Viana Desert - Boavista Island

The Viana Desert is a sand desert located in the northeast of the island of Boa Vista. Due to its unique characteristics, this desert is one of Cape Verde's protected areas.

The Viana Desert stretches for around 5 kilometers, where the predominantly white sand is interrupted by sprinkles of black volcanic sand, creating subtle contrasts. Sparse palm trees, acacia bushes and other endemic species dot the desert landscape with shades of green. The silence, the gentle breeze and the sandy horizon offer a true encounter of the senses with nature in its purest state.

How did the Viana Desert originate?

The trade winds carry a large amount of sand from the African continent towards the islands. Due to the geographical location and geomorphology of Boa Vista, much of this sand is deposited on this island, creating large expanses of dunes.

Because of its origin and shape, the Viana Desert is seen by many as an extension of the Sahara in Cape Verde.

How to get to the Viana Desert?

The Viana desert is located in the northwest of the island, between the towns of Sal Rei and Rabil, and to the west of the Bofareira area. It is easily accessible from any of these locations by pick-up, quad bike, horseback or even on foot for the more fearless.

What to do in the Viana Desert?

1. Hiking

Due to its moderate length and proximity to inhabited areas, you can go on hikes of low to medium difficulty, depending on your starting point. It is always advisable to go with an experienced local guide if you don't know the area well.

2. Quad excursions

With quad bike excursions departing from Sal-Rei and passing through various parts of the island, you can enjoy a real adventure through the dunes and villages of Boa Vista.

3. Pick-up excursions through the desert and villages

With routes leaving from different hotels and strategic points in Sal Rei, you can not only enjoy a tour of the desert, but also get a taste of Boa Vista. In addition to the Viana Desert, the excursions include the traditional pottery of Rabil, the idyllic villages of northern Boavista, the Morro Negro lighthouse, among others.

Image: João Galego, north of Boa Vista

Tips for visitors to the Viana Desert

Although this is common sense by now, it's always good to emphasize that you should bring enough water to stay hydrated, as the sun can be intense. In the same vein, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and suitable clothing are essential.

Although the Viana Desert is not very extensive, it is advisable to go with an experienced local guide if you don't know the area well.

Don't limit yourself to the desert. You can extend the tour to several other places that are worth a visit, such as the colorful villages of João Galego, Fundo das Figueiras and Cabeça dos Tarafes, the Morro Negro lighthouse and Rabil.

For those who prefer to avoid the sun or even for those looking for something different, you can take part in a morning or evening excursion to the Viana Desert. On starry nights and/or with a full moon, the sky becomes a spectacle in itself.

The Viana Desert was voted one of the wonders of Cape Verde in the category "Dunes and dune corridors, covering fossil or living dune accumulations, localized or in corridors".