Tarrafal Bay

Tarrafal sits at the northern end of Santiago where the coast turns, and its bay is a curve of pale sand backed by coconut palms with a headland closing it on one side, which makes it calm and swimmable when much of the island's coast is not. The town behind it is a working fishing place with boats drawn up at one end of the beach. The Serra Malagueta mountains rise inland on the road from Praia.

The main sights

• The curved bay - pale sand backed by palms and closed by a headland.
• The calm water - sheltered swimming, unusual on this coast.
• The fishing boats - the working end of the beach at the town side.
• The mountain road - the drive over the Serra Malagueta from Praia.

When to go

November to June is the dry season. The harmattan can bring dust between January and March. August and September bring the rains and rough seas.

Things to know

The drive from Praia takes a couple of hours on a winding road. The town is modest and facilities are basic. Dust haze in the winter months can be heavy.

Nearby

Serra Malagueta is south, and Praia is beyond it.

Key facts