei & Praia de Chaves

Updated 2 Nov, 10:47

Today
2 Nov
7kts
Gusts 11
NNW · 12m+
LIGHT
Tue
3 Nov
9kts
Gusts 13
NNE · 12m+
LIGHT
Wed
4 Nov
7kts
Gusts 11
E · 12m+
LIGHT
Thu
5 Nov
11kts
Gusts 15
ENE · 12m+
LIGHT
Fri
6 Nov
15kts
Gusts 19
NE · 12m
OK
Sat
7 Nov
15kts
Gusts 20
NE · 12m
OK
Sun
8 Nov
11kts
Gusts 16
NE · 12m+
LIGHT

GO16–24 ktsOK12–15 ktsSTRONG25 kts and moreLIGHTunder 12 kts

Strongest wind and gusts of the day, in knots. Kite sizes are a rough guide for a rider of about 75 kg. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.

Season

Is Boa Vista windy? Wind and water month by month

Yes, through the European winter. The trade wind blows from about November to May: the Duotone Pro Center puts the average at about 20 knots from December to April, and IKSURFMAG and Boavista Kite both name January to March as the strongest months, with 15 to 30 knots in high season. Summer is lighter, although the Duotone centre stays open all year. Wear a shorty or a 3/2 mm from January to March, when the sea is around 22 °C.

Boa Vista kitesurf season month by month
Month	Wind	Sea	Air (max)	Rain
November	Season starts	26 °C	27 °C	6 mm
December	Trade wind settles, about 20 knots on average	24 °C	25 °C	5 mm
January	Strongest period begins	23 °C	24 °C	5 mm
February	Strongest months	22 °C	24 °C	3 mm
March	Strongest months	22 °C	25 °C	0 mm
April	About 20 knots on average	22 °C	25 °C	0 mm
May	End of the main season	22 °C	25 °C	0 mm
June to October	Lighter wind; some centres stay open	23–27 °C	26–29 °C	Up to 67 mm in September

Sea and air temperatures and rainfall are long-term averages for Sal Rei (weather2travel, from CRU, Met Office and KNMI data). Wind notes come from the Duotone Pro Center Boa Vista, Boavista Kite and IKSURFMAG.

Gear

What size kite for Boa Vista

The Trip Verdict suggests 7, 9 and 11 m kites for an average-weight rider across Cape Verde, the same range that works on Sal, since both islands get the same trade wind. A foil is worth packing for Sal Rei bay, where the wind is cleaner beyond the gusty inside.

Lessons

Kite lessons on Boa Vista

Boavista Kite teaches with IKO instructors and boats and issues an IKO card after private lessons; its website shows no dated price list, so ask for this season's rates. In Sal Rei bay, the Duotone Pro Center Boa Vista offers kite, wing foil and surf lessons with IKO-certified instructors, waterproof intercoms and gear storage 20 m from the water, and is the part-time home of strapless rider Matchu Lopes.

Compare

Boa Vista or Sal?

Do not choose on wind: both islands get the same trade wind, and schools on each quote about 20 knots on average in season. Planet Kitesurf Holidays sends most first-timers to Sal for its choice of centres and conditions, and keeps Boa Vista for riders who have been before or simply want a big empty beach. Cape Verde Experience adds that Boa Vista suits a resort-based holiday with wildlife and desert trips, while Sal is easier to explore on your own.

Which Cape Verde island for your kite trip
If you want	Pick	Why
Your first kite trip to Cape Verde	Sal	More centres and several spots within a short taxi ride
Space on the water and empty beaches	Boa Vista	Bigger, quieter and more open coastline
A wave option close by	Sal	Kite Beach for practice, Ponta Preta for experts
Restaurants and bars after riding	Sal	Santa Maria has the widest choice on either island
Turtles, whales and desert trips	Boa Vista	Loggerhead turtles, seasonal whale watching and the Viana desert
A kite centre listed at your hotel	Boa Vista	VOI Praia de Chaves Resort; on Sal, the RIU Palace is about 800 m from its school

Families

Boa Vista for families and non-kiters

Days here centre on the resort and the beach: Praia de Chaves is backed by dunes, and Santa Mónica stretches for miles through undeveloped land. Sal Rei, the small capital, has restaurants and cafés but a slower pace than Santa Maria on Sal, and many visitors spend their evenings at the hotel. The beaches face the open Atlantic, so pick calm days for swimming.

The Viana desert and its dunes, by 4x4 or quad
Loggerhead turtles, which nest on the island's beaches
Whale watching, best in March and April according to Boavista Kite
Catamaran trips and boat days out
Sal Rei, with restaurants, cafés and live Cape Verdean music on some nights

Travel

Getting there and getting around

Fly to Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC), about six hours direct from the UK. Praia de Chaves is about 3 km from the airport, a drive of around 7 minutes, and the Duotone Pro Center in Sal Rei bay about 10 minutes. Taxis wait in the resort areas: agree the fare before you set off. For the wild spots you need a 4x4, and Sal is a short inter-island flight away.

Map

Location

Honest notes

Good to know before you book

The beaches are open Atlantic: expect swell and some shorebreak at Praia de Chaves in midwinter.
Sal Rei bay is gusty close to the shore; the cleaner wind is further out.
Wave spots such as Varandinha are remote, with no rescue: go on a centre's 4x4 or boat trip.
Nightlife is quiet: plan evenings in Sal Rei or at your hotel.
Most of the year's rain falls from August to October.

Our take

Our verdict

Great for

Confident riders who want space and quiet beaches
Families who like a resort holiday with desert, turtle and whale trips
Foilers looking for clean wind beyond the inside of Sal Rei bay

Think twice if you are

A total beginner who wants flat, standing-depth water: try El Gouna
Riders who want a lively town and many centres: Sal suits them better
Kiting from June to October, outside the main season

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Kitesurfing in Boa Vista

Is Boa Vista good for kitesurfing?

Yes, from about November to May, in the same north-east trade wind as Sal. Most centres are in Sal Rei bay, with flatter but gusty water near the shore, and Praia de Chaves adds side-shore wind and waves; the island is quieter and less crowded than Sal.

When is the best time to kitesurf in Boa Vista?

January to March is the strongest period, according to IKSURFMAG and Boavista Kite, within a season that runs from about November to May. The Duotone Pro Center Boa Vista puts the average at about 20 knots from December to April.

Is Sal or Boa Vista better for kitesurfing?

Sal for a first trip: more centres, more spots within a short drive and a lively town. Boa Vista suits confident riders who want space and families who are happy to spend the holiday at a beach resort.

Is Boa Vista good for beginners?

Yes with a school. Learn in Sal Rei bay, where some centres have a shallow, flatter area, or with a boat-supported school at Praia de Chaves; the open Atlantic beaches have swell and shorebreak, so they are not for learning alone.

Where can I kitesurf near Praia de Chaves?

On Praia de Chaves itself, where a paid kite centre run by an outside company is listed at the VOI Praia de Chaves Resort and Boavista Kite says it is based. The main centres in Sal Rei bay are about 15 minutes away by car.

Do I need a wetsuit in Boa Vista?

From January to March, yes: the sea is around 22 °C and the trade wind is cooling, so a shorty or a 3/2 mm keeps you comfortable. From November and again in late spring, a shorty is usually enough.

How far is Praia de Chaves from Boa Vista airport?

About 3 km, a drive of around 7 minutes. Sal Rei, the island's main town, is about 10 km from the VOI Praia de Chaves Resort.

What can non-kiters do on Boa Vista?

Explore the Viana desert by 4x4 or quad, look for nesting loggerhead turtles, go whale watching (best in March and April) or walk the long beaches of Praia de Chaves and Santa Mónica. Evenings are quiet, mostly at the hotels or in Sal Rei.

Sources

Last checked October 2026

We only publish facts we could confirm with the official website or two independent sources. Spotted something out of date? Write to info@kitesurf.holiday.