Chaves beach

This lovely place offers a succession of dunes that run down to the beach, where they turn into soft, white sand. Here, the desert merges with the beach, making it extremely broad. The colour of the water is no less attractive, with different tones of turquoise and blue.

Far removed from large crowds, you’ll have a distinct sense of tranquillity here. Apart from the ClubhHotel Riu Karamboa and a few more buildings, the beach has remained unspoilt.

If you want to practise watersports such as windsurfing or kitesurfing, in our hotel we will recommend the best school in the area where beginners can learn, and those who are already initiated can hire top-quality material.
For diving fans, the “Scuba Caribe” school, a close collaborator of the Riu group, organises immersions suited both to experts and beginners.

Santa Mónica beach

Its difficult to access, with difficult tracks only recommended for 4x4s, should not prevent you from making a visit to this heavenly 18-km-long stretch of sand. Here you can swim and sunbathe with total tranquillity. You will find no-one, apart from the gentle waves that run placidly over the fine white sand. Strolling on this deserted beach, where you may meet the odd tourist from time to time, is a pleasure for the senses.

Sal Rei

This serene town lives at the same pace as the rest of the island. Its peaceful cobbled streets are lined with pretty colonial-style buildings, painted in several different colours. The central square, over which a pastel-coloured church presides, is a meeting place where the friendly local children run around and the elderly pass the time.

About 1000m from the coast lies Ilheu de Sal Rei (literally the ‘islet of Sal Rei’). Its main attraction is the fortress of the Duke of Bragança. Originally constructed to defend the island from pirate attacks, the huge cannons and part of the defensive wall are still preserved. Easy to access by boat, it has small, beautiful coves with crystalline waters.
The depth of the water is never over 1.5m, so if the currents and your strength permit, you can even swim back. Before leaving the island, enjoy the wonderful views of the large strips of sand and the dunes nearby.

Rabil

The biggest attraction here is the church of Santo Roque, the oldest on the island. It is built in elegant colonial style, and its façade is painted blue and white. To the east of the village there is a canyon with a small oasis where the palm trees grow amongst the huge dunes.

Dolphin cemetery

Close to Morre Negro there is a beach where remains of dolphins and whales accumulate in incredible fashion. The locals allude to the magnetic properties of the place, which supposedly attract these cetaceans to the coast.

Excursions to the turtle beaches

Boa Vista is the second most important site in the Atlantic Ocean for the reproduction and egg-laying of loggerhead turtles. Between July and January you’ll be able to take an excursion to see from close how these beautiful animals drag themselves out of the water and dig deep holes where they lay their eggs. Normally, these trips are at night, when the turtles’ activity and the chances of seeing them are greater.

On the beach of Ervatao there is a conservation centre where you can obtain information on the habits of this species and the efforts that are being made to ensure their survival.

Windsurf and Kitesurf

Cape Verde is one of the most important destinations in the world for windsurfing and kitesurfing fans. The beach of Chaves, with constant winds and shallow waters, is an ideal spot to practise them. In the ClubHotel Riu Karamboa we will recommend the best school in the area, where you can take lessons if you are a beginner or simply hire material if you prefer to go your own way.

Quad excursions

This is a perfect and fun way of discovering this island, which has an abundance of unmade roads and large dunes.
From Sal Rei, a few kilometres to the north of your RIU hotel, excursions leave to different points of interest along the coast and in the interior of the island. The first one runs along the bay of Estoril, passing through some spectacular dunes, until reaching Provoaçao Vella, the oldest town in Boa Vista. Afterwards, you come to the magnificent beaches of Curalinho and Varandinha, both of them unspoilt and with beautiful scenery.

The second one leads to the peaceful village of Rabil, via the “Boa Vista Sahara”: a small desert in the heart of the island, with palm trees that grow amidst the huge dunes. The excursion ends on the beautiful beach of Santa María, where the imposing remains of a Spanish ship that was wrecked here in 1968 lie. Before returning, don’t forget to take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of this beautiful stretch of sand.

Specialities

Fish and seafood: Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying “langostada”. As its name indicates, it is comprised of delicious lobsters (‘langosta’ in Portuguese) that can be prepared in several different ways: grilled, steamed or with a sauce. There is also an abundance of tuna, octopus, skate and several species of eels.

Cachupa: The most representative dish of Cape Verdean cuisine is made using tuna or marinated pork, corn, beans, carrots, tomatoes and spices. This delicacy takes a long time to prepare but when you try it, you will understand just why it is so highly prized here.

Grogue: Eau-de-vie made using cane sugar, coffee, mint, lime and cinnamon. Do as the locals: sit on a terrace facing the sea, relax and try this delicious Cape Verdean drink.

Shopping

The ceramics of the village of Rabil are the greatest exponent of craftsmanship in Boa Vista. Here all kinds of containers, tiles and colourful mosaics are made, all of which can make a great souvenir of this beautiful island.