The island of Boa Vista, Cape Verde


	Boavista - Island of Dunes Please Note: TACV have stopped flying for the foreseeable future from Stansted to Cape Verde. Please call us for a quotation using alternative airlines pending re-calculation of holiday prices shown on the following pages of our website.
	Hotels l Excursions & Activites
Home Multi-Island Itineraries Flight Details Travel Tips Transfers, Ferries and Inter-Island Flights Local Transport Local Weather Currency Converter Visa Requirements Buying Property About Us Visitors Book Links Order Brochure Booking Conditions Brochure Errors Site Map Special Offers Travel Insurance Airport Lounge Pass Car Parking Contact Us	Similar to the "flat" islands of Sal and Maio, the climate and countryside of Boavista is also heavily affected by the dry, hot winds blowing from the Sahara perps due to it being the closest Island to the Frican mainland. Sparsely populated with only 4000 inhabitants, it is the third largest Cape Verdean Island (620 sq kms) and low, the highest peak, Monte Estancia being just 390 m high but has 55kms of white beaches of fine sand. The surrounding reefs, ironstone content (confuses compasses) and the fact that pre-1971 charts placed the Island up to 4 kms to the East have resulted in more than 40 wrecks within the sight of land. The countryside, dominated by sand dunes and small plantations of coconut and date palms, has a white sand desert in the interior, almost cheek by jowl with a sub-tropical oasis where the infrequent rainfall is trapped. The white, sandy beaches that stretch for mile after mile make Boavista one of the islands with the highest tourist development potential. The airport is being extended and they hope to be able to accept international flights in the relatively (in Caboverdian terms!) near future. This will galvanise the development of Hotels and apartments. Other points of interest on the Island are: The wreck of the MV Santa Maria is within walking distance of the main town on the Island, Sal Rei, along the beach to the North. The old brick factory on Chave beach to the South of Sal Rei makes itself known by the tall brick chimney which emerges for the sand dunes which have largely covered the remainder of the building. The moving sands have also covered the salt pans which used to be the principal industry close to Sal Rei. A visit to the inland white desert is a must and provides a dramatic contrast with the nearby date palm plantation. One must take an excursion to Santa Monica beach in the South of the Island and accessible only by 4WD vehicles. This enormous white sandy beach is without any shade and stretches for miles; the sea is a wonderful contrast of colours from deepest indigo to the palest blue. Turtles, whales and dolphins can be spotted around the coast. 4WD jeep hire is mostly available though roads are appalling and even 4WD’s get stuck in soft sand if one is unwary! Our recommended Restaurants in Sal Rei Restaurant Riba D’Oite Esplanada, outside tables overlooking the harbour – Italian dishes. Casa Djareca in Rua de Rego; great local dishes but order early. Tortuga beach restaurant open all day with live music most nights. Our recommended Restaurants in Rabil Restaurant Sodade de Nha Terra Night life Mainly confined to Hotels though Cristal Disco in Rabil, Seridja and Salao Silvina Costa in Sal Rei (Fridays and Saturdays only) are quite lively.