Tarrafal brings together historical remembrance with coastal and nature themes. In Chão Bom, the Museu do Campo de Concentração do Tarrafal is located in the former camp; on beaches and in bays, the landscape and marine life take centre stage. This gives you a clear focus when planning your trip: are you mainly looking for cultural and historical sites, coastal scenery or a mix of both?
Remembrance and Culture
The Museu do Campo de Concentração do Tarrafal, also known as the Museu da Resistência, is located in the former Campo de Concentração do Tarrafal in Chão Bom. It preserves the collective memory of the peoples of Cabo Verde, Guinea, Angola and Portugal. Chão Bom is the second population centre in the Concelho do Tarrafal; the Museu da Resistência is among its highlighted attractions. For a culturally and historically focused stay, this offers a specific theme: the museum’s role in remembrance and the history of the former camp.
The Farol da Ponta Preta was built towards the end of the 19th century and historically served as a landmark for ships off the north coast of Santiago. Here, a different historical perspective comes to the fore: its former navigational role as a guide for shipping.
The former Mercado Municipal is now called Mercado Municipal da Cultura. It was listed as a venue for cultural and leisure activities in 2013. Festivals also offer insight into local cultural life: the “Nhu Santo Amaro” festival is celebrated on 15 January at the Igreja Matriz in the Concelho do Tarrafal and is associated with the Festival de Santo Amaro, which promotes local culture, groups and artists. The 20th edition of the “Festival de Batuku - Nós Tradison” was organised by the Batuco group Delta Ramantxada in Tarrafal de Santiago and was described as Cape Verde’s longest-running Batuco festival. If you want to plan your trip around a festival, check the dates and schedule for your travel period in advance.
Beaches and Nature in the Concelho
A description from 2013 characterises Praia de Mangue as an expansive white-sand beach with palm trees and a coconut grove. Next to it is a smaller beach with calm water, suitable for swimming, which was formerly reserved for the President of the Republic. Thus, an expansive sandy stretch and a smaller beach described as calm and suitable for swimming offer contrasting coastal scenery.
Turtles regularly nest at Praia de Ribeira das Pratas. This natural feature adds the theme of coastal ecology to the descriptions of the beaches. Baía da Fazenda was described as an attraction for diving enthusiasts because of the diversity of its aquatic life; this characterisation comes from a 2013 survey.
Serra da Malagueta offers another connection with nature: the endemic Carqueja de Santiago (Limonium lobinii) is found in the area within the Concelho do Tarrafal. Together, these places offer a range of themes—from sandy beaches and palm trees to turtle nesting sites, aquatic life and an endemic plant.
Cape Verde in a Broader Context
As a broader travel destination, the archipelago of Cape Verde comprises ten islands, nine of which are inhabited. The eastern islands are described as older, flat and sandy, while the western islands are considered newer, mountainous, rocky and irregular in shape. Cabo Verdean cuisine includes cachupa, fish, seafood and fruit. Cachupa consists of meat or fish, stewed beans and corn, and is served with cooked vegetables, potatoes and boiled bananas. Music and dance traditions associated with Cabo Verde include morna, funaná, batuque, mazurca and coladeira.
Discover more destinations: Tarrafal, Tarrafal De São Nicolau, Praia, Sao Miguel, Ribeira Grande, Boa Vista, Sao Vicente, Paul.
Go to the broader travel overview: Cape Verde.
