Cape Verde — Ponta Leme (Sal)06h · 17 kt
0NOT RECOMMENDEDPick your slot
Min. level
Intermediate
Optimal wind
14-32 kts
Season
January, February, March, April, May, June, November, December
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What to check
Discover the spot
The spot
Discover Cape Verde
The eastern tip of Santa Maria bay, away from the crowds. The wind blows side-offshore, the water stays flat close to shore, and a left peels off the southern swell for anyone ready to taste the wave. A notch above Kite Beach.
Ponta Leme is Santa Maria seen from its eastern tip: the beach thins out, the crowd stays behind, and the sea opens to the south-east. Inside, the water is glassy and made for flat riding; further out the chop builds, and when the southern swell rolls in a left peels off around 500 metres away — a place to learn the wave without the commitment of Ponta Preta. The side-offshore wind streams from the land toward the open sea: a thrill as long as you hold your upwind, a trap the moment you let go. This is progression ground — the step between Kite Beach's sheltered flat and the real wave.
Who & when
Level and best time
Who it's for
A spot for intermediate to advanced riders. The offshore orientation and the current mean you need to hold your upwind and stay inside the point — not a place for early beginners.
source : unplug-kitesurf.com ↗Best time
Season runs November to May, with the best waves from December to April. Wind of 15 to 25 knots under the north-east trades, water around 22 to 24 °C in season.
source : ion-club.net ↗On site
Arrival guide
Getting there & parking
By car from Santa Maria: turn left after the Enacol station down to Angulo beach and restaurant, with ION Club right behind and parking on the spot. Sal airport (SAL) is about 20 min away, roughly 20 € by taxi.
source : unplug-kitesurf.com ↗Club & schools
ION Club Ponta Leme sits right on the spot: kite, wing and surf, gear rental, advanced lessons and a pick-up service — valuable here, where the offshore orientation leaves little room for error. Kite Verde also operates on site.
source : ion-club.net ↗Before you go
Safety
Side-offshore wind
The wind pushes out to sea: you must be able to ride upwind and never go past the point. Beyond it, nothing brings you back. Don't sail alone in offshore wind.
source : windsurf.co.uk ↗Current
The current strengthens in winter, from December to March. Combined with the offshore wind, it pulls you away from shore quickly — keep an eye on your position.
source : ion-club.net ↗Gusts, shorebreak and reef
Close to shore, expect gusts and a shorebreak on launch. At the point break the bottom turns rocky — keep your distance from the rocks.
source : unplug-kitesurf.com ↗Community
Soon, by the riders
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Session reports
Holding upwind in side-offshore