Foya Branca

Mighty island. Pure, authentic, no mass tourism, good food, beautiful beaches, cheap.

In Sao Pedro Bay you are in the right place for windsurfing or wing foiling. The wind accelerates between 2 mountains and if in Cabo Verde the normal wind is 18-20 knots, then in Sao Pedro you have 25-30 knots with flat blue water. The wind is diagonally offshore, so you don't go on the water if the surf club's boat is not at the waterline.

For kiting it is a no go, for that you have to drive to Salamansa at 20 minutes. In Salamansa there is a beach restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious meal with a view of the kiters. the waves can be heavy. On calm days it works for beginners. The wind is diagonally onshore from the right and almost 10knots weaker than in Sao Pedro.

In the village of Sao Pedro, 1 km from your stay, you can have a simple but delicious meal and even swim with the turtles.

You can stay in the cheap Foya Branca, a larger hotel but not a fancy one: plastic grass mats around the pool, plastic loungers, simple but correct rooms or villas for up to 8 people, but all with a view of the beautiful beach.

A rental car is recommended to explore the island and go kiting in 20 minutes or wave surfing in 30 minutes. You can also take the ferry (1 hour) to Santo Antao and take the hike of a lifetime in the green mountainous landscape, between all the small plantations where it is worthwhile to take a guide who explains their agricultural culture. (I was told it is one of the top 10 best hiking destinations in the world)

A destination that will hopefully remain unspoilt for a long time!