Best Time to Kitesurf in Cape Verde (Sal): Wind by Month
On Sal the trade wind blows from about November to May. Which months are the safest bet, when it gets quiet, and which spot suits which level.
The best time to kitesurf in Cape Verde is December to April. On Sal, the island most kite trips go to, the north-east trade wind then blows on more than 80% of days, usually 15 to 25 knots. The kite season runs from about November to May; July to September is the quiet time, with wind on fewer than half of the days.
Sal wind by month
| Month | Windy days | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | 81% | High season, strong and steady trade wind |
| February | 84% | High season |
| March | 87% | High season, one of the windiest months |
| April | 85% | High season |
| May | 78% | Still good, the end of the school season |
| June | 65% | Mixed, wind on about two days in three |
| July | 48% | Quiet, fewer than half the days windy |
| August | 45% | The calmest month |
| September | 53% | Quiet, the wind starts to come back |
| October | 67% | Season starts, wind on about two days in three |
| November | 70% | Start of the school season |
| December | 88% | The windiest month of the year |
Shares from thekitespot, which counts a day as windy with at least 11 to 16 knots for three or more daylight hours. Kite schools on Sal run their kite season from November to May, and in summer some days are kiteable depending on the wind.
Where the wind blows on Sal
The trade wind comes from the north-east to east and is usually strongest from the morning to mid-afternoon. That decides where you ride. On the east coast, at Kite Beach, it blows cross-onshore, which is safe and the reason most schools teach there. On the south and west coast, around Santa Maria and Ponta Preta, the same wind is cross-offshore to offshore, which is great for wave riding but no place for beginners or riders without rescue.
- Kite Beach (east coast): all levels, cross-onshore, chop and waves on the reef further out.
- Ponta Leme: a short downwinder from Kite Beach, flatter water and a left wave when the swell is right; gustier and with a rocky launch.
- Ponta Preta (west of Santa Maria): a world-class wave, often 3 to 6 metres, offshore wind, for experts only. A stop of the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup since 2018.
Best months for a first kite course
For a first course, December to April gives you the most days with enough wind, which matters because a lesson needs steady wind to make progress. At Kite Beach Cabo Verde, a school at Kite Beach, a lesson that cannot take place for lack of wind is refunded, and lessons start at 9:00, 11:30 or 14:30 with the hotel transfer included. A 2-hour basic lesson costs €77 per person for two people booking together or €132 private; read more in learning to kitesurf on Sal.
What to wear in the water
- In winter the air is around 20 to 22 °C and the water a couple of degrees cooler.
- Most riders use a 3/2 mm suit or a shorty for a full day; later in the season board shorts can be enough on warm days.
- Bring a sweater for the day and a light jacket for the evening in winter, and strong sun cream all year.
Booking a kite lesson on Sal
You can request a lesson on the Santa Maria kite page or directly on the Kite Beach Cabo Verde profile. The school confirms the time with you, and you pay at its reception; nothing is paid online.
What is the best month to kitesurf in Cape Verde?
December, with 88% windy days on Sal according to thekitespot. January to April are close behind, all above 80%.
Is there wind in Cape Verde in summer?
Less. From July to September only about half the days are windy on Sal (45 to 53%), and kite schools run their main season from November to May.
How strong is the wind on Sal?
In season the north-east trade wind blows about 15 to 25 knots almost daily, sometimes stronger, usually strongest from morning to mid-afternoon.
Where do beginners kitesurf on Sal?
At Kite Beach on the east coast, where the wind is cross-onshore and most schools teach. Ponta Preta and the south and west coast have offshore wind and are for experienced riders.
Do I need a wetsuit to kitesurf in Cape Verde?
In winter most riders use a 3/2 mm suit or a shorty. Later in the season board shorts can be enough on warm days.
