Lacacão Beach

From Sal Rei, the drive takes around 75 minutes on rough desert piste — a 4WD is essential. Alternatively, hike in from the village of Curral Velho; the trail is on-demand and crosses desert terrain. There is no formal parking area — stop your vehicle on the piste near Curral Velho and continue on foot. No entry fee applies, but the difficulty of access is itself a filter: this is not a beach you stumble upon.

The Curral Velho ruins, roughly 4 kilometres away, are an abandoned colonial-era settlement worth the detour — rated 4.4/5 and one of the more atmospheric stops on Boa Vista's south coast. Nearby, the Salinas de Curral Velho offer a striking contrast of salt flats and birdlife, rated 4.7/5 at around 3.6 kilometres. For a sense of scale, Praia de Santa Mónica lies about 8 kilometres away — a 20-kilometre wild dune-backed beach that shares Lacacão's untamed character. The Viana Desert, roughly 18 kilometres inland, rounds out the geological story of this corner of the island.

The closest dining options are clustered near Curral Catoco, under a kilometre away. Kulinarium stands out with a 4.7/5 rating, while San Antao and Boavista Restaurant both earn solid marks from visitors. Pack your own food and water for the beach itself — there is nothing on-site and the drive back is long.

Hotel Riu Touareg, rated 4.4/5 across over 7,000 reviews, is the most established base in the area at around 0.4 kilometres from the beach zone. For something smaller and more local, Nos Kasa Povoaçao Velha sits about 12 kilometres away. Several self-catering options including Luxury BeachVilla Suite and Casa Tud Dret are available around 13 kilometres out for those who prefer independence.

The layered sand strata in the cliff face are the headline shot — arrive in the morning when low-angle light rakes across the geological cross-sections and deepens the colour contrasts. The wide foreground of mixed sands against open blue ocean, with the eroding dune cliff as backdrop, gives a strong compositional frame at any time of day when the sky is clear.

Do not stand directly below the dune cliff face — it is actively eroding and rockfall is a real, documented risk. The strong surf makes swimming dangerous; do not enter the water under any circumstances. There are zero rescue services at this beach, so carry sufficient water and a charged communication device before you set out. True digital-detox territory — cell signal fades out here and there is nowhere to plug anything in, so bring offline maps and let someone know your plan.