Boa Vista Cape Verde - Things to do - Boa Vista Experience
Boa Vista Cape Verde - Things to do on Boavista
Things to do in Boa Vista
Bird Watching
The island´s location on the extreme south-western corner of the Western Palaearctic region makes it the only place in the region where certain species of mainly Africa or tropical can be found to breed regularly.
The Cape Verde Islands have at least 4 species of bird that are unique to the islands— the Cape Verde sparrow (Passer iagoensis), the Cape Verde swift (Apus alexandri), the endangered raso lark (Alauda razae) (see picture), and the Cape Verde warbler (Acrocephalus brevipennis). Among the other birds that can be seen regularly are magnificent frigatebird, The Cape Verdean petrel, the grey headed kingfisher, the helmeted guineafowl, the brown booby bird and the beautiful white tailed, red billed tropicbird.
The many islets that dot the coastline of Boa Vista are the main nesting places for most of the sea birds on the island. Among the most popular places to visit is the islet of Curral Velho just south of the spectacular beach and the llhéu das Pássaros a tiny island off the east coast near Baia das Gatas. A trip to the islands is best arranged through speaking to a local fisherman, most are very prepared to help if the price is right! Tours of Boa Vista, focusing on the best locations for bird watching, can also be arranged through Morena Travel Agency , with English speaking guides.
Festivals & Carnivals
During the year there are numerous festivals celebrated on Boavista.
New Years Day (1st January)
The biggest celebration is in Sal Rei with dances and other festivities
6th January — Festival of the Three Wise Men
Celebrated in the North (Joao Galego, Funda das Figueiras and Cabeca dos Tarafes). There is mass, dances and other social activities. Musicians go from house to house playing music.
3rd May — Carnival Tuesday
Celebrated on the whole island, but mostly Rabil. The Feast of the Saint Cross is celebrated to commemorate the liberation of the slaves. There is mass, a procession, parades and marching to the sound of drums, whistles and hooting.
4thMay — Celebration of Pidrona
In Rabil.
8th May — Feast of S.Roque
At Povoacao Velha, with mass, a procession and dancing.
28th May — Festival of "Cruz Nho Lolo"
Celebrated at Estancia de Baixo with goat fighting, coladeras, horse races and the Ball of "Pe Sujo".
13th June — Feast of St. Antonio
A procession marches on a small church ( Ermida) located at the centre of the island, near "Rocha de Santo Antonio" (St. Anthony’s Rock).
4th July — Municipal Day ( Santa Isabel’s Day)
The main festivity on Boavista, held in Sal Rei. Santa Isabel is the Patron Saint of Boavista. A lot of people from other islands come to Boavista. There is a Sacred Mass, horse racing, boat racing, football tournaments, cultural activities and dancing. Before the mass, there is a religious ceremony of boats in the Bay of Sal Rei. The boats come close to St Barbara and Ka Santana, then follows the religious ceremony on land, consisting of processions, prayers, singing and blessings led by the Priest of the Parish near Cruz das Almas on Santa Barbara St.
24th July - Feast of Saint Joao Baptista
In the parish of the same name, with processions and offerings.
15th August – Feast of Nossa Senhora da Piedade
(Our Lady of Mercy) — in Joao Galego.
16th August — Feast of Saint Roque
In Rabil.
3rd Weekend in August — Festival of Music of Praia de Santa Cruz
Artists from other islands and abroad perform. Usually a week after the Festival of Baia das Gatas in S.Vincente.
8th December — Feast of "Imaculada Conceicao"
(Patroness of the immaculate Conception) — at Povoacao Velha.
Turtle Watching
A quote from Olivier van Bogaert of the World Wildlife Foundation
"Slowly dragging its shell onto the beach, a turtle emerges from the ocean. It is midnight and the moon is casting its shadow over the remote, white-sandy coastline of Boa Vista.
The strong sea breeze does not seem to bother the turtles as it slowly, but determinedly, finds its way among the dunes in search of a safe spot to lay its eggs. Once found, a two-hour ritual then begins as the prehistoric sea creature meticulously digs a 30cm hole with its rear flippers. This exhausting exercise will provide a nest for more than 40 whitish, golf ball-sized eggs. After covering the hole with its hidden treasures, the turtle will slowly return to the sea, never to know what becomes of her offspring.
Later that night and further on down the beach, dozens of turtle hatchlings break through another nest after days of digging, only to begin their frenzied and chaotic rush towards the waves.
Every year, from late May to September, more than 3,000 loggerhead turtles (Caretta) come ashore on Cape Verde´s beaches, particularly at Ervatao beach, the third most important loggerhead nesting site in the world. Amazingly enough, the Boa Vista site was discovered only a few years ago."
Dr Luis Felipe Lopez, a 64-year-old Spanish biology professor from Las Palmas University is leading a local conservation group, Natura 2000, to protect the turtles´ nesting habitat at Ervatao. Natura 2000 is currently working on a project that assesses the status, distribution, and abundance of marine turtles in Cape Verde. To date, the team of scientists and volunteers has tagged thousands of loggerheads on the beaches of Boa Vista. Some turtles are being equipped with satellite transmitters that will enable researchers to track their migratory routes and feeding areas. Natura 2000 also regularly offers training to turtle specialists from Cape Verde and other West African countries, and is partnering with WWF on an ecotourism programme based on turtle watching.
"We will employ guides from the local communities," says Dr Lopez. "If locals can be directly involved in, and benefit from, turtle protection, the beach will remain a paradise for the endangered loggerhead."
It is dawn on Ervatao and Dr Lopez, helped by a couple of young volunteers, is counting, weighing and measuring loggerhead hatchlings recently born at a protected hatchery set up on the beach. Volunteers and project staff alike bring eggs taken from nests likely to be destroyed by the tide. Once examined and documented, the hatchlings are released to the sea.
"What happens at sea is anyone´s guess," Lopez says, "but here on land we are doing everything we can to ensure their survival."
Night Clubs
Disco Bambu: This newly opened Disco is situated behind Estoril Beach on the road from Sal Rei to the Airport. Disco Bambu is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from around 11pm until 5am. Being situated so close to Sal Rei, Disco Bambu is bound to become Boa Vista’s hottest nightclub.
Mazurca: On the road between Sal Rei and Rabil, Mazurca opens on Wednesday and Saturday the club caters for both locals and tourists with a mixture of Cape Verdean, disco, rap and hip-hop music. Opening hours are midnight to 5:30am and beer costs 150cve a bottle.
Crystal: The club is in Rabil (see relevant map) and only opens on a Sunday from 10pm to 2am. The music is a mixture of American disco and Cape Verdean. Entry costs 200cve and a bottle of beer costs 100cve.
Tuff Goin: In the town of Joao Galego (see relevant map), it is presumed from the name that the club pays homage to the music of Bob Marley, no details available yet on opening hours or prices.
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