Sandy Beach - Sao Vincente, Cabo Verde
Also within 20 km of Mindelo
- Laginha Surf spot · 1.1 km from Mindelo
- Ponta Noh Jon Dive site · 7 km from Mindelo
Watch this spot We email you when Sandy Beach - Sao Vincente is worth the trip.
About Sandy Beach - Sao Vincente
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NE (26°), so it takes swell from the NE. The wind blows offshore from the SW (206°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea is about 22°C in March, its coldest month (2 mm shorty), and 27°C in September, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually August, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Mindelo.
Water about 27°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 20 h 15 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to VXE, changing at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS). About 4 flights a week that month.
See flights ORD → VXE · Skyscanner from about £405 returnAdGetting there. 40 min from the airport to Sandy Beach - Sao Vincente.
Accommodation.
Nearest beds: Mindelo, 12 km (about 25 min by car)Ad
No town with beds to book is nearer Sandy Beach - Sao Vincente: plan on the drive each day you surf.
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Mindelo, 12 km away (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Mindelo 21 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 48 places to stay · where Sandy Beach - Sao Vincente stays
Places to stay in Mindelo · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Mindelo · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Mindelo · GetYourGuideAd
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Sandy Beach - Sao Vincente on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Sandy Beach - Sao Vincente does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Scorefor Intermediate | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 16, too small | 2 ft11 s | 65kJ | wind from the north-east, 9 knots | 28°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 31, poor | 3 ft5 s | 51kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 9 knots | 29°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 18, too small | 2 ft9 s | 46kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 6 knots | 28°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 18, too small | 2 ft8 s | 56kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 9 knots | 28°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 16, too small | 2 ft9 s | 77kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 12 knots | 29°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 9, too small | 2 ft5 s | 26kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 14 knots | 29°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 12, too small | 3 ft6 s | 49kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 14 knots | 29°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 13, poor | 5 ft7 s | 186kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 18 knots | 29°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 18, poor | 5 ft7 s | 180kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 13 knots | 28°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 26, poor | 4 ft6 s | 116kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 12 knots | 28°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to VXE, changing at LIS, then 40 min by road. About 20h 15 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 11 of 80.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 14 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to VXE, changing at LIS, then 40 min by road. About 20h 15 door to door
Rough cost
About £860–£1,635 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to VXE, estimated from distance and season, changing at LIS, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £405–£840 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £35–£55 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £165–£280 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £155–£290 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £65–£105 |
| Total | £860–£1,635 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
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