Boa Vista tour: Abandoned villages, turtle beaches, Route 66

Ruins, nesting beaches, and a village lunch along Route 66

A full-day guided tour of northern Boa Vista takes you through abandoned settlements, natural salt flats, and protected turtle nesting beaches, ending with traditional Cape Verdean lunch in Fundo das Figueiras village. The route follows the historic Route 66 across the island and includes a professional guide in your choice of language. Groups stay under eight travelers per vehicle.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Boa Vista's northern villages and nature

• Visit Curral Velho ruins and salt flat
• Observe sea turtles at nesting bay
• Lunch in Fundo das Figueiras village
• Explore João Galego village and gardens
• Drive along Route 66 back to start

The experience

You start with pickup from your hotel and head north to the island's wild side. The first stop is the ruins of the island's first settlement, now sitting in front of a vast salt flat and Curral Velho beach: a stretch of prehistoric sand and rough water watched over by the Bird Islet, where thousands of endemic birds nest. From July through October, sea turtles come ashore here to lay eggs. The landscape is raw and untouched, nothing like the developed resort areas.

The tour moves to Ervatão beach, a protected nesting site where turtles return each season and a small oasis sits just inland. Then you reach Fundo das Figueiras, the central village of Boa Vista's Northern Villages and birthplace of the nation's first president. This is where you eat: traditional Cape Verdean dishes like local goat or grilled meats, served in a típica restaurant. The village itself has colorful houses and the church of São João Baptista standing at its heart. From here, João Galego (the largest of the three northern villages and known as "The Pantry of Boa Vista" for its vegetable gardens) marks your gateway back south along the legendary Route 66, a road cutting across the island with views that frame the whole day.

The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or one additional language, and stays with the group throughout. Seven to eight hours on the road means you see a lot without rushing, though the terrain is rough and the pace steady. This is not a gentle drive. Small groups of up to eight keep the experience intimate and the vehicle manageable on unpaved stretches.

What’s included

• Professional tour guide in your choice of language.
• pickup from your hotel.
• traditional lunch with local goat or grilled meats at a típica restaurant in Fundo das Figueiras.
• access to turtle nesting beaches and abandoned settlements.
• small group of up to eight travelers per vehicle.

Before you book

Days and timesMondayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ecoturismtours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're traveling without a rental car: hotel pickup gets you to remote villages and beaches that need a vehicle to reach, while small groups of eight keep the experience manageable on rough terrain.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Curral Velho beach like, and when do sea turtles nest there?

Curral Velho is a wild stretch of prehistoric sand with rough waters, watched over by the Bird Islet where thousands of endemic birds nest year-round. Sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs from July through October, making those months the best time to see nesting activity.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food will I eat?

Yes, lunch is included at a típica restaurant in Fundo das Figueiras village. You'll eat traditional Cape Verdean dishes, typically local goat or grilled meats, giving you a real taste of island cooking.

How long is the full tour, and what time does it end?

The tour runs seven to eight hours total, including all stops and lunch. Pickup is included, so you leave and return to your hotel as part of that time.

Will we drive on paved roads the whole time?

No. The route includes unpaved stretches, especially around the northern villages and the salt flats. The terrain is rough but passable in the tour vehicle. The pace is steady and designed for the landscape.