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Cabo Verde · Boa Vista

Boa Vista travel guide

Desert dunes, empty beaches and nesting turtles

Praia de Chaves on Boa Vista. Photo: The original uploader was Bela-vista...., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

5h 45mflight from London
BVCnearest main airport
27° in Sepwarmest month
22° in Febcoolest month

Boa Vista is quieter than Sal, with vast empty beaches, sand dunes like a mini Sahara and big all-inclusive resorts.

From July to October, loggerhead turtles nest on its beaches, and from March to May humpback whales pass offshore.

Good forBeachesWildlifeAll-inclusiveRelaxing

What Boa Vista is known for

  • Praia de Chaves

    Dunes and white sand.

  • Turtles

    Nesting from July.

  • Whales

    March to May.

  • Viana Desert

    Sahara-like dunes.

Top things to do in Boa Vista

  1. 1

    Praia de Santa Monica

    An endless beach.

    Find tours and tickets
  2. 2

    A turtle-watching night

    With conservation groups.

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  3. 3

    A quad tour

    Dunes and shipwrecks.

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  4. 4

    Sal Rei

    The little capital.

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See all tours and tickets in Boa Vista

Where to stay in Boa Vista

Find a hotel in Boa Vista

Best time to visit Boa Vista

Best value: Jun–Jul, Oct. November to June for sunshine; July to October for turtles.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
22.4 C22°J21.5 C22°F21.6 C22°M22 C22°A22.5 C22°M23.2 C23°J24.6 C25°J26.2 C26°A26.8 C27°S26.6 C27°O25.4 C25°N23.8 C24°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Boa Vista, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 5h 45m from London to BVC, and flights from most UK airports. How long is the flight from your airport?

Resorts are spread out: use taxis, tours or a 4x4.

Airport transfer to Boa Vista

Find flights to Boa Vista (BVC)

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Good to know

  • Only watch turtles on an official guided tour.
  • Some beaches have strong currents.
  • It's quieter than Sal: good for relaxing.

Boa Vista FAQ

Sal or Boa Vista?

Sal for town life, Boa Vista for empty beaches.

When can I see turtles?

July to October.

More places in Cabo Verde

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