Excursion to Ilhéa de Sal-Rei
A trip to an island with a beautiful beach and a Portuguese fortress
One of the attractions of the island's capital, Boa Vista, is the adjacent islet of Ilhéu de Sal-Rei. On the island you will find a nice beach as well as a historic Portuguese fort that protected the port and the city from pirates. The island itself is protected as a natural monument. It is very flat. The highest point is only 27 meters above sea level. A lighthouse is located on the highest point of the island. You can get to the island either with the help of a travel agency or arrange a boat directly in the port.
Arrival at the island of Ilhéu de Sal-Rei
From the port in Sal Rei, it is only about a kilometer to the island, so the cruise does not take long. Even so, it's an experience on a small boat. You don't have to worry about the waves, because the island acts as a huge breakwater. Even from a distance you can see the long strip of sand of the beautiful local beach and the small fortress on top of the hill.
Beach on the island
The beach on the island is very nice and not overcrowded at all – or rather, it depends on how many tourists arrive here, but their visits are relatively short – disembarking, walking to the fort, snorkeling at the reef (where there is nothing to see), a quick swim and off again . So you can be here alone.
North end of the beach
If you go to the northern end of the beach, you won't meet anyone here at all.
Beach view
Right behind the southern end of the beach is a small hill from where there is a nice view of the beach
View of the fortress
For many, the main goal of a trip to the island is a walk to a small Portuguese fortress. It stands on a small hill – the highest point of the southern part of the island.
In front of the fortress of Forte Duque de Bragança
The Forte Duque de Bragança itself is small, but with its seven cannons it could really flood the pirates.
In the fortress
There is free access to the fortress. There is no entrance fee here.
North of the islet
In the north of the island, you will no longer find beaches, only a rocky coast. This is where the pirates would have to sail if they wanted to attack the city or port – directly opposite the cannons.
The barren interior of the island
The interior is barren and flat. There are footpaths along which you can eventually reach the lighthouse at the highest point of the island.
