Top 10 Marinas in the Cape Verde Islands
Mindelo, perched on the southern shores of São Vicente, smells of salt fish and diesel and possibility. Every November and December, the bay fills with masts as crews from a dozen nations converge to check weather routing, top off water tanks, and argue about whether the trade winds will blow true all the way to Barbados. Cape Verde is not merely a stopover; it is a rehearsal for the Atlantic itself, and its handful of marinas and anchorages each play a distinct role in that drama.
1. Marina Porto Grande, Mindelo (São Vicente)
Porto Grande is the beating heart of Cape Verde sailing. At roughly 350 berths it is the largest dedicated marina in the archipelago, and it handles the annual ARC and ARC+ fleets with practiced efficiency. Fuel pontoons, a 50-tonne travel lift, chandlery, and a yacht services office sit within two minutes' walk. The famous "Mindelo wall" where sailors pin paper passage notes, crew-wanted notices, and hand-drawn charts of the crossing has its spiritual home near the marina office. Provisioning is excellent — the Mindelo market on Rua de Lisboa stocks fresh tuna, peppers, and papaya; supermarkets carry French and Portuguese goods at reasonable prices.
2. Marina Sal-Rei, Boa Vista
Sal-Rei anchors the eastern island of Boa Vista, a low, sandy table of land that catches the full force of the northeast trades. The marina is small — around 40 berths — and primarily serves charter flotillas and visiting cruisers who want to day-sail to the offshore banks. The anchorage outside is well-sheltered from the dominant northeast swell. Boa Vista has no chandlery to speak of, so arrive with spares.
3. Porto da Palmeira, Sal Island
Sal's commercial port at Palmeira handles bulk cargo, but a dedicated yacht quay accommodates perhaps 25 vessels stern-to. Fuel and water are reliable, and the close proximity to Espargos means diesel mechanics are available. Sailors often use Palmeira as a quick provisioning stop when coming from the Canaries before heading south to Mindelo.
4. Porto Inglês, Maio
Maio is the quietest of the eastern islands and its anchorage at Porto Inglês is correspondingly serene. No formal marina exists, but the holding on sand and weed is excellent in 5–8 metres, and the village can supply water and basic food. Maio suits sailors who want a day off the passage-making treadmill in a place almost entirely free of tourist infrastructure.
5. Tarrafal, São Nicolau
The small harbour at Tarrafal on the rugged island of São Nicolau offers a concrete quay and mooring buoys maintained by the local fishing cooperative. Depths are tight — entering at around 2.5 metres — but the surroundings are spectacular: forested ravines drop steeply to the water, and the village bakery produces bread that tastes of wood smoke and cane sugar.
6. Vale dos Cavaleiros, Fogo
Fogo's Mosteiros anchorage on the northwest coast is exposed but used in settled weather. The island's active volcano, Pico do Fogo at 2,829 metres, dominates the view and makes Fogo one of the most dramatic sail-in experiences in the eastern Atlantic. No marina exists, but the small commercial quay at Vale dos Cavaleiros can sometimes accommodate a shallow-draft yacht.
7. Furna, Brava
Brava's only port at Furna is a ferry terminal first and a yacht stop second, but the bay provides good protection from the northeast trades. The approach through the passage between Fogo and Brava can be rough in strong winds, but the reward is an island barely touched by outside visitors and a crater-rim village, Nova Sintra, reached by a vertiginous road.
8. Tarrafal de Monte Trigo, Santo Antão
Santo Antão's western flank hides a superb natural anchorage at Tarrafal de Monte Trigo. Accessible only by sea — there is no road — the village receives supplies by ferry and the occasional yacht. Holding is good on sand in 6–10 metres, and local fishermen will often sell the morning's catch directly from their boats.
9. Porto Novo, Santo Antão
Porto Novo is the ferry terminal linking Santo Antão to São Vicente and it has a concrete quay usable by yachts in calm conditions. The main reason to stop is access to the dramatic ribeiras — deep ribbed valleys — of Santo Antão's interior, which rival anything the Atlantic islands can offer for walking. Services are limited but water and diesel are available.
10. Anchorage at Pedra Badejo, Santiago
Santiago, the largest island, is dominated by capital Praia but the quieter anchorage at Pedra Badejo on the east coast offers good holding and a village market. Praia's marina project has been under development for several years; in the interim, the commercial port can sometimes berth yachts by arrangement with the port authority.
Timing, Weather, and the ARC Departure
The optimal window for arriving in Cape Verde is October to December. The ITCZ has retreated south, harmattan dust occasionally mists the horizon, and the northeast trades are building toward their consistent winter strength. ARC fleets leave Las Palmas in late November and typically reach Mindelo three to five days later — a fast, beam-reach sail of roughly 870 nautical miles. The ARC+ route specifically incorporates Cape Verde as a mandatory stopover, giving crews two to three weeks to explore before the 2,100-mile leg to St. Lucia.
Explore on the map
The full Cape Verde archipelago — all ten islands and their ports, anchorages, and approach channels — is plotted on our interactive map. Zoom into Cape Verde on the map to trace the inter-island passages, identify the best holding grounds, and plan your transatlantic departure window before you leave the dock.