Boa Vista is the quieter of Cape Verde's two beach islands, and most of what makes it special lies off the tarmac: empty beaches that run for kilometres, a real desert of Sahara-blown dunes, a shipwreck on the north coast, and whales and turtles in season. This guide lists what is worth doing, how long it takes, when to go, and which places you can reach on your own.
Things to do on Boa Vista at a glance
| Activity | Time needed | Best timing | Tour needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island tour (4x4) | Full day | Year-round | Yes |
| Viana Desert | Part of a tour | Early or late light | Yes, 4x4 or quad |
| Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck | Part of a tour | Year-round | Yes, 4x4 or quad |
| Santa Monica beach | Half day | Year-round | 4x4 or tour |
| Quad tour | From 2 hours | Year-round | Yes |
| Whale watching | 3–4 hours | March–May | Yes |
| Turtle watching | Evening | June–October | Yes, licensed only |
| Snorkelling at Gatas Bay | Half day | April–November | Recommended |
| Sal Rei town | Half day | Year-round | No |
Times are approximate and depend on the operator. Most sights on Boa Vista are reached on sandy or rocky tracks, so a guided 4x4 or quad tour is the practical way to see them.
On the beaches
Boa Vista has the broadest, emptiest beaches in Cape Verde, but they are not all good for swimming. Pick the beach by what you want to do.
1. Walk the empty sand at Santa Monica
Praia de Santa Monica runs for more than 30 km in the south of the island, and you can walk for an hour without meeting anyone. Strong currents and surf make swimming unwise, and it is reached by 4x4 tracks or via the Salinas resort area. Bring water and food.
2. Spend a day at Praia de Chaves
The long, dune-backed beach on the west coast is home to most of the resorts and a few beach clubs. On calm days the water is lovely, but it is open to the Atlantic and can have shorebreak and current, so check conditions. Read our Praia de Chaves guide.
3. Swim in the calm bay at Sal Rei
For a proper, worry-free swim, go to the bay in front of Sal Rei, sheltered by the islet of Ilhéu de Sal Rei. It has the calmest water on the island. Our Boa Vista beaches guide covers every beach.
4. Kitesurf at Praia de Chaves
Chaves has a kitesurf school and plenty of space. The wind is strongest in the winter months; see our kitesurfing guide for seasons and schools.
The desert and the interior
5. Cross the dunes of the Viana Desert
The Deserto de Viana is a pocket of pale dunes about five kilometres long, ringed by dark volcanic rock, around 15 minutes from Sal Rei by 4x4 or quad. Go in the first or last hours of daylight for the best photos; midday light is flat and harsh.
6. See the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck
The rusting cargo ship Cabo Santa Maria has sat on the north coast since 1968 and is the island's most photographed sight. It is only reachable by 4x4 or quad on sandy tracks, so most people see it on a tour with the Viana Desert.
7. Take a full-day island tour
A full-day 4x4 tour with hotel pick-up is the easiest way to see the island: typically the Viana Desert, Curral Velho and Ervatão beach, with a swim stop and lunch. It is the one outing we would recommend to almost everyone staying on Boa Vista.
8. Ride a quad tour
Shorter quad tours of around two hours from Sal Rei cover the shipwreck and the Viana dunes; longer ones go further south. See our quad and buggy tours guide.
9. Visit the abandoned village of Curral Velho
In the wild south, Curral Velho is a deserted village close to an important seabird islet. It is reachable only by 4x4 on rough tracks, usually as part of an island tour.
Whales, turtles and sharks
10. Watch humpback whales (March to May)
Humpback whales gather off Boa Vista to breed in spring. Boat trips leave from Sal Rei harbour and last three to four hours; with luck you will see them breach. Details in our Boa Vista whale watching guide.
11. Join a turtle-nesting tour (June to October)
Boa Vista is one of the world's key nesting sites for loggerhead turtles. Licensed night tours let you watch a female lay her eggs, and from August you may see hatchlings. Only go with an official guide; see our Boa Vista turtle watching guide.
12. Snorkel with nurse sharks at Gatas Bay
Gatas Bay is the island's best-known snorkelling spot, with coral, colourful fish and harmless nurse sharks. The water is calmest between April and November, and an organised trip supplies the gear and a guide.
Towns and villages
13. Explore Sal Rei
The capital is where about half of the island's people live. Wander the central square with its pastel church, browse the market for fruit, salt and crafts, and have lunch at a courtyard café. It is the best place on Boa Vista to see local life. More in our Sal Rei guide.
14. Visit the potters of Rabil
Rabil, the island's former capital, has a traditional pottery workshop, a historic church and a palm-filled riverbed. It is included on most island 4x4 and quad tours.
One more for a quiet evening: the small white chapel of Nossa Senhora de Fátima, northeast of Sal Rei, is reachable on foot along the coast or by 4x4 and has fine Atlantic views at sunset.
How to plan your days on Boa Vista
- Book at least one island tour. Boa Vista's sights are far apart and on rough tracks. One full day covers most of them.
- Plan around the seasons. Whales from March to May, turtles from June to October. Outside those months, focus on beaches, the desert and Sal Rei.
- Resort guests: the big resorts sit some way from Sal Rei and from each other, so factor in taxis. See where to stay on Boa Vista.
- Without a tour: Sal Rei, its calm bay and the walk to the Fátima chapel are easy on your own. For the desert, the shipwreck and Santa Monica you need a 4x4 and confidence on sand tracks.
What we would skip
Do not plan a swimming day at Santa Monica; it is for walking, not swimming. Do not expect nightlife; Boa Vista is quiet in the evenings, and if you want buzz, read Sal or Boa Vista first. And do not join turtle tours that are not licensed, however cheap.
For other islands, see things to do in Cape Verde.
Book activities on Boa Vista
Prices, times and availability are shown on GetYourGuide. Many tours offer free cancellation.
Boa Vista island tour
- Full day with hotel pick-up
- Viana Desert, Curral Velho, Ervatão beach
- Swim stop and lunch break
Quad tour: shipwreck and Viana Desert
- Small groups from Sal Rei
- Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck
- Dunes of the Viana Desert
Turtle watching on Boa Vista
- Night tours from Sal Rei and resorts
- Most nesting turtles in Cape Verde
- Hatchlings from August
More tours: Whale watching ↗ · Snorkelling trips ↗ · All Boa Vista tours ↗
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Frequently asked questions
What is there to do on Boa Vista?
Walk Santa Monica beach, swim in the calm bay at Sal Rei, cross the Viana Desert dunes, see the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck, snorkel at Gatas Bay and, in season, watch whales (March to May) or nesting turtles (June to October). Sal Rei and Rabil show local life.
Do you need a tour on Boa Vista?
For most sights, yes. The Viana Desert, the shipwreck, Curral Velho and Santa Monica are reached on sandy or rocky tracks by 4x4 or quad. Sal Rei and its calm beach are easy to explore on your own.
When is whale watching on Boa Vista?
From March to May, when humpback whales gather off the island. Boat trips leave from Sal Rei harbour and last three to four hours.
Can you swim at Santa Monica beach?
Swimming is not advised because of strong currents and surf. Go there to walk; swim in the sheltered bay at Sal Rei instead.
Is Boa Vista or Sal better for activities?
Sal has more organised activities, watersports and nightlife. Boa Vista is better for empty beaches, the desert and wildlife. Our Sal or Boa Vista comparison goes into detail.