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Dishing up moon-like landscapes and oodles of gorgeous beaches, Boa Vista holidays are all about kicking back.

Sun-swept sand

The island of Boa Vista’s the crème de la crème of Cape Verde. Like the rest of the archipelago, it’s anchored off the coast of West Africa, and the whole place has been dusted like a cake with sugar-fine white sand. Beyond the tropical coastline, swish hotels, sun-streaked dunes and salt flats set the scene inland.

Marine life

Scuba diving in Boa Vista’s water’s like plunging in to Finding Nemo. The reefs here look like mini underwater cities, with hundreds of different species of fish calling them home. Larger animals, like turtles and dolphins, are known to pop by every once in a while, too. And out on the open ocean, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for gentle giants like humpback whales.

Sal Rei

The island’s capital adds a helping of colour to the recipe. Bright pastel houses are all over the city, which also has a handful of incredible bays in its collection. Add this to the weekly markets and beachfront restaurants and you’ve got a winning spot for exploring.

Further Reading

  • Things To Do

    • At a Glance

    • Spread out and make sand angels on Santa Monica Beach
    • Cruise around the coast and look for whales
    • Rip around sand dunes on a quad bike
    • Prep for your trip with our Holiday Extras

    Location

    View on the map View on the map

    Best time to go to Boa Vista

    Rain is rare in Boa Vista – the heavens open for just a few days a year. On average, it stays a toasty 26°C around the calendar, with August and September the hottest months. There’s no winter season as such, although it cools down a fraction from December to March.

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    Top things to see and do in Boa Vista

    Beach retreat

    Boa Vista has a reputation for its endless supply of dazzling white-sand beaches, all tickled by turquoise waters. And, because this island’s still a newbie on the tourism front, you won’t be sharing your spot with hordes of other holidaymakers.

    The big beach

    Boa Vista’s pull is that its beaches are all pretty uncrowded. But the most popular stretch of sand is Estoril Beach, just south of the island’s capital, Sal Rei. It’s huge, stretching along the coast for a good few kilometres, and the sands are super-soft. And because it’s slightly more sheltered than the island’s other beaches, it’s often a great place to have a go at watersports like surfing and windsurfing. You’ve also got a decent helping of beach bars, so lunch is sorted.

    The secret beach

    If you’re looking for a patch of sand all to yourself, Santa Monica Beach is just the ticket. The soft, white sands unravel for a whopping 18 kilometres, so there’s bags of room to spread out. It’s on the island’s south coast, too, which means it’s nice and sheltered. It’s a good idea to take a packed lunch with you – it’s a pretty deserted spot, and you won’t find much in the way of restaurants and cafés.

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    Bargain Buys

    If bargains are your bag, head to the Mercado Municipal on the edge of Sal Rei's main square. The bottom floor is an open-plan market, where stalls are piled high with boxes of fresh fruit, veg and nuts. The top floor is divided into shops, and a poke around will reveal a world of rugs, jewellery, scarves, and colourful pictures made from sand.

    Mid-range Buys

    Take a wander around the avenues leading off Sal Rei's main square and you’ll find plenty of shops selling wooden ornaments and canvasses by local artists. The same goes for the streets west of the Tourist Information Office, where you can pick up things like mosaics and cooking pots. If you’re after essentials like branded shampoo and suncream, try Boas Compras – it’s the closest thing to a supermarket around here.

    Designer Buys

    Cape Verde is a go-slow, traditional place, so you won't find designer gear in the any of Boa Vista's shops. That said, surfing is a big thing here, so you might just find some familiar brand names in the surf shops dotted around town.

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    Lively Evenings

    Staying put in your hotel is nothing unusual here – they'll often have discos and stage top-end shows with live music and local dancers. It’s worth heading out at least once, though, to catch an authentic morna show – it's an exciting mix of Portuguese fado music and Brazilian beats. To find the best bars, head to Sal Rei. There's a clutch in the main square and another lot down by the port.

    Laid-Back Evenings

    Evenings are pretty low-key on Boa Vista – lazy dinners and barefoot walks along the sand are par for the course, and thanks to great restaurants and sunset terraces, lots of people don’t even leave their hotel. If you do fancy heading out, go-slow beach bars – where the only soundtrack is the waves – are easy pickings. Just head for Sal Rei's stretch of sand and take your pick.

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    Caldo de Peixe

    This traditional soup is packed with the fresh catches of the day – octopus, cod and the like. It’s made by adding the fish to a sizzling broth of tomatoes, onions, peppers and potatoes. It's so hearty, you can order it as a main.

    Catchupa

    This is Cape Verde's national dish and it’s a strong favourite with the locals. Recipes vary from place to place and often depend on what’s in season, but the most common combination is maize, beans, potatoes and marinated pork or tuna.

    Bife de Atum

    Translated, bife de atum simply means ‘tuna steak’, but it’s served anything but plain. In a nutshell, the fish is marinated in garlic, herbs and spices, sautéed in olive oil and served with cubes of fried polenta.

    Bacalhau

    There aren’t many restaurants in Cape Verde without this dried salted cod on the menu. The locals say there’s a bacalhau recipe for every day of the year. You’re likely to see it casseroled with tomatoes and onions, but be warned – it’s a bit of an acquired taste.

    Grogue

    This heady sugar cane brandy is close to the hearts of many islanders – an invitation to try a glass isn’t to be turned down. The locals have grown it in the green valleys of Santa Antao island for centuries. It gets its name from 'grog' – a drink that was a one-time favourite of the British Royal Navy. We'll warn you now, it’s 43% proof.

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    Our experiences

    View Experiences

    Riu Karamboa

    Occidental Boa Vista Beach

    Hotel Riu Touareg

    Barcelo Marine Boa Vista (Adults Only)

    Riu Palace Boavista

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