Your Last BordersTHINGS TO DO IN BOA VISTA, CAPE VERDE
Boa Vista is a wonderful island in Cape Verde, an archipelago-country in West Africa. Among the nation’s ten islands, Boa Vista is one of the most touristic. There’s lots of great things to do in Boa Vista on and beyond its paradisiacal beaches. And you’ll find them all on this post.
Boa Vista is home to azure beaches with bending palm trees, deserts, ancient towns, and wild animals. It also features boutique hotels, large resorts, beach bars, and delicious restaurants. All of them surrounded by local’s relaxed vibe, creole music, and African-Portuguese heritage. The following are my favourite things to do in Boa Vista Cape Verde. Keep them handy as these will help you tailor your ideal Holidays to Boa Vista and make the most of Cape Verde.
Best things to do in Boa Vista by the ocean
1. Watch the turtles nest
The sandy beaches of Boa Vista in Cape Verde are one of the best places in the world to see common turtles nesting. Seeing the turtles come out of the ocean, nest their eggs on the sand and cover them to protect their future offspring from predators is one of the best things to do during your holidays to Cape Verde Boa Vista.
The process takes up to three hours, and the turtles then go back to the ocean under the moonlight. This wonderful natural experience and its vibe are unforgettable. To make the most of it, join a tour guided by a local expert who can share lots of information about the turtles and their nesting process.
Nesting’s high season is between July and October. Photos are allowed, just make sure to keep quiet and do not disturb to turtles in any way.
2. Visit a Ship wreck
The beaches in Boa Vista host many hidden gems. Among them, Cabo Santa Maria’s wreck is one of my favourite. This is a massive whip wreck of a vessel that ran aground while sailing from Spain to Brazil in 1968. Fun fact is it was carrying bells for Brazilia’s cathedral.
The wreck has been there ever since, and it makes such a cool photostop. If you’d like to get closer, as ithe wreck is surrounded by water, it’s best explored on a 4×4 buggy tour. You’ll see the wreck in many postcards and artworks on the island, an unmistakable sign it is one of the coolest places to visit in Boa Vista Cape Verde.
3. Go Whale-watching
Going whale watching is one of the best available Boa Vista Cape Verde excursions. Seeing these huge beautiful animals in their natural state will impress and amaze you. Plus you’ll learn lots about whales and their lives while enjoying a sail along the most beautiful Boa Vista Cape Verde beaches.
High season for whale watching is between March and May, as that is when humpback whales give birth in the area. Thus, it’s the perfect time to see them swimming and playing in the ocean.
Most whale watching tours include hotel pick ups, last about three hours, and provide some refreshments while onboard. Take your camera and wind jacket and get ready to enjoy a wild acrobatic show off the coast of Boa Vista.
4. Swim and sunbathe at the beach
Boa Vista offers endless beaches of white sand and azure waters. Sunbathing and swimming in the ocean is the ultimate highlight of a holiday in Boa Vista. The best places to do so are Praia de Chaves, Praia Santa Monica, and Praia Varandinha.
Praia de Chaves features plenty of sunbeds, umbrellas and beach bars. Alternatively, Praia Santa Monica is more isolated and makes a great spot for a relaxing walk and to watch the sun set over the ocean. Finally, Praia de Varandinha is quite windy so it’s ideal for windsurfing, and kitesurfing. If you’re a begginner, consider taking a surfing lesson first.
5. Go snorkelling or diving in the ocean
Boa Vista is a great spot for diving and snorkeling thanks to coral reefs hosting plenty of marine animals. It might not be as famous as the Maldives or Zanzibar, yet the wildlife in Cape Verde is well worth admiring. Expect plenty of sea turtles, colourful fish, and small non-dangerous sharks.
Snorkelling is possible from the beach, using your own equipment or hiring some at the hotel. Nevertheless, snorkeling tours will take you to the ebay spots on the island to ensure you see the most tropical fish, so consider joining them. Likewise, the diving centres in Sal Rei, Praia das Dunas, and Santa Monica are all famous for offering great diving experiences to qualified PADI divers.
6. Fish your dinner
One of the coolest things to do in Boa Vista is sailing into the ocean, catching some fresh fish, and having it cooked before your eyes for a memorable dinner under the stars. There’s many sailing and fishing tours allowing same, and I strongly recommend joining them. Plus they make a really good deal, as you get great entertainment and amazing food for the price of a regular restaurant meal.
Additionally, fishing has for long been one of the main activities in Cape Verde and tours of this kind allow visitors to learn more about the local lifestyle and fishermen to make an extra income. Plus they will get some fish for you if you are unlucky with the fishing rods. Book a fishing tour and prepare for the best fish dinner of your life.
Best things to do in Boa Vista inland
7. Explore Sal Rei city
Sal Rei is the capital city of Boa Vista island. With its 6,000 inhabitants and endless bars, restaurants, and cafes Sal Rei makes a great base for your Cape Verde holidays. Particularly because it’s the departing point of many sailing tours that will take you into the ocean for a diving, fishing or wildlife watching adventure. Moreover, the city is home to some of the best hotels in Boa Vista.
When on land, make sure to explore the city’s Santa Isabel church, a baroque colonial building in Andy colours. Along with the main square, always packed with flowers, and the harbour. And to spend some time chatting with locals and buying souvenirs at the market. Taking pictures of its colourful old houses is also a cool thing to do in Sal Rei.
Finish off the day enjoying some fresh fish and live music at one of the many local bars. Taverna Ka Euclides, Marabeza Beach Bar, Cocoa Bar, Queens Pub, Caffe del Porto, or Walkman Bar are among the best bars in Boa Vista Cape Verde.
8. Enjoy Viana Desert
Cape Verde is so close to the Sahara desert that some of its sand has reached the island through wind currents and created Viana Desert. You’ll find it in the northside of the island, opposite Praia de Santa Monica.
Viana desert is really stunning thanks to the unique combination of its white sand dunes and black volcanic rocks. There’s plenty to do here, from sand boarding down the dunes to enjoying a bumpy drive on a quad bike or savouring a traditional dinner and gazing the stars at night.
Exploring Viana Desert is one of the best things to do in Boa Vista. Most come here on a guided tour that will take you around the landscape’s highlights and include some fun activities. You can book them here to ensure availability and secure a great price.
9. Admire the views from Morro Negro Lighthouse
Morro Negro is the most famous lighthouse in Boa Vista island. It stands on the top of a 150-metre hill and offers mesmerizing views over the island and Atlantic Ocean. Walking to the lighthouse from Cabeça dos Tarrafes won’t take more than 15 minutes.
The Lighthouse is from 1930 and keeps its colonial style. Although abandoned for a while, it’s been recently renovated and looks quite impressive. Indeed, it;s white and red wallas can be seen from afar. Therefore, taking in the views from Morro Negro lighthouse is one of the best things to do in Boa Vista. Especially at sunset.
10. Sample local food
The food in Cape Verde really surprised me and I’m still in shock that fried chorizo is part of the national dish of an African country. Local cuisine in Boa Vista offers a delicious blend of West African beans and spices with Portuguese influences. So expect lovely fish, grilled meat, and vegetables but also cheese, pork sausages, and sweet pastries.
The must-try local dishes include plenty of seafood, especially shrimp, mussels, and lobster. They also have amazing barbecued pork meat, seasoned cheese boards, beans stews, etc. My favourite was cachupa, a slow-coocked stew made of corn, beans, swede potato, and sausage.
Some of the best restaurants in Boa Vista to try Cape Verdean food are Perola d’Chaves and Porton di nos Ilha. Foodies will also love visiting remote villages such as Povoação Velha for the nicest homemade treats and liquors.
11. Go Bird watching at Rabil Oasis
Rabil Oasis is one of the greenest areas in Boa Vista, an otherwise sandy island. It stretches along Rabil river and features a diverse landscape including several palm trees and wetlands. These are home to very diverse birds, and watching them is one of the best things to do in Boa Vista.
If you are interested in bird watching, Cape Verde along with The Gambia is one fo the best places to do so. Thus, there’s many of bird watching tours around Rabil Oasis where to enjoy this unique landscape and its Egyptian vultures, white wombs, Eurasian spoonbills, rufous-backed sparrows, and red-billed straw tails, among many others.
12. Visit the ruins and salines at Curral Velho
Curral Velho is an abandoned village in Boa Vista that now stands mostly in ruins. Back in the days it was a busy fishermen village. However, it’s location was too exposed to pirates and the village suffered so many attacks its inhabitants abandoned it to seek better lack elsewhere. Walking around its devastated walls and half standing houses will remind you of the dangers that come from the sea, and it’s one of the coolest cultural things to do in Boa Vista.
The village is by Santa Monica beach and also features some salines. Cape Verde, and in particular neighboring island of Sal, are some of the world’s greatest salt producers. The salines are a great place to learn about salt manufacturing, buy souvenirs, and take cool photos on a white landscape. Therefore, they make one of the most unique places to visit in Boa Vista Cape Verde.
Recap on the best things to do in Boa Vista
The island of Boa Vista in Cape Verde is a wonderful holiday destination. It features soft sand beaches and pristine waters ideal for swimming, sunbathing, snorkelling, and enjoying a sunset cocktail. But also for diving, surfing, and whale-watching. Therefore, there’s great things to do in Boa Vista to satisfy every traveler looking for a beach holiday.
Moreover, things to do in Boa Vista are not limited to the beach. The island also features some beautiful colonial architecture, vibrant markets, delicious food, plenty of live music sessions, and even some ancient ruins and modern lighthouses. Along with a cool desert where to gaze at the starts, have fun sand boarding, or learn to drive a quad bike.
If you’d like to keep very special memories of your trip to Boa Vista, consider booking a private photoshoot trip whit a professional photographer. They will follow you to your favourite spots on the island and take photos of your special moments.
Please leave a comment below with any questions on Boa Vista and Cape Verde. Or reach out through my Instagram and/or Tiktok pages. As always, I’m here to help you travel more and better. Book those flights to Boa Vista and have a wonderful trip.
