Boa Vista
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£1295(from/pp) SAVE £90pp
A fantastic beachfront all-inclusive hotel, Occidental Boa Vista Beach offers everything you could want from a beach holiday.
Its incredible position above Praia de Chaves, one of the best beaches in the archipelago.
The second pool, although not affording the same beautiful sea views as the main pool, is very relaxing with no activity – great for some ‘me time’.
Recently changed its name to the Occidental Boa Vista Beach, formerly the Royal Horizons Hotel, this property is now operated by the renowned Barcelo Hotel group who have made some welcome changes.
Cobbled pathways and differing levels makes this resort unsuitable to the less mobile.
The Occidental Boa Vista Beach is a true haven for both beach and activity lovers alike. Soak up the sunshine on Praia de Chaves’ endless expanse of white sand and take a refreshing dip in the ocean, or perhaps you’d rather rent a sand bicycle and head off and explore the dunes? The choice is yours.
Due to the hotel’s elevated position, the shaded terrace of the lobby bar is the perfect place from which to enjoy a drink. A stroll to the edge of the terrace rewards you with superb panoramas across the hotel grounds and down to the beach, which goes on for miles in both directions.
The hotel itself is home to two large pools with ample sunloungers, so you’ll never struggle to find somewhere to lay down your towel and top up your tan. One of these pools is in the main hub of the resort, and the second a little further away, offering guests a more relaxed atmosphere. The hotel also has a kid’s club, along with a daily activity programme and sporting facilities for the whole family to enjoy. For those looking to totally relax, why not spend some time in the hotel’s spa? From massages and facials to nail treatments and body wraps, there’s sure to be something to help you unwind.
Scattered around the well-kept grounds, cobbled pathways lead you through the greenery to the guest rooms at Royal Horizons. Bright, airy and comfortable in design, the sea view rooms boast incredible vistas across the golden coastline ahead, and for this reason we highly recommend upgrading to these room types.
With two restaurants and three bars, there’s plenty of choice as to where you spend your evenings, including a themed buffet restaurant and à la carte restaurant, of which one meal is already included during your stay. The pool bar offers drinks and snacks throughout the day, and is the perfect place to relax, soaking up the superb views across the resort and down to the beach. If you’d rather be on the sands, the beach bar is also a wonderful spot from which to enjoy a break for lunch, or a refreshing beverage.
Although an all-inclusive hotel, there’s also some fantastic experiences to be had beyond the comfort of the grounds. Embark on a quad bike excursion and discover the rolling sand dunes, or witness some incredible wildlife in the form of loggerhead turtles and whales. Fishing and boat trips are also popular activities on Boa Vista, making for wonderful days out.
Official local hotel rating: 4 star
What's included in your booking
Double Room
From £1,295pp
Sleeps up to 3 (2 adults)
Flat screen TV, air-conditioning, safe (payable locally). Bath with shower and hairdryer. Balcony.
Double Ocean Room
Flat screen TV, air-conditioning, safe (payable locally). Bath with shower and hairdryer. Either 2 x double beds or 1 x king size. Balcony with sea views.
Junior Suite
Sleeps up to 4 (2 adults)
Flat screen TV, air-conditioning, safe (payable locally). Bath with shower and hairdryer. Either 2 x double beds or 1 x king size. Separate sitting room with table and chairs and a pull out sofa. Balcony.
Junior Suite Ocean VIew
Flat screen TV, air-conditioning, safe (payable locally). Bath with shower and hairdryer. Either 2 x double beds or 1 x king size. Separate sitting room with table and chairs and a pull out sofa. Balcony with sea views.
Opening dates are subject to change and beyond our control.
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Unspoilt expanses of beach and sea Boa Vista is home to some of the most dazzling beaches on the archipelago covering a staggering 55km. Closest to the African mainland, Boa Vista is not only renowned for its stunning beaches but its marine life too. Nightlife here is very low key and quiet with just a scattering of local restaurants and bars.
Boa Vista is quite literally covered in sand and many buildings have been completely absorbed leaving an endless blanket of sand. A great example of this is on Praia da Chaves, an old ceramic factory covered in sand is still intact with machines in situ! Sahara like dunes in the interior of the island with sprouting date palms are an impressive sight and well worth a visit.
Depending on the time of year you may even spot some turtles on the islands southern beaches. Boa Vista is thought to be third most important loggerhead nesting site in the world, with the favoured time of year for turtles to nest usually being during the months of June through to September.
The miles of unspoilt coast line are excellent for you to enjoy uninterrupted walks as well as being a popular location for windsurfing enthusiasts. Other water sports are available in addition to quad biking tours and line and deep-sea fishing.
The island of Boa Vista is also home to some of the most spectacular beaches in the archipelago with a dazzling 55km stretch of white powdery sands. The most spectacular is Praia de Chaves, where the sand dunes have been sculpted by the winds into some amazing arcs.
There are a few festivals on the island. Plans change from year to year but normally there is the common music festival that takes place in Santa Cruz in August. The other main colourful festival is:
Santa Isabel (Municipality Day) 4 July - the day of Santa Isabel, the patron saint of the island. Celebrated with processions, swimming, horse racing, tours and a public ball.
Loggerhead turtles call the island and surrounding waters home and Ervatão Beach on the south east coast is considered the world's third most important loggerhead turtle nesting site. Between July and September, you can witness the turtles coming onto the beaches and laying their eggs in nests on the beach.
Best reached through an exhilarating 4x4 tour, this excursion whisks you to Praia de Santa Maria, allowing you to witness one of the most iconic scenes on the island of Boa Vista. The ship ran aground on this beach in 1968 whilst sailing to Brazil, today the wreck provides an excellent dramatic photo opportunity.
A popular stop on the island tours of Boa Vista, combined with the shipwreck above, a visit to this desert makes for an exciting day out. The expansive white sand dunes have slowly formed over time, with sand having been blown across the Atlantic from the Sahara Desert.
Not many islands do it better! Watersports are a great way to spend time getting active on the azure waters. Kitesurfing is becoming increasingly popular on the island of Boa Vista, lessons are available for all abilities and it is a fun way to make to most of the windier weather. Windsurfing is also a great established sport on the island.
Why not try your hand at surfing or sailing? Both sports are available to do with lessons for beginners and rental equipment available. There are also great opportunities for scuba diving on the island.