Map › Sal Rei - Boa Vista › Praia Carlota (Estoril)
Spot · tier 1 · Cape Verde
Praia Carlota (Estoril)
Boa Vista's main kitesurf hub, a long sandy bay about a ten-minute walk south of Sal Rei town. A reef offshore breaks up the swell, leaving flat, clear water close to shore with wave zones further out, and the wind is stable and offshore off this stretch of coast - a combination that draws schools and freeriders of every level, with sea turtles a regular sight in the water.
beginnerfreerideflat waterfreestyle
Wind
| best months |
|
|---|---|
| season notes | Strong, stable wind runs from the end of October through May. |
| avg knots | 16-28 |
| wind name | NE trade winds |
| direction to shore | side-off / offshore |
| quality | steady |
Water
| type | mixed |
|---|---|
| wetsuit | warm year-round, never below about 20C |
| standing depth | flat, clear, shallow water close in behind the reef |
Levels
| beginner | yes |
|---|---|
| intermediate | yes |
| advanced | yes |
| notes | Flat water close to shore is ideal for lessons and beginners; advanced riders head further out toward the reef and the little offshore island (Djeu) in front of the school for waves and open water. |
Launch & crowd
| description | Long sandy bay with ample beach space, about a 10-minute walk south of Sal Rei; schools operate directly on the beach. |
|---|---|
| rescue | rescue boats available (schools operate multiple rescue boats) |
| busy months |
|
| vibe | the island's main kite scene but still described as uncrowded, with plenty of room to kite, jump and practice |
Monthly wind statistics
Station: Vila de Sal Rei, Boa Vista (WeatherSpark (modeled climatology, MERRA-2 reanalysis), ~1.5 km) — No windfinder/windguru station page exists for Boa Vista or Sal Rei; used WeatherSpark's modeled (MERRA-2 reanalysis) climatology for Vila de Sal Rei, ~1.5 km from Praia Carlota/Estoril beach, so this is a close proxy but not a Bft-probability observational record — no prob_ge_4bft_pct available, only mean hourly speed. Wind is northerly essentially all year (98% peak in May) with a brief easterly swing around Dec 11-Jan 16. Windy season Oct 15-Jun 24 per WeatherSpark, matching the batch's known_best_months window.
| Month | Wind ≥4 Bft | Avg kn | Dir | Air °C | Water °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | —% | 14.5 | N | 22.2 | 22.8 |
| Feb | —% | 14.4 | N | 21.7 | 22.2 |
| Mar | —% | 13.9 | N | 22.2 | 22.2 |
| Apr | —% | 14.2 | N | 22.8 | 22.2 |
| May | —% | 13.9 | N | 23.3 | 22.8 |
| Jun | —% | 12.3 | N | 24.4 | 23.3 |
| Jul | —% | 9.5 | N | 25.6 | 24.4 |
| Aug | —% | 9 | N | 27.2 | 26.1 |
| Sep | —% | 10.3 | N | 27.8 | 26.7 |
| Oct | —% | 11.6 | N | 26.7 | 26.7 |
| Nov | —% | 12.5 | N | 25.6 | 25.6 |
| Dec | —% | 13.6 | NE | 23.3 | 24.4 |
Hazards
- reef sections offshore
- offshore component to the wind means riders can be blown out to sea if they can't self-rescue
Tips
- turtles are commonly seen while kiting - keep a respectful distance
- schools here also run guided downwind trips (e.g. toward Varandinha) for advanced riders wanting to explore the coast
Travel basics
| airport | BVC Aristides Pereira International Airport (Boa Vista) |
|---|---|
| getting there | 10-minute walk or short taxi from Sal Rei town |
| accommodation | hotels/guesthouses in Sal Rei, some beachfront options directly at the spot |
| cost level | mid |
| no wind | explore Sal Rei town, or take a boat trip |
Nearby: Turtle Bay (Bahia), Praia de Chaves, Ervatão
Sources: kitekriol.com · kitekriol.com · kitekriol.com