Swimming at Santa Monica Beach
Swimming on the longest beach on Boa Vista Island
The fifth stage and fourth (and last stop) of the trip around the south of Boa Vista is a stop and a swim at the most famous beach of the island – Praia Santa Monica. The swimming spot is at its very eastern end, just a short distance from the unfinished large hotel. There is also the beach bar Boca Beach, which is just ready for the participants of this trip.
Santa Monica Beach
Praia de Santa Mónica is the longest beach on the island of Boa Vista. It is also part of a protected reserve, so there are no hotel developments here.
Hotel under construction
The exception to the rule is a hotel under construction at the eastern end of the beach, where someone accidentally discovered that this piece of land was no longer in a protected area and started building this monster. However, construction stopped during Covid and has not started again. So it is currently a kind of ghost town.
Swimming spot
The swimming spot itself is relatively narrow – on one side limited by a rocky spit against which the waves break and on the other side there are quite a few boulders in the water. Compared to Boa Vista with its amazing swimming beaches, it is therefore weaker. Anyway, swimming is just an addition to this trip, not the goal, so it's fine.
Surroundings of the swimming beach
The beach itself and its surroundings are quite photogenic. There is time for both swimming and a short walk along the coast.
View of the bar
Those who just want to refresh themselves and relax after a long off-road ride can sit in a pleasant bar overlooking the beach.
Fishermen
The sandy beach is topped by a rocky spit where you can find locals fishing.
After the break, all that awaits us is the journey back, this time partly on asphalt.
