Boa Vista, Eastern island in Cape Verde, Atlantic Ocean
Boa Vista is an island in the Atlantic Ocean east of Africa, characterized by extended sandy beaches and dry terrain. The island has relatively few settlements, most located on the western side, while the north features desert dunes and open plains.
Portuguese sailors arrived here in 1460 and later established a settlement focused on salt collection. The island played a minor role in Atlantic trade for centuries before becoming a quiet, sparsely populated place.
The name means "beautiful view" in Portuguese, reflecting how people have perceived this place for centuries. Visitors find traditional fishing villages today where local life moves at the rhythm of the sea.
The island is best explored by rented car or guided tours, as public transport is limited. Most visitors arrive at the airport and can reach various beaches and villages from there.
The Viana Desert in the north stretches with golden dunes down to the beach, offering a surprising Sahara-like landscape. This meeting of desert and sea is rarely seen on the other Cape Verdean islands.
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