Boa Vista: Buggy Tour to Santa Monica Beach & Desert Ruins

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/15

Duration4h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN · PT +3

PickupAt your hotel

Buggy adventure through Boa Vista’s wild south coast dunes

You’ll feel every bump and breeze on this Boa Vista buggy tour — from windswept Praia de Chaves past ancient chimneys, across endless Santa Monica Beach, to cold drinks at Boca Beach and quiet moments among Curral Velho’s ruins. Expect laughter, sun on your face, and stories you’ll want to retell long after you’re home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore South Coast Beaches and Dunes

Drive towards Praia de Chaves
Pass chimney near the coast
Stop at sandy dunes for photos
Pass through Morro de Areia
Visit Praia de Verandinha natural arch
Reach Santa Monica Beach
Stop at Boca Beach for refreshment
Visit sandy dunes and Ruins of Curral Velho
Final stop at Fonte Vicente

The Experience

The first thing I remember is the crunch of sand under our boots as we clambered into these chunky buggies, helmets a bit too big and the sun already sharp over Praia de Chaves. There was this old chimney sticking up near the coast — our guide, Paulo, waved at it like an old friend and said something about pottery and how his grandmother used to talk about it. I didn’t catch every word (my Portuguese is... not great), but you could tell it meant something. The air smelled salty, hot, with a little hint of dust that stuck in your throat if you laughed too hard.

We zigzagged past dunes where the sand looked almost gold in the morning light. Morro de Areia was quieter than I expected — just wind and the occasional shout from someone in our group who hit a bump too fast. At Verandinha Beach, there’s this natural arch that looks like it’s been carved by giants. Paulo pointed out crabs scuttling sideways (I tried to get a photo; failed). Then came Santa Monica Beach — honestly, it goes on forever. Over 20km of empty white sand and barely anyone else around. We just stood there for a while, letting the wind whip around us. I still think about that view sometimes when I’m stuck in city traffic.

Boca Beach came next — we got cold drinks here, sitting on plastic chairs that wobbled in the sand while Paulo told us stories about fishermen who used to camp here before tourism really took off. The last stretch was bumpier than I thought: we rattled past more dunes until these half-buried ruins appeared at Curral Velho. It felt lonely out there, but peaceful too. Fonte Vicente was our final stop; by then my hair was full of sand and my cheeks hurt from grinning so much. Not sure if it was the ride or just being somewhere so different.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Boa Vista, all fuel costs covered so you don’t need to worry about refilling mid-ride, safety gear like helmets and glasses handed out before you start bouncing over dunes, plus bottled water throughout — with a stop at Boca Beach for a cold drink before heading back dusty but happy.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by No Limits Adventure Boa Vista