Boavista Island, a tribute to survival

KM² (KM²)

POPULATION (K)

Boavista, an island of contrasts with paradisiacal beaches and a constant struggle for survival in a hostile environment.

his island of almost flat relief and the closest to continental Africa, shows us how the different generations have carried out a constant struggle against inclement weather and historical looting.

Boavista

A tribute to survival

Boavista Island

The island of Boavista is known for its crystal clear beaches and white sand dunes. A historically hostile island for sailors, because, being surrounded by incredible reefs and rocks with very rich in iron, the compasses of the sailors were useless; proof of this are the more than 40 sunken ships that are found in its surroundings. Leaving the idyllic beaches of the coast, the white and desert interior shows a chilling beauty with petrified forests and a feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. Due to this drought situation, many villages have been depopulated and the dunes have gained ground gradually eating the abandoned houses.

HIGHEST POINT (M)

SUNNY DAYS

LARGEST ISLAND

DESERT DUNES

Entrance doors & Transportation

Boavista Island is another of Cape Verde’s international gateways. The island has an international airport Aristides Pereira with 2/3 weekly flights to Lisbon and numerous daily charter flights to Europe.

Internal flights, as well as ferries, connect with the islands of Sal and Santiago.

In terms of transportation, the best option for getting around the island are private 4×4 cars. There is also the option of renting a car or motorcycle.

Boavista in data

620

Km2 of surface area

6000

Inhabitants residing on the island

390

The meters of Pico Estancia, the highest point

Km of white beaches

Km separating them from Sal

3ª

Largest island of the archipelago

History

Discovered in 1460 under the name of Sao Cristovao, legend has it that during a disastrous storm a sailor shouted “Boa Vista!” when he saw that they were approaching land. During the first years the island was only inhabited by shipwrecked sailors, as there was nothing but salt. Christopher Columbus visited it in 1498. At that time, the island was a colony for wealthy lepers. It was not until 1620, that the English saw an opportunity by exploiting the salt and little by little the first villages appeared, always devastated by constant looting and famine. In 1820, the population moved to Sal Rei and built a fortification to defend themselves from looting. Over the centuries, the few inhabitants of the island of Boavista have been trapped in the circle of fishing, salt pans and burials caused by misery.

Biodiversity

A territory with white beaches and oases with palm trees in the purest Saharan style in the interior.

The island of Boavista undoubtedly offers one of the most spectacular haystacks of endemic species of birds, plants, insects and, of course, marine species. Since 2003, 47 protected areas were declared in the archipelago, 14 of them in Boavista, today, despite the economic and social difficulties, little by little the projects are being implemented.
Undoubtedly a symbol of Boavista are the Caretta Caretta turtles, being the second largest nesting site in the Atlantic and the third largest in the world. Another spectacular sea creature that can be seen from December to June is the giant whale. In terms of birds, among the 20 species breeding on the island, the Pelagodroma Marina or the Fregata magnificens stand out. In terms of flora, the date palm and the tamareira stand out.

Sal Rei - La Capital

Created as such in 1820 after a devastating period of constant looting, the population of the island of Boavista was grouped within the fortress of this new city. Today, we can appreciate the tranquility of the rhythm of Sal Rei from the square sipping a good coffee with turquoise waters and small sand dunes on the horizon. This capital is quietly busy with cobblestone streets lined with acacia trees. While fishermen keep their boats neatly painted, children play by the seashore without the presence of tourism having changed their lives. Despite the nearby resorts of Sal, this island still maintains its essence intact and the presence of tourist elements is very limited.

Other locations

Praia Chaves: beach near the capital, long, without big waves and with small beach bars where you can rest and sunbathe.
Poblaçao Velha: first village founded with the oldest church on the island.
Varandinha, Curralinho and Santa Monica beaches: the best beaches in Boavista. White sand and turquoise water.

Much more in:

@oicaboverde

Experiences in Boavista

Everyone is the owner of his time and luckily, we can choose how to manage it with the amount of experiences that this island offers us. We can discover the island through trekking, horseback riding, quad or 4×4 excursions through the dunes and caves; always respecting the protected areas. The extensive biodiversity that surrounds the island of Boavista allows us to observe animals such as turtles, whales and birds.

If what we want is to relax, we can do it in one of its paradisiacal beaches. There, we can swim, meditate, snorkel or dive among magnificent coral postcards. In addition, multiple water sports such as surfing, windsurfing, kite-surfing, stand-up paddle, or sea kayaking will satisfy the most restless people. Another form of relaxation is to enjoy the rhythm of the city of Sal Rei. To enjoy the sea in a more leisurely way we can practice fishing, either on the coast or deep sea fishing in several areas. If what we are looking for is to sail in the island of Boavista, we can do it in spectacular sailboats.

Outstanding proposals: