Full-Day Boa Vista Island Tour: Santa Monica Beach to Shipwreck

White sand, caves carved by centuries, and a Spanish shipwreck frozen on the beach since 1968.

A full-day guided tour of Boa Vista covers five to six hours of the island's main sites: Santa Monica Beach, the sand dunes known as Mini Sahara, sea caves, Povoação Velha village, and the Atalanta shipwreck on Cabo Santa Maria Beach. A live guide speaks English, Portuguese, Italian or French. Hotel pickup is included, and lunch at Perola de Chaves Restaurant is part of the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day island tour in Boa Vista

• Visit Santa Monica Beach
• Enjoy free massage in 4x4 vehicles
• Explore Povoação Velha village
• Discover Varandinha caves and beach
• Sandboard at Morro de Areia dunes
• Have traditional lunch at Perola de Chaves
• Visit Shipwreck on Cabo Santa Maria Beach

The experience

The tour starts at Santa Monica Beach, an 11.5-kilometer stretch of white sand where you swim and photograph before moving inland. The 4x4 vehicles handle the terrain that follows: the Big Sand Dunes, locally called Mini Sahara, where sandboarding and jumping on the dunes fill an hour of the morning. The caves at Varandinha are natural formations shaped over millions of years by sand, sea and wind, and the guide explains their history as pirate hideouts.

Lunch happens at Perola de Chaves Restaurant, positioned on the island's scenic side. Afterward, the tour reaches Atalanta's beach to see the Cabo Santa Maria, a Spanish cargo ship that ran aground in 1968 and has stayed there ever since. The wreck sits in shallow water. Loggerhead sea turtles visit this beach from July through October. The final stop is Povoação Velha, the island's oldest village, where a small community of fishermen, farmers and goat herders still lives. The guide walks you through the narrow streets and points out where souvenirs and local crafts are sold.

The vehicles are 4x4s suited to unpaved roads and sand, and the pace is steady but not rushed across the five to six hours. Pickup from your hotel is arranged. You return by late afternoon.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup.
• lunch at Perola de Chaves Restaurant.
• a live guide in English, Portuguese, Italian or French.
• 4x4 vehicle transport across beaches, dunes and village roads.
• swimming time at Santa Monica Beach.
• sandboarding at the dunes.
• cave exploration at Varandinha.
• and a visit to the 55-year-old Shipwreck on Cabo Santa Maria Beach.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and ThursdayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, French, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 19 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Boavista Go - Tours & Expeditions

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or a rental to reach Santa Monica Beach or navigate the sand roads to the dunes and caves. The 4x4 vehicles handle terrain that standard cars cannot cross, so the tour works for anyone staying in town without transport.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How long is the full-day tour in Boa Vista?

The tour runs five to six hours from start to finish, including all stops and lunch.

What is included in the tour price?

Lunch at Perola de Chaves Restaurant is included. Hotel pickup and the guide are also part of the booking.

Can I swim at Santa Monica Beach during the tour?

Yes, you have time to swim and take photographs at Santa Monica Beach, the longest beach on the island at 11.5 kilometers.

What is the Shipwreck on Atalanta's beach?

The Cabo Santa Maria is a Spanish cargo ship that ran aground in 1968 due to engine failure and has remained on the beach ever since. Loggerhead sea turtles visit the beach from July through October.

Is sandboarding included, or do I need my own board?

Sandboarding happens at the Big Sand Dunes, known as Mini Sahara. The tour includes access and the activity, though specific equipment details are arranged with the operator at booking.