Turtles in Boa Vista: 2024 record. Come see them with us!

Once again Boa Vista confirms itself as an exceptional site for the nesting of the Caretta caretta turtles.

In 2024 he recorded has recorded 60% of eggs hatching out of a total of over 150,000 that occurred on the beaches of Boa Vista and Sal, according to data provided by Projecto Biodiversidade and BIOS Cabo Verde. Boa Vista is consistently the island with the highest influx of Caretta caretta turtles in the archipelago and, it can be said, one of the most important sites in the world for this endangered species. All this thanks to the work of over twenty years carried out by the various naturalistic organizations that operate on site, studying, monitoring and protecting the animals. And safeguarding a unique and fragile heritage.

Plus, unlike pretty much everywhere else, Boa Vista offers a fantastic opportunity to get up close and personal with turtles.

From July to September, turtles arrive in their thousands for the egg-laying

Every year from July to September, it is possible to witness the egg-laying on the protected beaches of the Reserva Natural das Tartarugas. After sunset, accompanied by guides and researchers, in total darkness and silence and with the utmost caution, you can approach the animals that, after having skillfully dug a deep hole in the sand, expel an average of eighty eggs, similar to ping pong balls. During the egg-laying, the turtles are in a trance, and are not disturbed by the presence of observers. In fact, after the nest closes, researchers can proceed with their scientific work of measuring, verifying or applying identification chips, etc.

A truly exciting adventure

The excursion for the deposition is a truly exciting experience , which remains etched in your memory for life and, often, is worth the trip alone. Children and young people in particular are struck and fascinated by an incredible spectacle, in the midst of nature, along immense beaches, far from any inhabited center, with the murmur of the ocean, under the tropical stars.

Boa Vista, and also Sal, is one of the few places where you can still see this spectacle in a natural setting. And not only can you encounter green and hawksbill turtles all year round while surfing and swimming, as they come close to the shore to feed, but these species do not nest here. On the island of S. Vicente you can swim with turtles on organized trips.

With I Love Boa Vista , in addition to flights and accommodation - see our offers - with the various personalized offers, in a hotel or apartment with the widespread hotel formula (a widespread hotel with all the services of a resort), you can easily book an excursion to observe the turtles' nesting in collaboration with the accredited naturalistic associations of Boa Vista. The experience includes off-road transport to the camp, the sites where they mostly nest are on the beaches to the south (Ervatao, Ponta Cosme, Joao Barrosa, and are about twenty kilometers from Sal Rei on dirt roads and tracks), briefing by guides and researchers, with information on the life and characteristics of these fascinating animals (which, for example, even though they migrate thousands of kilometers always return to nest on the beach where they were born, in fact it is not uncommon to meet them even on city beaches such as Praia Cabral), accompaniment on the beach to the point where the turtle is digging, observation of the nesting and the subsequent work of the researchers, return to the hotel.

Appropriate behavior is required so as not to disturb the animals, they cannot be photographed and lastly, even though many arrive, it can happen that you do not meet them or that for some reason (noise, moon too high, cold sand, etc.) they decide not to lay their precious eggs, but this is part of that even greater spectacle that is nature!

From mid-September to the end of October it is possible to watch the eggs hatching, but it is more complicated and usually the observation is done in dedicated moments in the nurseries, where the eggs from the nests at risk are moved. It is beautiful to see these tiny specimens running towards the sea. But there are many dangers and very few will become adult turtles.