Turtle watching on Boa Vista

Why Boa Vista matters

The combination of vast beaches, minimal light and low development has made this island a global stronghold for loggerheads. Conservation projects here patrol nesting beaches, relocate threatened nests, tag females and run visitor tours whose fees fund the work. The turnaround in recent decades — from widespread poaching to organised protection — is one of Cape Verde's genuine environmental successes.

When to go

Nesting runs from roughly June to October, peaking in August and September, with hatchlings emerging from around August into November. Outside that window there are no tours. Check how it fits your trip in our month-by-month guide.

How the tours work

Tours run at night in small groups from Sal Rei and some resorts, led by trained guides. You walk quietly along a nesting beach while spotters look for fresh tracks. If a female is found and has begun laying, the group watches from a set distance. Nothing is guaranteed — it depends entirely on the turtles.

The rules

• Only go with a licensed conservation project — never an informal tour.
• No flash photography and no white torches on the beach.
• Stay behind the guide, keep quiet and never touch a turtle.
• Do not walk on nesting beaches alone at night.
• Never buy turtle shell or products; the trade is illegal.

The reasoning is simple: light and disturbance make females abandon nests and send hatchlings inland instead of to sea. For the national picture, see our turtle watching guide.