Alibaba - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - February)

The North Atlantic cyclone machine hits full stride from late autumn through winter, feeding the Cape Verde archipelago with consistent, long-period groundswell. While the predominant swell direction at Alibaba is from the north-northeast—less than ideal for this southwest-facing beach—it is during these months that the swell energy is at its peak (average periods of 11-12 seconds, heights 2.0-2.3m). More importantly, the occasional pulse from the NW quadrant (especially in December and January) can wrap around the island's western points, delivering clean, powerful waves when the stars align. Offshore wind frequencies hover between 11% and 21%, but when the NE trade wind lightens or shifts to a pure east component, conditions become truly glassy. This is the window for the rare but memorable session.

Fair Surf Season (March, September, October)

Transitional months see the North Atlantic storm track begin to shift, reducing average swell heights to 1.8-2.2m and periods to 10-11 seconds. The wind regime remains dominated by the NE trades, with ideal offshore conditions occurring 12-38% of the time. However, the swell direction stays stubbornly north-northeast, so the same wrap-dependent surf prevails. March offers slightly better wind consistency, while October sees a noticeable jump in swell period as the autumn storms reload. These months provide the best compromise between decent swell size and workable wind for the patient surfer.

Low Surf Season (April - August)

From spring into early summer, the North Atlantic high-pressure system calcifies, suppressing storm activity and reducing swell heights to 1.4-2.0m with periods dropping below 9 seconds. Even though the NE trade winds blow strong and consistent—especially in July and August when ideal offshore wind tops 48%—the swell is simply too small and short-period to wrap effectively around the island's terrain. The result is a long stretch of flat to tiny, powerless waves that rarely break with any form. Occasional pulses of NW windswell in June offer brief, knee-high relief, but overall this is the time to explore other spots on the island or save the airfare.

December: Peak Consistency, High Standards

December brings the climax of the North Atlantic swell season, averaging 2.2m at 11.7s. The swell direction this month has the highest west component: NNE 27.1%, N 12.1%, and NNW 24.7%, plus a slight increase in NW (1.9%) and even a trace of ENE. The NNW and NW swells, combined with periods often exceeding 12s, produce the best-quality waves of the year at Alibaba. Wind is the main challenge: ideal conditions only 14% of the time, with NE trades (57.6%) and ENE (22.8%) often too strong for clean conditions. However, when the wind eases or switches to light north, the surf can be firing—overhead to double-overhead, with deep barrels on the right peaks. December is a gamble but offers the highest potential for epic sessions. Be ready for dawn patrol before the trades kick in.