This beach is also known as Shipwreck Beach.
Your will have to hire a driver or a car or best to know somebody in Luanda.
To go to the beach, drive North direction Cacuaco.
About 6 Km after a bridge over Rio Bengo you will see a market on the left with a dirt road just before Government relocation houses (like a refugee camp).
Turn left on the dirt track and drive West for 6Km.
Aim for a boat wreck called "Karl Marx".
You are there there. Beach is nicer on the left of "Karl Marx"
4x4, especially if you want to drive on the beach or if it has been rainy.
It is hard to hire a car in Luanda. You can also rent the driver with it.
Various expensive hotel in Luanda :
President Hotel in the Bay ...it's bloody expensive but the food is AWESOME $US 50 a meal and $US 150 per night.
Continental Hotel 120 USD
Tropico (In Town ) 150 USD
Marinha (On ilha de Luanda) : 110 USD
They are all expensive. You can also stay cheap in Pensio but it requires some local knowledge.
Best is to know somebody.
Food is nice anywhere. Do not drink water from the tap.
None, do not bring your familly if they do not like beach or kite surf
On avarage 8 to 10 knots. On a really good day 12 - 16 knots.
In Praia de Santiago there are small waves that could be a bit tricky to get started.
Wind come around 14:00 and increase until 17:00.
Mind the shipwrecks :-)
Best is Winter : From September to March (November to Jan should be really Good).
After May there is no much wind.
Ride 16 meters.
Air 30 degrees celcius - water 22-25 dc.
Bring sun block as there are no trees.
It is choppy. Wind is from West to East On-Shore
We are about 15 local riders in Luanda (2005). I am the only one to kite in Santiago so far.
4000 km away ... bring spares.
Do not have an accident in Angola, know what you are doing.
No life-saver, you do not want to see the hospital.
It's best if you make contact with a ex pat or some kind of local knowledge ... efrugier@slb.com
It is great beach for mountain-board !
Nice sand with a bit of Angolan wastes on the beach. Some locals rent huts for the afternoon ( 500 Kwanza = 6 USD max).