CABO VERDE Surf, Kitesurf & Windsurf Centre,
Ilha do Sal | Santa Maria | Cape Verde.

The Surf Centre | Beach Hotel | Windgate Hotel | The Location | The Trip

Cape Verde is a tropical archipelago located 500 kilometres west of Africa, at the level of Senegal and the same latitude as the Caribbean. The islands enjoy ideal climate conditions year round for the practice of surfing sports, in particular during the trade winds season in winter. On the island of Sal, the Surf, Kite & Windsurf Centre is located on a three kilometres white sandy beach and rock-free waters in the heart of Santa Maria, at the southern tip of the island.

The Surf Centre offers a wide range of teaching programmes in all disciplines, as well as material rental. If it is wave riding you seek, the centre organizes surf safaris to the other locations on the island, such as Kite beach and Ponta Preta. Accommodation is available at the Beach Hotel, a four star property next to the surf centre, or at the Windgate Hotel, a nice budget property near the beach and a short walk away.

New camp coming up

The Surf Centre

The Surf, Kite & Windsurf Centre is located on a three kilometres white sandy beach and rock-free waters in the heart of Santa Maria, Cabo Verde’s surfing heaven. With an off-shore wind at the beginning of the bay and a slight on-shore wind at the end of the bay it is a perfect location for both beginners and experts. This spot is great for making long runs in clear blue water.

The School is well established in its environment and therefore its instructors are well versed in the day to day conditions for all types of surf. With a focus on safety and supportive learning, the school teaches all its students, irrespective of their level, how to surf safely in their chosen surf sport. All instructors are multi-lingual and qualified to teach all levels of the sports, weather it is starting new, or expanding the boundaries of existing skills.

The Wind, Kite and Surf courses are developed so as to teach a variety of age and skill levels. All theory is hands on and occurs on the beach with the equipment. Our goal is to move you to a stage of independence where you can then practice the skills we have taught you. For those with friends and family not partaking in any form of surfing, we are located on a beach club, with mattresses, umbrellas, fresh showers as well as a bar and restaurant.

THE SURF SPOTS

The ideal spot for Surf, Kite & Wind Surf, both beginners as well as advanced surfers is in the bay of Santa Maria, right in front of the surf centre. Defined by its clear glassy waters and white sandy beaches, complimented by a slight off-shore wind at the beginning of the bay and a slight on shore wind at the end, it is a surfing haven. 

Other locations include the world famous Ponta Preta as well as the less risky Reef and Calheta Funda, known for off-shore strong winds with good waves, advanced wave riders love it ! On the east coast there is Cabeza de Salinas, popular for its on-shore wind, nice waves and safe beach. It is perfect for intermediate to advanced kite surfers and expert wind surfers. All locations areas are within a 5 to15 minute drive from the station.

SURFING CONDITIONS

Surf:

Best Season from September to June
Smaller Waves between June to September

Kite &  Windsurf:

From December to May: The trade winds blow and the wind is at its strongest on the island. Avg is between 18 and 26knots

From June to November: The wind is a little lighter. It tends to be between 10 and 16knots.

Water:

Water temperature is warmest between May and October (like a warm bath tub). During the rest of the year a shortie wet suite is recommended.

        

Beach Hotel

Facing the island’s most spectacular beach on the bay of Santa Maria, a three kilometres long sandy strecth of white sand bathed by crystal clear waters, the Beach Hotel enjoy perfect location for surfing addicts right next to the Surf Centre. This four star property offers 140 comfortable rooms facing the sea or the garden, all finely furnished and complemented by a host of dining and lieusre facilities.

Accommodation

Room Types:

• Double/Twin Room (Sea or garden view)
  
• Junior Suite (Sea or garden view): One bedroom suite
  
• Family Suite (Garden view): Two bedroom suites
  
• Duplex (Seaview): One ground floor room with en suite bathroom + 1 smaller room on first floor
  
• Master Suite (Seaview): Two bedroom suites

Room Amenities:

• Direct dial telephone
  
• Refrigerator
  
• Remote-controlled satellite TV
  
• WiFi Wireless connection
  
• Air conditionning + Ceiling Fan
  
• Safety deposit box
  
• Full bathroom
  
• Hairdryer
  
• Laundry service

Dining Facilities

• Bar Pombal
  
• Bar Tortue Bar & Restaurant (Exotic cuisine and drinks)
  
• Bar Aquarius (adjoining the Beach Club)
  
• Beach Club (Beachside restaurant for lunch)
  
• Les Palmiers (Main restaurant and Burffet Breakfast)
  
• Live music nights with local musician and dancers

Leisure Facilities

• Fresh water swimming pool
  
• Tennis court (tuition available)
  
• Fitness Room (Weight and training machine, yoga)
  
• Game Room (Board and card games, dart board and two billiard tables)
  
• Beach (3 km. long sandy beach in fron ot the hotel)
  
• Surf, Kite & Windsurf Centre (In front of the hotel)

Windgate Hotel

The Location

Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)

In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean south of the Canary Islands (Spain), the Cape Verde archipelago lie 600 kilometres west of the African coast, at the level of Senegal and at the same latitude as the Caribbean. This once unhabited islands we red discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15ht century. They made it a trade centre for African slaves on their way to America and later on, an important supply stop for transatlantic shipping. The islands achieved their independency in 1975. 

The archipelago is formed by ten main islands, nine of them inhabited. The islands are divided into windward (Barlovento) and leeward (Sotavento) islands. The largest and most populated island is Santiago, which also hosts the capital Praia. Although all the islands are of volcanic origin, they differ widely from one another, ranging from the flat, desert like Sal island to mountainous and the still active volcanic Fogo island, culminating at over 2.800 metres (9,200 ft).

Most of the population is Creole of mixed Portuguese and African descent, with some remainder of blacks and whites. This combination of African and Portuguese culture is reflected in the music of the islands, a rich tradition which has conquered the world with Cesare Evora and her famous “morna” ballades.

Sal Island

A windward island exposed to the trade winds, Sal lies in the northeast corner of the archipelago. Practically unhabited until the 19th century, this low lying, desert island takes its name from the salt fields that brought some wealth to this rather desolated piece of land in the middle of the Atlantic. Today, the island thrive on tourism, thanks to its unpolluted beaches, crystal clear waters and excellent swell and wind conditions that bring ideal for the practice of watersports such as the various modalities of surfing and diving. The island also boasts the only international airport of the archipelago, developed before WW II as a refueling stopover between Africa and America. There are three towns on Sal island; Espargos, the administrative centre and airport, Palmeira, the harbour, and Santa Maria, the tourist resort on the southernmost tip of the island.

Climate

The islands enjoy a dry, tropical climate with two defined seasons: From November till July, (Dry season), the weather is tempered by the cooling trade winds blowing from the Northeast. From August till November (Wet season), the weather is cooler and more humid, although precipitation are scarce, in particular on flatter islands. Mean day temperatures through the year range between 20º to 25º and rarely reach the 30º.

The Trip

Amilcar Cabral International Airport (SID)

Sole international airport of Cabo Verde archipelago, 18 km. from Santa Maria on Sal Island.

TACV (Cabo Verde Airlines) operate flights to Ilha do Sal (Island of Sal) from several European cities including Paris, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan and Munich direct to Cape Verde with connecting fares from most UK airports. TACV also operate a regular service from Boston, Dakar, Fortaleza and Las Palmas de Gran Canarias. 

TAP (Air Portugal) operate daily flights from London via Lisbon to Cape Verde..

Entry Requisites

A valid passport and a visa is required to visitors
No vaccine is obligatory as there are few mosquitoes, and therefore no tropical disease

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