Turtle Nature Reserve

The entire east coast of the island consists of a protected area, both of the island’s flora and fauna, where you will find the beaches of the Costa de Boa Esperança, vast stretches of white sandy beaches, not recommended for swimming, but well known among the water sports community, mostly by kite-surfers and wind-surfers. Due to its wind currents.

But certainly more visited for the fact that these are the beaches with the highest rate of turtle nesting that come to visit the island, the entire coast is a place of intense turtle appearances, mostly common turtles (Caretta caretta), being the third largest in the world, since these beaches are quite distant from the city, does not have many negative factors that degrade the habitat of turtles.

Cabo Verde is the only stable loggerhead nesting area in the Eastern Atlantic. The main threats to this population are poaching of adult female turtles, especially during nesting, and loss of habitat due to tourist development of the coast. In the same area by the turtle appearances, we have installed in the area, some environmental protection organizations :

BIOS.CV

• Non-profit association for environmental conservation and sustainable development, registered in Cape Verde on February 1, 2013 is composed of national and foreign professionals in the area of Marine Biologists, veterinarians, researchers, university professors, ecotourism entrepreneurs, among others.

• For the past 14 years, BIOS.CV members have dedicated great effort in the study and conservation of sea turtles in Cape Verde, having also engaged in activities aimed at making the competent authorities, native population and tourists aware of the importance of protecting these endangered species and their critical habitats. It has also encouraged sustainable development practices among the local inhabitants.
• The conservation expertise of BIOS.CV goes beyond the protection of sea turtles. BIOS.CV also carries out research and monitoring activities of birds (gulls, Pintails, Frigatebirds, …), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and keeps a record of strandings of cetaceans off the coast of Boa Vista. Besides our general study of the archipelago’s marine biodiversity, we also carry out information, education, and environmental awareness activities directed at the local population and visitors.

Visite o site para mais info: http://www.bioscaboverde.com/

Turtle Foundation: 

• Founded on July 3, 2012, with its official office located in Germany, it has a camp located on the coast of Curral Velho, and others at other strategic points on the island. 
• With the mission of contributing to the conservation of sea turtles through their projects, cooperating with local communities where sea turtles and people can live together harmoniously, where sea turtles and their habitats are protected in a sustainable, healthy and safe way from the threat of extinction and destruction. With the experience of biologists and specialists, they do an excellent job in preserving this species.
• Visite o site para mais info: http://www.turtle-foundation.org/ProjectoCaboVerde

Cape Verde Natura 2000 

One of the oldest non-governmental associations installed on the island with the main objectives in:

• Participate in the direct protection of breeding females of the Caretta caretta species when they are on the beaches laying their eggs (the mere presence of volunteers is usually enough to dissuade possible turtle hunters);
• To participate in activities for the collection of basic information, essential for censuses of breeding females, nests, hatchlings, etc., which will be used both in the preparation of an Atlas of Sea Turtles in Cape Verde and in other ongoing scientific studies on this and other species of sea turtles.

They have camps in Ervatão with years of experience, Porto Ferreira opened in 2009, all their volunteers have the possibility to know both camps. There will always be 30 volunteers, 15 monitors and 4 camp directors, distributed between Ervatão and Porto Ferreira. The volunteers, monitors and directors of the camps will come from Spain, Portugal and Cape Verde.

Each of the associations on the island are always willing to inform tourists in case of questions, especially how to walk in these nesting areas and how to treat the animals on the island, they are also open to volunteers and donations to continue on this journey, not only of protecting the turtles but also other endangered animals on the island.

– The recommended ways to get to João Barrosa are by pick up or the quad, but you can also get there with a rental car (with a little patience).

– If you are going for the first time, we advise you not to go there alone: this page lists the official excursions. Beware of people who don’t have a license or regular insurance.

– Because of its size, the beach lends itself to long walks and spectacular swims, but brings water and a snack; in any case, the phone works very well here too.

– The reflection of the sun on the sand is like snow: bring sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat; in winter it is very windy, but it is worth visiting this beach at least once, you won’t regret it (it is breathtaking).