Baía Azul

Baía Azul — Blue Bay — is the most attractive beach in the Benguela area, about 30 kilometres south of the city. The Benguela Current keeps the water cool even in summer, but the sand is fine and the setting is beautiful: a wide crescent bay backed by low scrub and the occasional palm. It gets busy with Angolans on weekends; during the week you may have it largely to yourself.

The road south from Benguela follows the coast and is in reasonable condition. There's basic food and drink available at the beach, and a few simple guesthouses have opened in recent years. For a longer stay, the southern coastal road continues toward Sumbe — a route that's passable but requires a good vehicle and should be researched before attempting.

things to do sight
A story
The cold Benguela Current runs up the coast here, making the water much cooler than you'd expect at this latitude. The current also drives one of the world's most productive fisheries — the cold, nutrient-rich water supports enormous stocks of anchovies and pilchards, which in turn support a fishing industry that sustained Benguela's economy through much of the 20th century.