Curral Velho: Ruins and Coastal Landscape
Accommodation in Curral Velho
Curral Velho is an abandoned former fishing village; only ruins of the settlement remain today. As the oldest settlement on Boa Vista, its history dates back to the 17th century. The village was abandoned around the 19th century. This historical depth shapes the character of the destination: the focus is on the settlement’s history and the landscape of its wider surroundings.
Curral Velho Beach is close to the ruins and is described as a beautiful, unspoilt stretch of coastline. In the wider region lies the Curral Velho Ramsar Site on the island of Boa Vista. This larger area includes a permanent coastal lagoon at the mouth of Ribeira de Brito Cruzinha, temporary coastal lagoons, the surrounding dune ecosystems, the beach and the islet of Curral Velho. The lagoons, dunes and coastal areas provide a broader landscape setting than the village ruins alone.
Fishing Village and Salt Trade
The history of Curral Velho is not limited to the surviving building remains. Salt was also traded there alongside fishing. Salt was traded to other Cape Verdean islands and the mainland. This historic trade adds an economic connection beyond the settlement itself to the picture of the former fishing village. For travellers interested in the history of the place, the combination of fishing, salt trading and the ruins that remain today offers a particularly distinctive perspective.
Boa Vista: Landscapes and Island Destinations
The wider context of Boa Vista also offers a variety of points of interest. Places to visit on the island include the fishing settlement of Spinguera, the plain of Planície do Campo da Serra, Praia de Santa Mónica and Ervatão. Praia de Santa Mónica lies in the southwest of Boa Vista and is more than 11 kilometres long. In the Morro de Areia nature reserve, sand dunes reach into the ocean. Viana Desert, meanwhile, is about one kilometre wide and around five kilometres long; grains of black soil are scattered through its light-coloured sand.
The landscapes offer different highlights: at Morro de Areia, the dunes reach the ocean, while Viana is described in terms of its approximate dimensions and the mixture in its sand. You can walk freely and easily in Viana Desert; follow local guidance when visiting. A seasonal four-hour boat tour in the Bay of Sal-Rei includes swimming in the bay’s calm waters. Check whether the tour is currently available before making plans.
Crafts and History on Boa Vista
The island’s culture includes the Boa Vista pottery school in Rabil. Established in 1960, it preserves traditional clay-forming techniques developed by local artisans. The permanent exhibition at the Museu dos Naufragos in Sal Rei offers another historical perspective. It features relics from historic shipwrecks off the coast of Boa Vista, as well as objects relating to the period of pirate attacks and the slave trade to America. These themes add other historical perspectives on Boa Vista to the settlement history of Curral Velho.
When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on: should Curral Velho, with its settlement history and nearby beach, shape the sense of place, or should your search reflect Boa Vista’s wider mix of themes? You can then choose a location for your holiday rental search that best suits your travel plans.
Discover More Destinations
Back to the main travel overview: Boa Vista.
