Boa Vista is the easternmost island in Cabo Verde, a low, sandy island where most of the surfing happens on open Atlantic beach breaks rather than reefs or points. The long, exposed coastline catches North Atlantic groundswell through the cooler months, so you get options depending on which way the swell and wind are pointing on any given day.
Two hubs anchor surfing in Boa Vista: Sal Rei in the north and Rabil a little inland near the airport. Sal Rei is the practical base, with the easiest access to the water and the simplest logistics for a session. From there it is a short move to the more open stretches of coast that pick up size when a system lines up.
Notable spots include Boa Vista Bahia and Praia de Chaves. Chaves is a long, open beach that spreads the swell across a wide sandbank, so the peaks shift with the tide and the sand rather than sitting in one fixed place. That makes it forgiving on smaller days and rewarding when a clean groundswell arrives. The steady northeast trade winds are the main thing to track, since they can turn cross-shore or onshore on the exposed beaches while cleaning up the more sheltered corners.
Because the breaks are mostly sand-bottomed, Boa Vista suits improving surfers as much as confident ones, with mellow waves on smaller beach days and more punch when winter swell fills in. Winter into spring is the most reliable window for size, while summer tends to run smaller and better for learning. Check the swell direction and the trade-wind angle together before you commit to a spot, and be ready to move along the coast to find the corner that is working.
