ZOCO SURFING ADVENTURES

SURFING HOLIDAYS IN THE RePUBLIC OF CAPE VERDE

SURFING SPOTS IN SAL - CAPE VERDE (CABO VERDE)

The Cape Verde Islands boast perfect surfing conditions from September to April due to the dominant NE trades and consistent NW swells, the west facing lava reefs hold swells up to 8ft (2.6m).

We have listed a couple of the more well-known surfing spots below. This is by no means a definative list and we have not touched on the east coast spots. if you'd like to include your favorite surf spot contact us and we'll add it to the guide.

Quick Links: Santa Maria | Ponta Sino | Ponta Preta | Monte Leão | Curral Joul | Palmeira

Santa maria

The Surf Center is located directly in front of the Beachfront Hotel in the south of Santa Maria about 50 meters from the water. The Bay of Santa Maria is a 5 km long white sandy beach with no rocks or sharp objects. The water temprature is an average 27 degrees Celcius (80 Fahrenheit) and the sandy bottom makes this a perfect spot to learn or improve your surfing. Works on a SW swell and a NE winds well in summer can produce long lefts at the far end of Santa Maria or Fragata beaches. The bay also has a reef break close to the hotel which is used an an indicator to the west coast swell size.

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PONTA SINO

If you walk for about 1 km south from the beach at Santa Maria towards the shipwreck, you will find another spot called Ponta Sino. A mix of sand and reef that's usually bigger than Santa Maria but can get blown out.

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Ponta Preta

This spot is a 30 minute walk from Santa Maria and is one of the best waves on the islands. On a westerly swell Ponta preta receives the biggest waves on the island and the point can hold waves of 5 meters!

Any hint of a westerly swell and you'll see the surfers of st. Maria wake up and nervously start arranging gear on their cars, locals walking the streets with surfboards under their arms.... the town comes alive! The god of surfing herself designed the the ocean floor at Ponta Preta. The swell rolls in from deep water and then unleashes its awsome power on this pointbreak with a spectacular (world famous) result.

Watching a set hit this point kinda takes your breath away, you hear people sucking in air and pointing at the horizon where lumps of swell are marching across the bay. The wave starts to break a few hundred meters out and rolls clean and hollow over a length of 300 meters until it hits the white sandy beach in the form of a killer shorebreak. The point produces long rights peeling over black boulders. There is also an awsome left but it's exposed to the wind and breaks hard onto the rocks - Experts only.

This is also the spot where the Kite Wavemasters is held, it's the backyard of Josh Angulo, PWA world champion. On a good day Josh will be out alongside Bjorn Dunckerbeck and many other international wind- kite- and surf champions. The place has a great atmosphere.

The huge waves breaking over razorsharp rocks, keep most sane surfers on the shore. It's a great spot to kick back and just enjoy the spectacle. Be warned: Ponta Preta is not a place to learn to surf! The smallest mistake can cost you your board or worse. Don't go out here if you're not confident in double overhead waves with gusty winds... and a lot of other boardriders including windsurfers, bodyboarders and kiters... respect the line up.

When the swell is less than 2 meters Ponta Preta is as flat as a pancake!Checkout the Windguru weather report for a reliable forecast for the waves and wind.

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MONTE LEÃO (lion mountain)

This spot can produce perfect long right handers and is sheltered from the wind. Needs a big NW swell or a moderate W-SW to start working. The most consistent section, even when it's small, is right below the 'Sleeping Lion Mountain'. Alibaba, on the otherside is usually bigger but but often blown-out.

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CURRAL JOUL

Mysto spot that breaks offshore, great when it's working but it doesn't come alive all that often. Getting in and out is a nightmare.

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PALMEIRA

A left where a clear channel makes it's way to a small hollow peak. The wave is fast and the rides short, be sure to pull out BEFORE it closes out on the rocks ;-).

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