Map › Santa Maria - Sal › Ponta Preta
Spot · tier 1 · Cape Verde
Ponta Preta
A world-class offshore reef/point wave break about 2km west of Santa Maria, widely regarded as the home break of Cape Verdean pro Mitu Monteiro and a regular stop on the GKA Kite World Tour. Waves here run 3-6m, fast and powerful, breaking both left and right (right considered best) with offshore east winds - strictly for experienced wave riders.
advancedwaves
Wind
| best months |
|
|---|---|
| season notes | Main season runs Nov-Mar; winter (especially December) produces the most consistent clean conditions. |
| avg knots | 15-25 |
| wind name | NE trade winds |
| direction to shore | offshore |
| quality | steady |
Water
| type | waves |
|---|---|
| temp winter c | 24 |
| wetsuit | boardshorts/shorty, water stays warm year-round |
| tides | best around low tide |
| standing depth | no - deep reef/point break |
Levels
| beginner | no |
|---|---|
| intermediate | no |
| advanced | yes |
| notes | Fast, powerful reef/point waves up to 6m with submerged rocks - experts only. |
Launch & crowd
| description | Reef/point launch about 2km west of Santa Maria, near Ponta do Sinó. |
|---|---|
| busy months |
|
| vibe | rarely crowded but respect the pecking order - this is a serious wave spot with strong local riders |
Monthly wind statistics
Station: Santa Maria, Sal (WeatherSpark (modeled climatology, MERRA-2 reanalysis), ~2.7 km) — No dedicated statistics page exists for Ponta Preta; reused the Santa Maria (Sal) WeatherSpark climatology, ~2.7 km southeast, as the nearest available modeled data. Ponta Preta is an exposed reef break with a wave/tow reputation independent of pure wind stats; treat these as regional averages, not a site-specific record.
| Month | Wind ≥4 Bft | Avg kn | Dir | Air °C | Water °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | —% | 14.6 | N | 21.7 | 22.8 |
| Feb | —% | 14.4 | N | 21.7 | 22.2 |
| Mar | —% | 14 | N | 21.7 | 21.7 |
| Apr | —% | 14.3 | N | 22.2 | 22.2 |
| May | —% | 14.2 | N | 23.3 | 22.8 |
| Jun | —% | 12.7 | N | 23.9 | 22.8 |
| Jul | —% | 9.9 | N | 25.6 | 24.4 |
| Aug | —% | 9.5 | N | 26.7 | 25.6 |
| Sep | —% | 10.8 | N | 27.2 | 26.7 |
| Oct | —% | 12 | N | 26.7 | 26.7 |
| Nov | —% | 12.7 | N | 25 | 25.6 |
| Dec | —% | 13.7 | NE | 23.3 | 23.9 |
Hazards
- submerged rocks
- powerful 3-6m waves
- offshore wind - self-rescue essential
- strong local/pro crowd on good days despite being generally uncrowded
Tips
- watch from the point before paddling/launching in to learn the wave's timing
- not a spot to learn wave riding - build wave skills elsewhere first
Travel basics
| airport | SID Amilcar Cabral International Airport (Sal) |
|---|---|
| getting there | short drive or downwind kite from Santa Maria |
| accommodation | base in Santa Maria |
| cost level | mid |
| no wind | watch surf/kite contests if timed with GKA events, or relax in Santa Maria |
Nearby: Kite Beach (Santa Maria), Ponta Sino, Ponta Leme
Sources: surf-forecast.com · locations.thekitespot.com