Boa Vista, Cape Verde (3 snorkeling spots)

 


I returned to Cape Verde after being there in 2022 on Sal Island. This time, I also started on Sal Island because I really liked it, but I decided to add Boa Vista Island.

Boa Vista Island can be accessed by boat from Sal Island, and that's what we did. The crossing takes about three hours and was done overnight.

Based on my research on Boa Vista Island, we snorkeled in three locations: Estoril Beach, the Islet of Djeu, and Gatas Beach.


Estoril Beach:


This beach is next to the island's main town, Sal Rei, in the heart of Sal Rei Bay. Due to the location's configuration with the islet in front of it—the islet of Sal Rei or Djeu—the waters are almost always calm.

This offers unique conditions for several species, including juvenile sharks, and I saw a scalloped hammerhead for the first time.


Islet of Djeu:



Opposite Estoril beach is the islet of Sal Rei, also known as Djeu. Some boats operate as taxis to the site, but we opted to rent a kayak on the beach and head there, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Near the islet is an area with rocks, visible at low tide, that is an excellent spot for snorkeling, attracting a variety of fish. I spotted a larger Blacktip Shark in this area.


rocky area next to the islet with many fish


Gatas Beach:



This spot appeared in my research about the island, but I didn't find any spots with a high concentration of species. I explored the area extensively, but due to its size, I may have missed some more interesting areas.

In any case, the trip to this beach is very interesting, as it passes through rural areas of unquestionable beauty.

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Here is a video about these three places, which I will certainly return to:






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