Curral Velho on Boa Vista is a former fishing village, of which only ruins remain today. The nearby beach of the same name and the Ramsar site in the wider surrounding region add a landscape perspective to the history of the settlement. This makes it possible to understand the place and its surroundings both historically and in terms of the coast.
Ruins and History of the Fishing Village
Curral Velho is the oldest settlement on Boa Vista and dates back to the 17th century. The village was abandoned around the 19th century; today, only ruins remain there. Its founding and abandonment thus belong to different historical periods, while the remains preserve the connection to the former settlement.
The history can also be viewed through the economy of the time. In addition to fishing, the salt trade was conducted in Curral Velho. Salt was traded with other Cape Verdean islands and the mainland. The place was therefore shaped not only as a former fishing settlement, but also by this trade. Those interested in local history will find two specific themes here: life in a fishing village and trade with other places.
Beach and Landscape in the Wider Surroundings
Curral Velho Beach is near the ruins and is a beautiful, unspoiled stretch of coast. The wider surrounding region also includes the Curral Velho Ramsar site on Boa Vista. It comprises a permanent coastal lagoon at the mouth of the Ribeira de Brito Cruzinha, temporary coastal lagoons, the surrounding dune ecosystems, the beach, and the islet of Curral Velho.
The permanent lagoon and the temporary lagoons are part of the same broader landscape. Together with the dunes, beach, and islet, they offer a broader picture than the settlement ruins alone. For orientation, it is therefore worth distinguishing between the historic remains of the settlement and the coastal and lagoon landscapes of the wider region.
More Things to Explore on Boa Vista
The wider destination of Boa Vista offers a variety of landscapes and cultural themes. The Viana Desert is about one kilometre wide and around five kilometres long; its light-coloured sand is mixed with grains of black earth. You can walk there freely and without difficulty. When visiting, follow the local guidance. In the Morro de Areia Nature Reserve, sand dunes extend into the ocean. Praia de Santa MĂłnica in the southwest of the island is more than eleven kilometres long. These landscapes differ noticeably in their described forms and dimensions.
Culture and crafts are also among the topics associated with Boa Vista. In Rabil, the Boa Vista Pottery School was established in 1960. It preserves traditional clay-forming techniques developed by local artisans. The permanent exhibition at the Museu dos Naufragos in Sal Rei includes relics from historic shipwrecks, as well as objects relating to pirate attacks and the slave trade to the Americas. Thus, alongside the settlement history of Curral Velho, the island also offers craft traditions and maritime history as distinct areas of interest.
Another option on Boa Vista is a seasonal, four-hour boat tour in the Bay of Sal Rei, which includes swimming in the bay’s calm waters. Check in advance whether the tour is offered during your travel dates. This allows you to compare Curral Velho’s historical and landscape perspectives with a clearly defined island excursion, without treating the destinations as the same.
Discover more destinations: Espingueira, Rabil.
Back to the main travel overview: Boa Vista.
