A fishing village on a long sand bay beside the airport, where the trade wind funnels between the mountains and blows harder than anywhere else on the island.
São Pedro is a small fishing village at the south-west corner of São Vicente. Its long beach faces the gap between the mountains where the north-east trade wind accelerates.
That makes it one of the Atlantic's strongest and most respected windsurfing spots: gusty, side-offshore and for experienced riders only. A small beach centre rents boards, sails and wings in season.
Others come for the beach itself, the painted fishing boats drawn up on the sand and a fish lunch in the village.
From the end of the beach, a two-hour walk leads round the headland to the Farol de Dona Amélia lighthouse.
Wind in the morning, lunch, then the lighthouse.
Ten minutes past the airport road to the village.
Windsurfers fly across the bay in the strongest gusts.
Painted boats on the sand and fresh fish in a local restaurant.
A rocky two-hour walk to the Farol de Dona Amélia.
The sun sets straight into the sea across the bay.
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Taxi from Mindelo, about 15 minutes; aluguers run less often.
Experienced riders only; check conditions with the beach centre before you rig.
The path is rocky and exposed; go with good shoes and plenty of water.
São Vicente practical notes →Photographs from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels under their licences, and our own.
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