Given that all the islands of Cape Verde deserve to be known, Boa Vista has many reasons to be chosen starting from the sea. And then nature, sports, the many activities and travel experiences.

The dunes plunge into the sea, it is the Morro de Areia a magical and incredible place. photo @annaconsiliaalemanno
Boa Vista is the third largest island in the archipelago. Like the others, it is of volcanic origin, and is the easternmost, 450 kilometers from Dakar in Senegal. Mostly desert, it offers majestic landscapes, and above all 55 km of pristine beaches of golden sand and emerald sea .
Almost half of the territory is a protected area , with the aim of preserving nature and areas of particular historical or landscape value. Just to give a few examples, the Morro de Areia nature reserve , a cascade of deep dunes that plunge into the ocean at the end of the Sal Rei bay. The integral nature reserves of the islets, such as Curral Velho , a habitat for marine birds, some rare and native. The turtle nature reserve , an area with a very high concentration of nesting loggerhead turtles. The Ilhéu de Sal Rei natural monument , with the old Duque de Bragança fort and the enchanting beach.

Nature here is 100%, turtles, whales, birds and fish. And the donkeys now in the wild, the goats ... in a total immersion of beaches, sea and deserts. Photo @annaconsiliaalemanno
And nature puts on a show . In Boa Vista the thrill of close encounters with marine and land fauna is within reach. The island is among the few places in the world where you can witness turtles laying their eggs (from July to September), and spot large humpback whales, with their acrobatic jumps, even a few hundred meters from the shore (from February to May). The seabed around the island is home to coral meadows of great naturalistic value, and not infrequently just offshore the whale shark appears and manta rays (el diablo) pass by. For birdwatching enthusiasts there is a great variety of endemic and migratory birds, such as the white tropicbirds that nest on the high cliffs in spring.
Snorkeling and diving among the wrecks . The shallow waters around Boa Vista have caused many shipwrecks over the centuries. There are approximately sixty wrecks, some still visible. It is a great thrill to be able to get close to them, and who knows, maybe there is a treasure waiting to be discovered.
The island is an exceptional training ground for water sports . Especially between January and April when the north-east trade winds enter, the ocean offers fantastic spots for kitesurfing, windsurfing, hydro-foiling and surfing, with schools and courses for all levels and courses with world champions in the specialties. Sport fishing both from the coast and by boat, with deep-sea fishing trips capable of providing large catches, in particular record-breaking Marlin.

And then relax or adventure . There are some equipped beaches, very welcoming beach clubs, with good bars and restaurants, especially on Estoril beach near Sal Rei. Emerald sea and comfort to relax and recharge. Outside these areas, endless stretches of deserted sandy coasts, cliffs, remote bays, where nature reigns. All places to discover as well as the interior, among villages lost in time, volcanic stone, small oases. With a pick-up, a quad, a buggy you can tackle the tracks and dirt roads to reach the most interesting corners. One among many, the fascinating Morro Negro lighthouse. Experiences to be done preferably accompanied by guides, because it is possible to get lost. Trekking is a completely different thing, from the quiet walk to the long march to get where it is impossible with other means, seeing incredible views.

The Curral Velho salt flats can be reached with a rental pick-up or on a tour with an aluguer @teresascacchi
Music, party, dance: a philosophy of life. Music and dance are also fundamental in Boa Vista. Several venues host musicians and singers, but the peak is reached with the Praia da Cruz festival in August. Three days in the company of Cape Verdean artists from all over the archipelago and abroad, with different genres, from tradition to rap, reggae, jazz, and echoes of Africa, Europe, Brazil: an explosive mix. People dance on the beaches, under the stars, with the scent of the ocean or in small discos, or in dedicated spaces in the center of Sal Rei. The capital and all the villages celebrate a patron saint and people have fun with popular dances, eating pinchos and drinking cerveza, all night long. A saraband of colors and rhythms is the Carnival, with costumed parades, long animated processions, in pure Brazilian style and groups inspired by the origins, such as the "nerissimi" Mandingas, who dance between acrobatic jumps to the sound of the drums.

For the holidays there is a lot of music in the squares, but there is always live music in the clubs. Archive photo
Here you can dream . It will be the immensity of the beaches, the power of the ocean, the smiles of the children, the nature so alive, the sweetness of the sunsets.
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