Heritage and nature blend seamlessly together in this private off-road tour to some of Boa Vista's most emblematic spots. The beauty of a private tour is that you can tweak the itinerary to suit your party. Our suggested itinerary includes a visit to a ceramic factory in Rabil, sandboarding in the dunes of the Viana desert, Povoação Velha village and free time on Santa Monica beach. Paulo, one of our local guides, says, ‘On Boa Vista we've got our very own little desert. It's only 5km long, but the sands have blown over on trade winds from the Sahara. Just like in the Sahara, the dunes gradually drift and Viana desert is moving slowly towards the sea.'
The adventure kicks off in Rabil, where you'll drop into a ceramic factory for a demonstration of traditional pottery techniques used by the island's artisans. Next, you'll head inland to the Viana dunes to test your sandboarding skills. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, there's a dune to suit and plenty of fun to be had. It might only be a tiny desert, but the dunes reach heights of 50m in places.
We'll then stop to stroll the rustic streets of Povoação Velha, the oldest settlement on the island, before setting off for the 11km-long Santa Monica beach. Serving up mile upon mile of sugary white sands and limpid turquoise waters, this wild beach is simply stunning – it regularly features on lists of the world's top beaches. You'll enjoy some free time here to swim, sunbathe or beachcomb before we head back to base.
