Boa Vista

Boa Vista is the easternmost island of Cape Verde and the third largest in the archipelago, with a dry, flat landscape shaped by sand, wind and sea. Its capital, Sal Rei, is a compact port town, while much of the island remains sparsely populated beyond the coast.

The island was discovered by Portuguese navigators in the 1460s and was long associated with salt production, fishing and small-scale farming. Its name, meaning 'good view,' reflects the low relief and open horizons that still define the island, where traditional Cape Verdean music and Creole culture remain part of everyday life.

The best-known sights are Praia de Santa Mónica, a long beach of pale sand in the southwest, and the rolling dunes of the Deserto de Viana in the northwest. In Sal Rei, visitors can walk around Praça de Santa Isabel, the colonial-era church and the fishing harbour, while the village of Rabil is known for pottery and the Cabo de Santa Maria shipwreck sits on the northeastern coast.

Boa Vista is also valued for nature-based experiences, including nesting loggerhead turtles between roughly July and October and humpback whale sightings in the surrounding waters. Off-road excursions, kitesurfing and beach days are common, with a modest but lively scene of beach bars, restaurants and local music in Sal Rei.

Tourism is the island's main economic driver, with resorts along Praia de Chaves and a growing number of small hotels and guesthouses. The same beach resorts and hospitality projects make Boa Vista relevant for business travelers involved in tourism, property and local services.