Boa Vista (Cape Verde) Voyage Tips and guide

This page describes an island in the Cape Verde archipelago. For the city in Brazil see Boa Vista.

Boa Vista or Boavista is the most easterly island of the Cape Verde archipelago, lying in the Atlantic 450 km west of Senegal. It extends about 30 km by 30 km, in outline resembling a fig. Boa Vista is arid with white sand dunes and good beaches, so it’s one of the principal tourist destinations of Cape Verde, with direct flights from Europe. Its population of 13,000 is concentrated in the northwest around the town of Sal Rei, airport and nearby resort strip.

This island is low-lying, without mountains to draw the cloud and rain, so it’s arid. The lack of a cloud cap meant that mariners didn’t spot it from afar, and it wasn’t discovered until 1460, as Portuguese navigators pushed ever southwest towards Brazil then round the Cape to India. It was used as a cattle range until 1620, when salt mining became profitable and the first settlement was established at Povoação Velha. In the early 19th century the island came under pirate attack so its people moved north to Sal Rei, where a fort was built. Salt remained profitable as it used African slave labour, hence placenames like Praia de Chaves, Beach of Slaves. When slavery was abolished in 1876 the economy slumped, as did that of Portugal the colonial ruler.

Not much happened for a century until Portugal’s dictator Salazar died in 1970, Cape Verde became independent in 1975, and tourism grew. This was slow as the Med resorts were much better developed and within a shorter flying time from Europe. But as those resorts became over-touristed, a niche audience looked beyond, aircraft range extended, and Boa Vista airport was upgraded in 2007 to take wide-bodied jets.

16°6′0″N 22°50′24″W

Map of Boa Vista (Cape Verde)

For entry requirements see Cape Verde#Get in. Western passport holders don’t need a visa. All international arrivals must pay an “Airport Security Fee” of €30, best done in advance through the CV government portal.

16.1375-22.88941 Aristides Pereira Airport (BVC  ^IATA) has many tourist flights, principally from Britain and Germany by Tui; the flying time from London is 6 hours. TAP fly daily from Lisbon, 4 hours. Cabo Verde Airlines fly two or three days a week from Sal (25 min) and once a week from Praia on Santiago (40 min).

The airport is 5 km south of Sal Rei the island capital: a taxi there is about €20, best arranged through your accommodation. Most arrivals have onward transport as part of their package.

CV Interilhas car ferries sail from Palmeira on Sal island two or three days a week, taking two hours, and continue to Santiago, another five hours. They’re unreliable.

Inter-island day trips are not possible with public transport, but boat trips ply between Sal and Boa Vista.

The main road loops round the north end of the island, from Praia de Lacacão in the west to Rabil, the airport and Sal Rei (where a spur runs to the port) then to Fundo de Figueiras in the east. No through road along the south coast.

“Route 66” is a cobbled road across the arid interior from Rabil to Fundo de Figueiras, passable by 2WD with care. It’s a scenic 8 km drive with droll donkeys, but don’t go expecting any grand mesas or canyons.

No public bus service on Boa Vista. Taxis and minibuses buzz along the main road.

• 16.1962-22.91431 Capela de Nossa Senhora de Fatima is a dinky chapel on the coast built in 1926. It fell derelict but was rebuilt in 2015. It’s nominally open M-Sa 08:30-18:00 but many visitors find it closed.
• Sal Rei town centre is mostly nondescript modern breezeblock. You don’t get the sense of a historic Hispanic town.
• 16.17-22.9282 Ilheu de Sal Rei is a scrubby uninhabited island with a lighthouse near its northwest tip, and substantial remains of Forte Duque de Braganca (24 hours, free) at the southeast tip. The fort was built in 1818 after pirates had twice raided Boa Vista. The island is 1 km off Sal Rei so it shelters the main harbour from the Atlantic. No regular ferry but boat trips often visit and it’s within kayak range.
• 16.1782-22.91623 Museo dos Naufragos, Sal Rei, ☏ +258 528 1173. M-Th 09:00-12:30, F Sa 09:00-12:30, 16:00-23:00. Exhibiting shipwrecks and other island history.  (updated Jan 2026)
• Museo do Mar is a collection of seashells, open M-Sa.
• 16.1305-22.90544 Chaminé de Chaves is the chimney of an 18th century brickworks and ceramics factory, incongruous amidst the dunes. You pass it heading to Perola d’Chaves beach restaurant.
• Deserto de Viana covers the north of the island, crossed by “Route 66”. It has haunting white sand dunes.

• CAC Centre for Art and Cultural is a performance and exhibition space in Sal Rei.
• Morna is the distinctive musical style of Cape Verde: it probably originated on Boa Vista in the 18th century then was adapted by the other islands. There might be a concert at CAC, otherwise enquire if any of the big hotels are featuring it in their entertainment package.
• Surfing: Praia de Chaves beach is the main spot.
• Scuba diving is April to Nov, the sea and weather are too rough in winter. (Sal has year-round diving.) Boa Vista’s shallow reef is suitable for novice divers and snorkellers. Scuba Caribe are based at Riu Tuareg on the south coast.
• Monte Santo Antonio is 379 m and takes about 30 min to climb from the main road south of Rabil.
• Monte Estancia in the southeast is the island’s highest point at 387 m, so you won’t need ice picks or oxygen.

Hotel management will suffer an embolism if they discover you’ve shopped in town instead of in their overpriced souvenir shop.

• Boas Compras in Sal Rei is the island’s main supermarket, open M-F 08:15-12:30, 15:00-19:00, Sa 08:15-13:00.
• Mercado Mercantil in Sal Rei has fruit & veg downstairs and crafts & giftware upstairs. It’s open M-Sa 08:00-18:00.
• Loja Chines is a supermarket near Mercado Mercantil. Check your bill and change very carefully.

• Town waterfront restaurants are open evenings, while out-of-town beach clubs close at sundown. They include Casa Rosa, Sodade Casa da Cultura, Té Manché, Blu Marlin, Ca Baby, Bowlavista, Storybook, El Mirador and Morna’s.
• Tortuga Beach Resort, Praia d’Estoril, ☏ +238 993 0811. Tu-Su 08:00-18:00. Family-friendly restaurant on Estoril beach. (updated Jan 2026)
• Alisios 100 m south is open Th-Tu 10:00-18:00.
• Bahia Beach Club, Praia d’Estoril, ☏ +238 983 7429. Daily 09:30-18:00. Welcoming bar & restaurant on Estoril beach. (updated Jan 2026)
• Morabeza 200 m south of Bahia Beach Club is open daily 09:00-03:00.

Water is desalinated, so it’s safe to drink but tastes flat, you might prefer bottled.

Everything else has to be imported, so the usual brands of beer, wine and spirits are available but pricey.

• 16.1899-22.91391 Barcelo Marine Boa Vista, Praia da Cruz, ☏ +238 251 1285. Adults-only hotel 2 km north of town, refurbished in 2025. Peaceful place, limited evening entertainment. B&B double €250.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 16.1745-22.91362 Oasis White Hotel, Sal Rei, ☏ +238 235 2100. Mid-range hotel in town near the beach. B&B double €150.  (updated Jan 2026)
• Ouril Hotel Agueda a block southwest is inexpensive for good reason.
• 16.1397-22.90343 Riu Karaboa, Praia de Boca Salina, Rabil, ☏ +238 251 9100. Mostly good reviews for this spacious modern hotel. B&B double €300.  (updated Jan 2026)
• Riu Palace Boavista, Praia de Boca Salina, Rabil (500 m south of Riu Karaboa), ☏ +238 335 1050. Good reviews for this efficient family-friendly hotel close to the airport. B&B double €350. (updated Jan 2026)
• Villa Cristina is a cosy B&B on the beach at Praia de Chaves.
• Villa Alfredo Marchetti is 50 m north of Villa Cristina.
• Occidental Boa Vista Beach, Praia de Chaves, Rabil (500 m north of VOI Resort), ☏ +238 251 1407. Good reviews all round for comfort, service, dining and entertainment. B&B double €300. (updated Jan 2026)
• 16.1149-22.90864 VOI Praia de Chaves Resort, Praia de Chaves, ☏ +238 251 2170. Italian-run, scores well on comfort and service but below par for food and entertainment. B&B double €250.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 15.9798-22.81925 Riu Toureg, Praia Lacacão, Santa Monica, ☏ +238 251 2340. Down on the south coast, good reviews though some facilities tired. Closed May-Oct 2026 for refurbishment. B&B double €300.  (updated Jan 2026)

As of Jan 2026 Sal Rei, the airport and nearby beach strip have 4G from CVMovel and a patchy signal from Unitel T+. There’s no coverage elsewhere on the island. 5G has not yet rolled out in Cape Verde.

Flights go to Sal and Praia, and ferries to Sal and Santiago.

No direct transport to West Africa, you have to double back via Europe.