Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
OTHER ISLANDS
TOP OF CHAPTER
Brava
POP 5995
Except for the occasional car that braves the cobblestone, cross-island roads, Brava seems
to reside firmly in the 19th century. Its terraced hillsides are farmed with the aid of mules
and life moves at a pace that would make a sloth sleepy. Its mountainous interior is breath-
taking and the coastline dramatic, though thanks to its distance from anywhere else and in-
frequent, erratic travel connections, the island receives little foreign tourism. You will see
fancy mansions dotted around the island; these are built by US returnees - Brava's popula-
tion has left in droves for US shores but some come back to build their lifelong dream.
Nova Sintra
('Vila'), the tiny capital, sits on a little plateau regularly engulfed by clouds.
From Vila there are some short but lovely
hikes
: eastward down to the ghost village of Vi-
nagre via Santa Barbara and westward to Cova Joana and then on to Nossa Senhora do
Monte or Lima Doce, both nearby. Another highlight includes the 1½-hour walk to the
mountainside hamlet of Baleia from the village of Mato Grande, 4km from Nova Sintra.
The scenic village of
Fajã d'Agua
on the northwestern coast is set dramatically between a
rocky cove and impressive cliffs. It's great to hike down to the village, along a sharp 7km
descent with stunning views.
Aluguers
ply the road between Nossa Senhora do Monte, Vila and the ferry port at Furna
(CVE150 for each leg). You can find a car and driver for a full-day tour of the island for as
little as CVE4000 - ask around among the
aluguer
drivers. To get to Fajã for a couple of
hours,
aluguers
charge about CVE2000. Plan ahead if you have a morning boat, as trans-
port can be scarce.
Sleeping & Eating
Pensão Nova Sintra
PENSION
$
( 2852037; pensao_novasintra@yahoo.com; s/d CVE2850/3850)
On the main road into Vila, this newly
built townhouse has clean, spacious rooms with private bathrooms and TVs. Solid choice
in town.
Pensão Sol na Baia
PENSION
$$
