Boa Vista is a holiday destination, whose best heritage is its paradisiacal beaches. The desert appearance of this volcanic land in the middle of the Atlantic makes Boa Vista a unique place, with beaches stuck between large dunes and with crystal clear waters. If you are planning a trip to Boavista, discover some of the best beaches for an unforgettable vacation.
The beaches of Boa Vista
ESTORIL BEACH – A short walk south of the city centre of Sal Rei, this beautiful beach has turquoise waters and white sands, making it a great setting for a day off. A handful of beach bars serve seafood, snacks and many drinks, with tables and sun loungers on the sand. Several places here hire equipment – stand-up boards, surfboards, kayaks – and teach surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing and sailing lessons.
CABRAL BEACH – or Cruz Beach is a beach located on the northwest coast of the island of Boa Vista, in Cape Verde, close to the village of Sal Rei. Next to its beach, there is a resort and a small cemetery Jewish. It has been the stage of an annual music festival, privileging Cape Verdean musicians, and having as a backdrop the awakening of consciences for the protection of the turtles that spawn on the island.
ATALANTA BEACH – located in the north of the island of Boavista, it is best known for the “Cabo de Santa Maria” where the Spanish freighter that gave it its name, in 1968, returned from a trip to Argentina and Brazil. Legend has it that it would be loaded with gifts for dictator Franco and his supporters. Although not a bathing beach, Atalanta is another windsurfing destination, and a place to watch the turtles spawn between June and September.
VIEW EXCURSION THAT PASSES THERE
The departure is in Sal-Rei, with 4-wheel vehicles for 2 people. Driving the quad is pure fun, very stable and it gives the impression of flying. After passing through Rabil, a small town, you arrive at the dunes of the Viana desert, magnificent sand walls that move with the wind and offer a breathtaking view. Near the desert, there is a bar where you can stop and take a walk on foot. During the tour you travel in the queue, to avoid ending up in chasms or dangerous points. The dunes are soft, silent and the sand does not burn because it is very clear. Once you leave the desert, you will go north to visit the Cabo Santa Maria, one of the last shipwrecks of Boavista. Here the terrain is more impervious but doesn’t worry because the expert guides know perfectly every path! The excursion is also suitable for children, from 7 years. No special technical knowledge is required and the excursion ends where it started. 2 POSSIBLE DEPARTURES (every day): RETURN: Expected after about 5h. TRANSPORT INCLUDED: Pick-up or bus directly at the hotel or in the city. Further details will be provided after booking. EXCURSION PRICE: € 85 double motorbike (2 people)QUAD NORTH TOUR
4 hours
– Hotel Riu Touareg: 08.00 / 13.30
– Iberostar Hotel: 08.15 / 13.20
– Hotel New Horizon and Sal-Rei: 08.30 / 13.30
– Hotel Marine Club: 08.40 / 13.40
– Hotel Riu Karamboa/Palace and Chaves: 08.45 / 13.45
CHAVES BEACH – is a beach in the western part of the island of Boa Vista, near the Rabil area. Here on the beach with some hotels and tourist resorts were developed. The southern part is included in the sandhill nature reserve. The coast is full of sand dunes and a chimney located there. We strongly recommend a walk to the beach of Chaves, following the sand/dunes through the beach of Estoril and the oasis of date palms that cheer the regular swell of the sand.
VIEW EXCURSION THAT PASSES THERE
It starts from the small town of Sal-Rei, where a brief briefing is given. By quad, you take the dirt road that leads to the oldest town of Boavista, Povoação Velha, in which there is a small stop. After visiting the small village we leave to go to the beautiful beach of Santa Monica, driving inside paths surrounded by acacias, in a river bed, where the stop is about 30 minutes, just the time for a nice bath in Cape Verde’s longest beach. After having cooled off, we set off again along the beach to the caves of Varandinha, another marvellous beach, to take some photos and explore the natural cavities of the east part of the island. The last stop is the promontory of Morro de Areia, one of the most beautiful beaches in Africa, where the dunes dive into the ocean. The excursion is also suitable for children, from 7 years. No special technical knowledge is required and the excursion ends where it started. 2 POSSIBLE DEPARTURES (every day): RETURN: Expected after about 5h. TRANSPORT INCLUDED: Pick-up or bus directly at the hotel or in the city. Further details will be provided after booking. EXCURSION PRICE: €85 double motorbike (2 people) Experience the thrill of a horse ride on the beach! Boavista is a wonderful backdrop to enjoy an experience in contact with nature, riding tamed horses with the assistance of a guide. The horses are young and tame, also suitable for children. For the more experienced the guides provide horses more suitable for some gallop, just indicate it in the notes during the booking. The classic tour includes a walk on the beach of Chave and Estoril, with some stops to take photos and relax. It is possible to request tours for families with children or a more romantic experience for 2 people. If you are planning a surprise, the guides can arrive at the hotel at the time you prefer. No special technical knowledge is required, suitable excursion from 4 years old. Every day, all year round DEPARTURE: The guide and the horses will pick you up directly from the beach in front of the hotel. Further information will be provided after booking. EXCURSION PRICEQUAD SOUTH TOUR
4 hours
– Hotel Iberostar: 08:15 / 13:20
– Hotel Riu Touareg: 08:00 / 13:30
– Hotel New Horizon and Sal-Rei: 08:30 / 13:30
– Hotel Marine Club: 08:40 / 13:40
– Hotel Riu Karamboa, Palace and Chaves: 08:45 / 13:45
HORSE RIDING
1 - 2 hours
Single trip: 40 € 30min, 70 € 1 hour, 100 € 2 hours
Family trip: package 200 € 1 hour (2 to 4 people).
Sunset ride: package 125 € 90min (for 2 people).
LACACÃO BEACH – right next to Santa Monica beach, it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Boavista, you can still see kilometres of sand, only populated by guests of the Riu Tuareg, which for now is the only hotel in the area.
Here the sea is a bit braver and red flag days are frequent. The best time to visit Lacacao Beach is from January to December, the highest average temperature is 27° C in September and the lowest is 22° C in February.
SANTA MONICA BEACH – in Boavista, it is one of the wonders of Cape Verde. With more than 22 km in length, in the southwest area of the island, it attracts almost all tourists, but, despite the continuous excursions, its dimensions allow any visitor to experience the feeling of being surrounded by untouched nature.
VIEW EXCURSION THAT PASSES THERE
It starts from the small town of Sal-Rei, where a brief briefing is given. By quad, you take the dirt road that leads to the oldest town of Boavista, Povoação Velha, in which there is a small stop. After visiting the small village we leave to go to the beautiful beach of Santa Monica, driving inside paths surrounded by acacias, in a river bed, where the stop is about 30 minutes, just the time for a nice bath in Cape Verde’s longest beach. After having cooled off, we set off again along the beach to the caves of Varandinha, another marvellous beach, to take some photos and explore the natural cavities of the east part of the island. The last stop is the promontory of Morro de Areia, one of the most beautiful beaches in Africa, where the dunes dive into the ocean. The excursion is also suitable for children, from 7 years. No special technical knowledge is required and the excursion ends where it started. 2 POSSIBLE DEPARTURES (every day): RETURN: Expected after about 5h. TRANSPORT INCLUDED: Pick-up or bus directly at the hotel or in the city. Further details will be provided after booking. EXCURSION PRICE: €85 double motorbike (2 people)QUAD SOUTH TOUR
4 hours
– Hotel Iberostar: 08:15 / 13:20
– Hotel Riu Touareg: 08:00 / 13:30
– Hotel New Horizon and Sal-Rei: 08:30 / 13:30
– Hotel Marine Club: 08:40 / 13:40
– Hotel Riu Karamboa, Palace and Chaves: 08:45 / 13:45
VARANDINHA BEACH – is a beach located in the southwest of Boa Vista Island, in Cape Verde. It is considered a paradisiacal beach, being inter-cut by rocks that divide its extensive sand into smaller sands. It is recognized for the good conditions it offers for the practice of water sports, such as surfing. The inexistence of a road connection makes access to this beach difficult, promoting its isolation and contributing to its almost untouched wild atmosphere.
VIEW EXCURSION THAT PASSES THERE
It starts from the small town of Sal-Rei, where a brief briefing is given. By quad, you take the dirt road that leads to the oldest town of Boavista, Povoação Velha, in which there is a small stop. After visiting the small village we leave to go to the beautiful beach of Santa Monica, driving inside paths surrounded by acacias, in a river bed, where the stop is about 30 minutes, just the time for a nice bath in Cape Verde’s longest beach. After having cooled off, we set off again along the beach to the caves of Varandinha, another marvellous beach, to take some photos and explore the natural cavities of the east part of the island. The last stop is the promontory of Morro de Areia, one of the most beautiful beaches in Africa, where the dunes dive into the ocean. The excursion is also suitable for children, from 7 years. No special technical knowledge is required and the excursion ends where it started. 2 POSSIBLE DEPARTURES (every day): RETURN: Expected after about 5h. TRANSPORT INCLUDED: Pick-up or bus directly at the hotel or in the city. Further details will be provided after booking. EXCURSION PRICE: €85 double motorbike (2 people)QUAD SOUTH TOUR
4 hours
– Hotel Iberostar: 08:15 / 13:20
– Hotel Riu Touareg: 08:00 / 13:30
– Hotel New Horizon and Sal-Rei: 08:30 / 13:30
– Hotel Marine Club: 08:40 / 13:40
– Hotel Riu Karamboa, Palace and Chaves: 08:45 / 13:45
BEACH GATAS – it is 7 km from the bottom of the fig trees, one of the northern villages and is where you can swim with the sharks. Dolphins are also frequently seen. On this beach, it is also possible to see the Islet of birds that is off beach Gatas. It is part of the Natural Park of the North.
VIEW EXCURSION THAT PASSES THERE
The guide will pick you up directly where you are staying with a 4×4 pick-up. Snorkeling tours are only possible at high tide, because at low tide, the bay becomes On the way back there is a stop in a typical bar of a small village in the North to have a drink and have a snack. No special technical knowledge is required and the excursion ends where it started. POSSIBLE DEPARTURES (every day): TRANSPORT INCLUDED EXCURSION PRICESNORKELING
4 hours
very shallow and the coral heads almost protrude from the surface of the sea. We will provide all the necessary equipment (wetsuit, shoes, life jacket, mask and snorkel), but we do not allow the use of fins in order not to damage the corals.
The trip to Gatas takes about 50 minutes from Sal Rei, and allows you to enjoy some beautiful landscapes that characterize the North of the Island. Normally the duration in water is 45-60 minutes, which are sufficient to observe a good quantity of fish and corals, but which do not exceed a normal fatigue threshold.
– Sal Rei e Chaves
– Hotel Riu Touareg*
– Hotel Iberostar e Hotel New Horizon
– Hotel Marine Club
– Hotel Riu Karamboa, Palace
Pick-up or coach directly at the hotel or in the city (included in the price). Timetable and further details will be provided after booking. Normally the duration is about 4h
€ 50 per adult (12+) / € 25 children (6-11 years)
* From the hotel Touareg surcharge of 20 € for transport to/r (max 4 people).
ERVATÃO BEACH – is a coastal area of Boavista Island, in Cape Verde, located in the southeast of the island. As in other beaches on the island, an Ervatão beach is a place threatened by turtles. There are, however, movements for their preservation, since 1998, awareness and training camps for the defence of turtles have been carried out on the site, both nationally and internationally, also involving surveillance actions.
