In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Cape Verde
Boa Vista
Spend 3–4 nights for dunes, beaches and turtles; you can see the main sights in 2 full days.
Boa Vista is the easternmost Cape Verde island, known for white‑sand dunes, empty beaches and sea‑turtle nesting. The town of Sal Rei and the airport sit in the northwest; most attractions are reachable by taxi or 2WD on the main road. A 2‑day itinerary covers the dunes, Monte Santo Antonio and the coastal chapels; add a night for relaxed beach time.
- Country
- Cape Verde
- Best months
- Nov–Jul
- Stay
- 3–4 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CVE
- Money
- Currency is the Cape Verdean escudo (CVE), pegged at about 110.27 per euro; euros are sometimes accepted in tourist areas, usually at a rounded rate.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–50 excl. bed · Mid €60–90 excl. bed · High €100+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- CV Movel and Unitel T+ sell SIMs at airports and shops with a passport; a few GB costs a few euros.
- Emergency
- Police 132 · Ambulance 130 · Fire 131
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10% if service is good.; Hiking guide: €5–10 a day.; Taxi: Round up.
- Water
- Mostly desalinated; bottled water recommended.
- Toilets
- Western toilets everywhere tourists go; bring paper on hikes.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €1–2 |
| Meal at a beach restaurant | €8–15 |
| Taxi Sal Rei ↔ Airport (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi Sal Rei ↔ Airport (3.1 mi (5 km)) | €20 (check) |
| Bottle of water (500 ml) | €0.5–1 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BVC · Aristides Pereira Airport
- International flights from Europe; taxi to Sal Rei ~5 km (3.1 mi), €20 (check)International flights from Europe; taxi to Sal Rei ~3.1 mi (5 km), €20 (check)
Typical fares
- Airport → Sal Rei taxi
- about €20, 5 km (3.1 mi) (check)about €20, 3.1 mi (5 km) (check)
- Inter‑island flight BVC → Sal (25 min)
- ≈ €80–120, depends on airline (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
No public bus; taxis and minibuses run the main coastal road. 2WD vehicles can use the cobbled “Route 66” interior track (8 km (5 mi)).No public bus; taxis and minibuses run the main coastal road. 2WD vehicles can use the cobbled “Route 66” interior track (5 mi (8 km)).
See and do
Known for
- Deserto de Viana dunes
- Monte Santo Antonio hike
- Turtle nesting beaches
- Whale watching (seasonal)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Fatima
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Deserto de Viana dunes | Taxi or 2WD vehicle from Sal Rei, about 30 min | ≈1 h |
| Monte Santo Antonio hike | Minibus or taxi to Rabil, then 2WD road, about 45 min total | ≈1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Barcelo Marine Boa Vista
- Adults‑only, 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Sal Rei, €250 B&B double (2025 refurbishment)Adults‑only, 1.2 mi (2 km) north of Sal Rei, €250 B&B double (2025 refurbishment)
- Oasis White Hotel
- Mid‑range in Sal Rei, €150 B&B double
- Riu Karaboa
- Modern hotel near airport, €300 B&B double
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Desculpedes-ku-le |
| Thank you | Obrigadoobri-ga-do |
| How much is it? | Quanto custa?kwan-too koos-ta |
| Where is the toilet? | Onde fica a casa de banho?on-deh fee-ka a ca-za de ban-yo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, or cheek kisses among friends; greet everyone in a small shop; avoid: Skipping 'bom dia'
- Dress: Cover up in towns and churches; avoid: Beachwear in the street
- Pace: Relax and wait; avoid: Showing impatience
- Music: Join in, applaud, buy the musicians a drink; avoid: Filming performers without asking
Scams and watch-outs
- Ferry schedules to Sal and Santiago are unreliable; confirm the day before.
- Capela de Nossa Senhora de Fatima often closed despite listed hours – check locally.
- Taxis should be pre‑booked through accommodation to avoid overcharging.
Boa Vista is generally safe; violent crime is rare. Keep an eye on belongings in busy areas and agree taxi fares before boarding.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Boa Vista yet. Suggested stay: 3–4 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Deserto de Viana dunes
- Monte Santo Antonio hike
- Turtle nesting beaches
- Whale watching (seasonal)
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Fatima
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Cape Verde tourism board: www.capeverde.travel/
- Wikivoyage: Boa Vista (Cape Verde), revision 5189947 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5189947
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/boa-vista-cape-verde). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.