Boa Vista Day Trip Review: Shipwreck & Santa Monica (2024)

Thinking about heading to Boa Vista and considering a day trip that includes a shipwreck and Santa Monica Beach? That’s neat. Well, I just did that very trip, and I wanted to share my thoughts to, you know, maybe help you decide if it’s the right adventure for your vacation.

What to Expect on this Guided Tour

This specific tour, as a matter of fact, generally involves getting picked up from your hotel in the morning in a 4×4, because, like, some of the roads you’ll be traveling on are far from smooth, right? Your guide is someone who can share facts about Boa Vista, as I was saying, and also, the Cape Verde islands and their history, but really, they also manage the driving, too it’s almost.

The Shipwreck (Cabo Santa Maria): A rusted hull, it’s a cool photo spot. In fact, you usually get about 30-45 minutes here, which honestly, alright, is enough to snap photos and wander around the beach there, by the way. Keep in mind, though, that this stop can be a bit windy, so, maybe you should bring something to cover up a bit.

Santa Monica Beach: This, right, is really where you’ll spend a large chunk of your time. This place boasts miles and miles of sandy shoreline and crashing waves. Usually, what happens is that you can take a swim (if the ocean’s not too rough, I mean), walk along the shore, or, well, just chill. Lunch is very frequently included here, so expect a simple grilled meal with local flavors – nice, and a bit of a rest, basically.

Getting There and Getting Around

So, in general, the transportation is part of the package, isn’t it? The 4×4 is really, arguably, necessary for some of the off-road parts of the trip, so I would advise against renting a car and trying to do it on your own, alright? Be prepared for bumpy rides; it’s, in fact, part of the fun… mostly!

Road conditions in Boa Vista, you know, can be pretty variable. Parts of the trip, specifically to the shipwreck and Santa Monica Beach, take you on dirt roads and across sand dunes. Your guide will be, like, an experienced driver used to handling this, but a little heads-up is always good, as a matter of fact. Hold on tight, just a little!

What I Liked About the Trip

The vastness of Santa Monica Beach, of course, is breathtaking, yet? It definitely feels like you are at the edge of the earth, so too it’s almost. Then, the photo opportunities at the shipwreck, too, are very remarkable, you know. The tour itself hits a good balance between structured sightseeing and having your own downtime. The guides, right, that I came across were friendly, just a little, and made the experience that much more enjoyable, and by the way, lunch was nice, really.

Potential Downsides to Consider

The ride can be, you know, super bumpy, like your really, super bumpy! If you get car sick somewhat easily, anyway, you could consider taking some travel meds ahead of time, if you can that is. The shipwreck, meanwhile, has plenty of trash scattered about. You know, it’s something you just have to look past if you want the, like, cool photos and stuff. Santa Monica Beach, you see, can get very windy as well, so that, too, might impact your experience. Also, that.

Who is this Trip Good For?

Photographers, definitely. Anyone looking for unique landscapes that seem unusual, basically. Adventure seekers that are okay with a somewhat rough and ready day out in a 4×4, and frankly, someone who would value chilling at a pretty impressive shoreline, alright.

Tips and Tricks for the Best Experience

Bring sunscreen and a hat, very! The sun, actually, is intense even when it is windy.
Bring water! A lot of the tours, in short, only supply water with lunch, if the tour does that even.
Bring a small backpack, alright. Useful to have when going around.
Wear comfortable shoes, you know. You will walk on sand a fair bit.
Think about what to use to cover up if the wind does start to get too strong, isn’t it?

Is the “Boa Vista Shipwreck and Santa Monica Beach” Trip Worth it?

You see, it depends. If you are after a day of chilling out somewhere calm, like your usual tropical vacation beach type thing, alright, this may not be it for you, really. But, if the idea of exploring stark, pretty memorable landscapes excites you and also, if you are up for a bit of an adventurous outing, you should be okay. For me? I certainly am, I mean, I appreciated experiencing the less ‘polished’ side of Boa Vista and grabbing pretty remarkable photos along the way. That did it.