Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BOA VISTA
POP 9162
With its feathery lines of peachy dunes, stark plains and scanty oases, Boa Vista looks as if
a chunk of the Sahara somehow broke off the side of Africa and floated out to the middle
of the Atlantic. Though the island offers some fantastic if wind-blown beaches, incredible
windsurfing, the pretty little town of Sal Rei, and an ever- increasing number of resorts and
hotels, it's this desert interior that is the best reason for venturing out here. Be ready for
some rough off-roading, as most of Boa Vista's roads are treacherous.
Sights
The long and beautiful
Praia da Santa Mónica
is on the island's southern coast, as well as the
beaches of
Curralinho
and
Varandinha
. It's worth whizzing through the village of
Povoaçao Velha
fers tours) and the oasis town of
Rabil
.
The
Morro Negro lighthouse
on a 150m-high cape is Cape Verde's most easterly point, with a
great panorama. Another good destination is the spooky village of
Curral Velho
, abandoned
due to near-endless drought and now the home of ghosts and the odd passing fisherman.
Another, equally eerie sight is the wreck of the
Santa Maria
, a rusting hulk laid out on a
stormy stretch of beach to the north of Sal Rei along Costa de Boa Esperança. While this
makes a decent half-day walk, it's better not to attempt it as there have been muggings on
this route; take a taxi or visit it as part of an island tour instead. There's also a string of
pretty villages -
João Galego
,
Fundo das Figueiras
and
Cabeço das Tarafes
- in the island's interior.
While you can't take in all these sights in one day, two days is more than enough to see
the entire island.
Activities
The attractive beach at Sal Rei is lined with beach clubs that offer water sports, food and
occasional fun at night. Most are only open in wintertime, from November to April, which
is the windy season.
Planet Allsports
WATER SPORTS
( 5963834;
www.planetallsports.com
)
A great choice, with two centres near Sal Rei, one on Tor-
tuga beach and another at Morabeza. They rent boards for around €65 per day and kites for
