Cocos Beach Praia
Cape Verde
Cocos Beach Praia is a left-breaking wave with a rock bottom located near Praia in Cape Verde's southern region. The break presents hazards including shipwrecks and water quality issues related to port expansion.
Coragi
Cape Verde
Coragi is a powerful exposed reef break over sharp coral and rocky bottom, with persistent left-hand waves that work year-round. It maintains high consistency with south-southeast groundswells proving more reliable than wind-driven swell, and performs best during summer months, particularly June, when clean conditions combine offshore north-northeast winds with mild conditions roughly 79% of the time. Coragi developed as a destination within Cape Verde's broader surfing tourism growth beginning in the 1970s on Sal Island, though surfing remained secondary to windsurfing until the 1990s–2000s when European surfers began discovering the islands' reef breaks more systematically. The spot itself lacks documented competitions or particularly notable historical sessions that appear in published sources. Access is straightforward with a short walk of 5–15 minutes to the break. The rocky reef creates hazards beyond the sharp bottom—rips are present—and the break does draw crowds on clean days, likely due to its easy access and consistent performance.
Ponta Preta
Cape Verde
Ponta Preta is a powerful right-hand reef break on Sal Island, roughly three kilometers west of Santa Maria, that demands strong technical skill and commitment. The wave breaks over a boulder and coral reef bottom, producing fast, tubing right-handers with occasional left-side options that work best on the lower tide. Winter swells from the northwest deliver consistent 3–6 meter faces with easterly offshore winds; summer months see smaller 2–5 foot waves but with more consistent spacing between sets. The break emerged into the international surf consciousness during the late 1980s, initially through windsurfing communities that had established the island as a major global destination, after which it quickly developed a reputation across Europe and beyond. Today it hosts significant competitive events, including stages of the GKA Kite World Tour each February, though visiting surfers remain relatively few compared to more accessible breaks. Access is straightforward from Santa Maria's main town via a short drive along the southwestern coast. The break rarely feels crowded despite its reputation. Beyond sharp coral and submerged rocks, paddlers face strong currents and a heavy shore break that make exit and entry physically demanding, especially in larger swells.