Viana Desert

The Deserto de Viana is a patch of white dunes in the interior of Boa Vista, a few square kilometres of fine sand that stands out against the darker volcanic ground around it. The sand is generally explained as having blown across from the Sahara on the harmattan and accumulated here over a very long time. It is small, and the standard visit is a stop on an island tour with time to walk into the dunes.

What you actually see

• The white dunes - fine pale sand standing out against the dark island ground.
• The Saharan origin - sand carried across the Atlantic on the harmattan.
• The contrast - dunes surrounded by volcanic rock and scrub.
• The tour stop - the standard pause on island four-wheel drive circuits.

When to go

November to June is the dry season. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and least heat. Harmattan season makes the air hazy.

Honest expectations

The area is small and a walk of twenty minutes covers it; it is not a Saharan landscape. There is no shade or water. Quad and buggy tours have churned parts of it.

Nearby

Rabil is south, and Sal Rei is northwest.