Overview
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.
Understand
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.
Get in
For entry requirements see Cape Verde#Get in. Western passport holders don’t need a visa.
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).
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.
Get around
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.
See
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. 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.
Museo dos Naufragos. Exhibiting shipwrecks and other island history.
Museo do Mar is a collection of seashells, open M-Sa. 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.
Do
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.
Buy
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.
Eat
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. Family-friendly restaurant on Estoril beach.
Alisios 100 m south is open Th-Tu 10:00-18:00.
Bahia Beach Club. Welcoming bar & restaurant on Estoril beach.
Morabeza 200 m south of Bahia Beach Club is open daily 09:00-03:00.
Drink
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.
Sleep
Barcelo Marine Boa Vista. Adults-only hotel 2 km north of town, refurbished in 2025. Peaceful place, limited evening entertainment.
Oasis White Hotel. Mid-range hotel in town near the beach.
Ouril Hotel Agueda a block southwest is inexpensive for good reason.
Riu Karaboa. Mostly good reviews for this spacious modern hotel.
Riu Palace Boavista. Good reviews for this efficient family-friendly hotel close to the airport.
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. Good reviews all round for comfort, service, dining and entertainment.
VOI Praia de Chaves Resort. Italian-run, scores well on comfort and service but below par for food and entertainment.
Riu Toureg. Down on the south coast, good reviews though some facilities tired. Closed May-Oct 2026 for refurbishment.
Make Boa Vista (Cape Verde) your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5348981 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2026-09-12. This is not a date of field verification.
For current entry conditions and travel advisories, consult your government and destination authorities. We do not determine visa eligibility.