North or South of Boa Vista: Which Excursion to Choose?

North or South of Boa Vista: Which Excursion to Choose?

Do you want to discover Boa Vista by 4x4, quad, or with a guide, but one question often comes up when booking:

should you choose the north or the south of Boa Vista?

Both excursions are fascinating, but they showcase completely different sides of the island.

Tours in the north of Boa Vista generally focus on the Viana Desert, Rabil, and the shipwreck of Cabo Santa Maria, while routes in the south favor vast beaches, including Santa Mónica, Varandinha, Povoação Velha, and the dunes of Morro de Areia. These itineraries are notably described by the Boa Vista tourism portal.

Here are the key differences to help you choose the excursion that best suits you.

Important: itineraries are not universal. Each operator may add, remove, or modify stops. The sites described below correspond to commonly offered and documented routes, not a mandatory standard for all tours.

The North of Boa Vista: Desert, Shipwreck, and Wild Landscapes

If you choose an excursion to the north of Boa Vista, one of the first major landscapes is usually the Viana Desert.

After crossing or passing near Rabil, some tours reach the dunes before continuing toward Cabo Santa Maria. This is notably the route described by the official tourism portal for its northern quad tour.

The north is particularly suited for travelers interested in:

dunes; maritime history; off-road tracks; arid landscapes; photography. The Viana Desert: the must-see highlight of the north

The Viana Desert is one of the most astonishing landscapes in Boa Vista.

The contrast between the light sand, the rocks, and the surrounding reliefs gives the impression of discovering a small piece of the Sahara in the middle of an Atlantic island.

The tourism portal recommends taking a pick-up or a quad to get there and advises against first-time visitors going alone.

Part of the appeal is simply getting out of the vehicle and walking for a few minutes in the dunes.

For photographers, this is clearly one of the highlights of the north.

Rabil: A Local Touch

Depending on the tour you choose, Rabil may be included in the itinerary.

The village serves as a passing point towards the Viana Desert. Some tours also combine it with local crafts or traditional pottery.

This stop offers an interesting contrast to the natural scenery.

After the dunes, you encounter a village and another facet of daily life in Boa Vista.

Cabo Santa Maria: The Iconic Shipwreck

The other major attraction in the north is Cabo Santa Maria.

The shipwreck sits on the wild coast of Boa Vista and is one of the most photographed spots on the island.

The official northern circuit describes a continuation from the Viana Desert towards this area over tougher terrain requiring good knowledge of the off-road tracks.

The location is mainly worth visiting for:

the scenery; the history; the photography; the atmosphere, which is very different from developed beaches.

You must not climb onto the shipwreck: the metal is old, corroded, and constantly exposed to the ocean.

The South of Boa Vista: The Most Beautiful Beaches

The south of Boa Vista offers an experience centered much more on beaches and coastal panoramas.

Tours documented by the tourism portal notably pass through Praia de Chaves, Varandinha, Povoação Velha, and Santa Mónica. Some also add Morro de Areia.

If your ideal picture of Boa Vista is:

white sand + turquoise ocean + dunes + endless beaches,

the south will likely be your choice.

Praia de Chaves: Dunes Facing the Atlantic

Some southern tours start with the dunes of Praia de Chaves, which roll right down to the coastline.

The landscape perfectly summarizes Boa Vista: an arid island where sand and ocean seem to merge together.

Even when a tour only stops briefly, the view serves as a great introduction to the south.

Varandinha: Rocks and Natural Caves

Varandinha completely breaks away from the uniform beach look.

The area is characterized by rock formations and natural caves that make it one of the most photogenic places in the south. Documented official tours frequently combine Varandinha with Santa Mónica and Povoação Velha.

If you enjoy photography and rocky shorelines, this stop alone can justify choosing the south.

Povoação Velha: A Cultural Break

The south is not just about beaches.

Povoação Velha, considered one of the oldest settlements in Boa Vista, is regularly included in the tours.

This stop allows you to slow down for a moment and discover a historical side of the island before heading back to the ocean.

The contrast between the village and Santa Mónica is precisely what makes the journey so interesting.

Santa Mónica: The Highlight of the South

For many travelers, Santa Mónica is the main reason to choose the south.

The tourism portal describes a massive stretch of white sand, and its southern tours naturally allocate significant time to this beach.

The environment gives a sense of open space that is hard to find near Sal Rei.

Depending on your excursion and conditions, the stop allows you to walk, take photos, relax, or possibly swim.

Swimming must always depend on the actual ocean conditions.

Morro de Areia: Dunes and Ocean

Some routes add Morro de Areia, where the dunes meet the Atlantic directly.

The site is among the remarkable landscapes listed by the Boa Vista tourism portal.

For those looking primarily for beautiful scenery, it is an excellent complement to Santa Mónica and Varandinha.

North or South: Which One Has the Best Landscapes?

There is no objective answer.

The north offers more of a mix of:

desert + shipwreck + off-road tracks + arid landscapes.

The south offers more:

beaches + dunes + ocean + rock formations.

If you have been dreaming for months about the long white beaches of Boa Vista, choose the south.

If the desert and Cabo Santa Maria attract you more, choose the north.

Which tour to choose for photos?

Both.

But not for the same images.

In the north

You will mainly photograph:

the Viana Desert; the dunes; Cabo Santa Maria; the arid landscapes; possibly villages depending on the itinerary. In the south

You will photograph:

Santa Mónica Varandinha Praia de Chaves Morro de Areia Povoação Velha.

For beach photography, I would give the edge to the south.

For a variety of desert + maritime heritage, rather the north.

Which Excursion to Choose with Children?

The vehicle used and the duration matter almost as much as the route itself.

The tourism portal presents certain 4x4 tours in the south as family-friendly, and certain quad tours starting from a minimum age set by the operator.

Since rules can vary, always check:

the minimum age the type of seat the duration the heat time spent on off-road tracks the breaks.

With young children, a 4x4 can be more comfortable than a quad or a buggy.

North or South for Swimming?

The south includes more stops directly focused on large beaches.

However, this does not mean that swimming is always possible.

Santa Mónica and other beaches are exposed to the Atlantic, and conditions can change quickly.

An excursion should never guarantee swimming when swell or currents do not allow it.

Which Tour to Choose If You Don't Like Long Drives?

It depends on the starting point and the exact route.

Be sure to ask the operator:

the total duration how much time is actually spent on dirt tracks the number of stops free time at each stop.

A tour with eight stops is not necessarily better than a tour with four.

Sometimes, seeing less allows you to enjoy more.

What If You Can Do Both?

This is obviously the best solution if your stay and budget allow it.

The north and south complement each other remarkably well.

After seeing the Viana Desert and the shipwreck, Santa Mónica will almost feel like discovering a different island.

However, for a one-week stay in Boa Vista, I advise against scheduling both excursions back-to-back.

Intersperse a beach day or a nautical activity in Boa Vista between the two.

That way, you will also discover the island from the ocean.

Can You Replace a Land Tour with a Nautical Excursion?

They are not the same experience.

A land tour helps you understand the landscapes, villages, and interior of Boa Vista.

A sea excursion allows you to explore its maritime side, see the coastline from another perspective, and potentially enjoy snorkeling, fishing, or seasonal wildlife watching.

For a first trip, the ideal choice is often:

one land excursion + one nautical excursion.

You get two completely different views of Boa Vista.

So, North or South of Boa Vista?

Choose the NORTH if you mainly want to:

discover the Viana Desert see the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck explore arid landscapes discover Rabil or other villages depending on the tour take highly varied photos.

Choose the SOUTH if you mainly want to:

see Santa Mónica discover Varandinha enjoy the grandest beach landscapes visit Povoação Velha watch dunes meet the ocean. For a first visit?

If your top priority is to discover postcard landscapes of Boa Vista, I would give a slight advantage to the south.

If you are more drawn to adventure, off-road tracks, the desert, and the history of the shipwreck, choose the north.

This is not a universal truth: it is simply the difference in experience between the itineraries currently offered.