Praia de Santa Monica
An empty beach running for kilometres along the southern coast of Boa Vista, with no development at all.
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Santa Mónica runs for something like eighteen kilometres along the southern coast of Boa Vista, pale sand backed by dunes with nothing built on it anywhere along its length, which makes it one of the emptiest long beaches in the Atlantic. Getting there means a track across the interior from Povoação Velha in a four-wheel drive. There is no shade, no water and no facility of any kind, and the surf and currents are strong.
What you actually see
- The length - around eighteen kilometres of continuous undeveloped sand.
- The emptiness - no buildings, facilities or people along the whole beach.
- The dunes - the sand behind the beach running inland.
- The track in - the four-wheel drive route across the island interior.
When to go
November to June is the dry season. Turtles nest along this coast from June to October. Wind is strongest between December and March.
Honest expectations
Currents and surf here are dangerous and swimming is not advisable. There is no shade, water or help of any kind; everything must be carried. Vehicles get stuck on the track regularly.
Nearby
Povoacao Velha is inland, and Praia de Chaves is north.
What to pack for Praia de Santa Monica
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
