Icons of Cape Verde: a Spanish ship stranded in Boa Vista
Exactly 50 years have passed since the Cabo Santa Maria became one of the icons of Cape Verde without intending to. It is a merchant ship of Spanish origin that ran aground in 1968 in front of Santa Maria beach, on the island of Boa Vista. Today, it is one of the many surprises that travelers can find on this island, the third largest in Cape Verde.
Strolling along an idyllic beach like Santa Maria and coming across the remains of a stranded ship is one of those things that can transform a normal day into an exciting one. And the picture of Cape Santa Maria rocked by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean is one of the most representative not only of Boa Vista, but of the entire archipelago.
Get to know the history of one of the most emblematic symbols of the country
No one would have predicted that on September 1, 1968, when the ship Cabo Santa Maria left the port of Tenerife bound for Brazil, it would be wrecked a few hours later. But it did. This Spanish ship of the Ybarra company ran aground off the coast of Boa Esperança, north of the island of Boa Vista.
"Although it is one of the most popular Cape Verdean icons, it is certainly not the only one."
It had been built only a few years earlier, in the 1950’s. Its builders speak of it as a modern vessel, measuring 130 meters.
As the crew left the ship in haste, a group of islanders soon seized the precious cargo carried by the Cabo Santa Maria. Today, 50 years after that fatal episode for the freighter, it has become one of Cape Verde’s icons par excellence. It is an attraction that visitors who are passing through the island of Boa Vista do not hesitate to approach.
The spectacle of the waves crashing against the remains of the shipwreck is one of the attractions of Santa Maria beach and the opportunity to see it in the distance. Access to the place is not easy, but it is certainly worth it.
The other stranded ships, more Cape Verdean icons
Although it is one of Cape Verde’s most popular icons, it is certainly not the only one. As fate would have it, the African archipelago is almost like a ship graveyard. The strong waves and wind are among the main reasons why stranded ships abound in this part of the world.
For example, in 2002, one fine day the bay of Mindelo dawned with a shipwreck. Several years later, in 2011, it was the turn of the Leopard, another ship that settled in the landscape of this same bay. The island of Sal, for its part, has also experienced similar situations.
The Cape Verdean coasts are full of mysteries, as you can see. When you walk near them, stay attentive, because who knows if, among the waves, you identify other ships that may become the next icons of Cape Verde.
