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Spot · tier 2 · Cape Verde
Praia de Chaves
A long beach near Rabil that is described in general Boa Vista guides as the island's main surf beach, combining flat water close to shore with a surf break roughly 300m out. Side-shore NE trade winds in the 16-28 knot range make it a workable, less-crowded alternative to the Sal Rei hub.
freeridewavesflat water
Wind
| best months |
|
|---|---|
| season notes | Nov-May trade-wind season, in line with the rest of Boa Vista. |
| avg knots | 16-28 |
| wind name | NE trade winds |
| direction to shore | side-shore |
| quality | steady |
Water
| type | mixed |
|---|---|
| standing depth | flat, shallower water close to the beach before the outer break |
Levels
| beginner | yes |
|---|---|
| intermediate | yes |
| advanced | yes |
| notes | Flat inshore water suits learners and freeriders; the 1.5-3m break further out is for competent wave riders. |
Launch & crowd
| description | Long open sandy beach near Rabil village, with several beach resorts along it. |
|---|---|
| vibe | quieter than the Sal Rei/Estoril hub, resort beach clubs nearby |
Monthly wind statistics
Station: Vila de Sal Rei, Boa Vista, Cape Verde (weatherspark modeled climatology) (Weatherspark (Cedar Lake Ventures, MERRA-2 reanalysis-modeled climatology), ~7 km) — No windfinder statistics page found under the name 'Praia de Chaves' or 'Rabil' (the airport-adjacent town); windfinder.com/windstatistics/rabil_boa_vista returned HTTP 404, and other Boa Vista station pages were rate-limited (429) on every attempt. Used Weatherspark's Vila de Sal Rei climatology, ~7 km north of Praia de Chaves, as the closest available data point on the island. Dominant direction essentially N year-round.
| Month | Wind ≥4 Bft | Avg kn | Dir | Air °C | Water °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | —% | 14.5 | N | 22.2 | — |
| Feb | —% | 14.4 | N | 21.7 | — |
| Mar | —% | 13.9 | N | 22.2 | — |
| Apr | —% | 14.2 | N | 22.8 | — |
| May | —% | 13.9 | N | 23.3 | — |
| Jun | —% | 12.3 | N | 24.4 | — |
| Jul | —% | 9.5 | N | 25.6 | — |
| Aug | —% | 9 | N | 27.2 | — |
| Sep | —% | 10.3 | N | 27.8 | — |
| Oct | —% | 11.6 | N | 26.7 | — |
| Nov | —% | 12.5 | N | 25.6 | — |
| Dec | —% | 13.6 | N | 23.3 | — |
Hazards
- surf zone roughly 300m offshore
- beach historically referenced as a former slave-trade landing point - be aware this is a site of some historical weight locally
Travel basics
| airport | BVC Aristides Pereira International Airport (Boa Vista) |
|---|---|
| getting there | short drive from Rabil/Sal Rei |
| accommodation | several resorts directly on the beach (e.g. VOI Praia de Chaves, Occidental Boa Vista) |
| cost level | mid |
| no wind | resort amenities and beach clubs along the bay |
Nearby: Praia Carlota (Estoril), Ervatão
Sources: en.wikivoyage.org