Cape Verde is consistently ranked among the safest countries in Africa, and Boa Vista is one of its safest islands. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) describes Cape Verde as “generally safe for visitors,” and the vast majority of British travellers return home with nothing to report beyond sand in their trainers.
But “safer than most” is not the same as “no precautions required.” Boa Vista has a small and specific set of risks that are worth understanding before you arrive — none of them serious, all of them avoidable.
The Short Version
- Violent crime: rare — lower than most European cities
- Petty theft: occasional in Sal Rei and Praia de Chaves; preventable with normal precautions
- Scams: a small handful of repeat patterns, easy to spot once you know them
- Ocean safety: the real risk on Boa Vista — rip currents are genuine; respect the flags
- Health: bottled water only, good insurance, basic sun sense
- Solo female travel: Boa Vista is generally welcoming; sensible precautions apply as anywhere
The Four Scams You Should Know About
1. The “Hotel Employee” Scam
The most common. A friendly stranger approaches just outside your resort and greets you as if they recognise you — “I work at the hotel! You arrived yesterday, yes?” Within five minutes they have walked you somewhere and the pressure to buy begins.
How to avoid it: The hotel employee you recognise is the one with a name badge inside the hotel. Nobody is waiting outside the gates to greet you personally. Smile, keep walking, and say “no thank you” without stopping.
2. The “Senegalese Bracelet” Scam
Common in Sal Rei’s main square and on busier beaches. A stranger slips a woven bracelet over your wrist “as a gift,” then demands payment — often aggressively — of €20 or more.
How to avoid it: Keep your wrists close to your body when greeted by a stranger with an outstretched hand. If a bracelet goes on, remove it immediately, hand it back, and walk away.
3. The “Broken ATM” Distraction
Occasionally reported. Someone loiters at the ATM, tells you the machine is broken, and offers to help you at a “better” ATM — which turns out to be a shop where the rate is bad.
How to avoid it: Use the ATM inside a bank, not a standalone street machine. Never accept help at an ATM.
4. Taxi Fare Inflation
Taxi fares in Cape Verde are negotiated, not metered. An unfamiliar driver may quote a tourist rate 40–60% higher than normal.
How to avoid it: Always agree the fare before you get in. Resort strip to Sal Rei: around 1,500–2,500 CVE (£11–£18). Resort to Riu Touareg: around 5,000–6,500 CVE (£36–£47).
Ocean Safety: The Real Boa Vista Risk
Boa Vista’s beaches are beautiful and the Atlantic is genuinely dangerous on the wrong day. Rip currents around the island’s exposed west and east coasts are powerful and not always obvious from the surface.
| Flag | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Green | Swimming permitted |
| Yellow | Caution — strong swimmers only, no children |
| Red | Do not enter the water under any circumstances |
| No flag | Treat as red — likely no lifeguard on duty |
Non-Negotiable Rules
- Never swim at a beach without a flag unless with a guide who has assessed conditions
- Never swim alone on a remote beach (Santa Mónica, Varandinha, Atalanta, Ervatão, Curral Velho)
- Keep children within a metre of you in the sea regardless of the flag
- If caught in a rip current: swim parallel to the shore until out of the flow, then return at an angle
- Do not drink alcohol before swimming. Do not swim at dusk or after dark.
Road and Transport Safety
- Taxis: use only official blue and yellow licensed taxis
- Hire cars: not usually recommended for a one-week trip — off-resort roads are partly unpaved and a hired 4×4 with driver is often cheaper
- Quad bikes: only through licensed operators — wear a helmet, stay with the guide
- Walking at night: safe within the well-lit core of Sal Rei and within resorts; avoid unlit coastal roads after dark
Family Safety
- Pool safety: resort pools are well-maintained but do not always have lifeguards — never leave a young child unattended
- Sun: British children underestimate the intensity of the Cape Verdean sun. SPF 50, reapplied every 90 minutes. Hats. UV sunsuits for younger children.
- Stomach upsets: bottled water for teeth brushing, pack Dioralyte (children’s formula)
- Evening excursions: turtle tours (June–October) are usually open to children 10+ only
Solo Travel and Solo Female Travellers
Boa Vista is a reasonable, generally welcoming destination for solo travellers. Low-level “friendly attention” in Sal Rei is common — mostly hellos from beach vendors. Aggressive harassment is rare.
- Dinners in Sal Rei are comfortable for solo travellers — Morabeza Beach Club, Bahia the Beach and Sodade Casa da Cultura all welcome single diners
- Do not swim alone on remote beaches
- Dress modestly in villages (knees or shoulders covered near churches)
- Share accommodation and excursion plans with someone at home
- Use pre-booked tour transfers after dark rather than walking
Bag Security and Petty Theft
- Never leave a bag unattended on a beach lounger while swimming
- Use the in-room safe for passports, cash and cards
- Carry photocopies of your passport and insurance documents separately
- Keep a small amount of cash in a different pocket from your wallet
- On evenings out, carry a small crossbody bag with the zip facing your body
Emergency Numbers
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Emergency (all services) | 112 |
| Police (Polícia Nacional) | 132 |
| Ambulance | 130 |
| Fire | 131 |
| Sal Rei Police Station | Main square, Sal Rei |
| Sal Rei Hospital | Rua Maria Perdigão, Sal Rei |
The Things That Genuinely Keep You Safe
- Pre-register your TSA (£31 per person) via ease.gov.cv at least 5 days before you fly
- Drink only bottled water — including for brushing teeth
- Respect the beach flags — rip-current drowning is the most common serious incident on the island
- Use licensed taxis and agree the fare first
- Buy proper travel insurance with evacuation cover
- Keep valuables in the room safe
- Walk past friendly strangers at the resort gate
- Stay hydrated and keep sunscreen on
The Morabeza Point
The vast majority of Cape Verdeans you meet will embody morabeza — warmth, hospitality, and the instinct to look after a stranger — without even thinking. The handful of scams covered here are a small statistical exception in an otherwise genuinely gentle society.
When you accept a cup of coffee from an elderly woman in Povoação Velha, it is not a scam — it is morabeza. Accept it, enjoy it, return the gesture. The whole island runs on that kind of quiet reciprocity. Travel carefully. Trust most strangers. Avoid a handful of specific ones. The rest is a good holiday.
Need personal, local guidance for your 2026 trip? Olavo Tours has Sal Rei–based staff who have guided British families, couples and solo travellers across Boa Vista for over a decade. Get in touch for pre-departure advice, private airport pickups, and resort-to-Sal Rei evening transfers.
