Is Boa Vista safe?
Calm and low-crime for a visitor; Sal Rei is relaxed. Isolated beaches, off-road driving and heat are bigger risks than crime.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-12-17.
- Homicide rate in Cabo Verde: 7.0 per 100,000 people (2020, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Cabo Verde: 26.8 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 132 · Ambulance 130 · Fire 131 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Boa Vista at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Small-scale theft from rooms and beaches, and some harassment from touts in Sal Rei. Violent crime against visitors is rare. |
| At night | Sal Rei is quiet and generally fine after dark. Avoid walking the unlit beach road alone; take a taxi to resorts. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable for solo women, with some verbal attention from men. Avoid empty beaches at night and take taxis home. |
| Other risks | Strong currents and sudden swell; Heat and sun on dune drives; Getting stuck on sandy tracks |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Unofficial guides charging high prices for jeep or quad tours
- Taxis quoting tourist prices instead of the fixed fare
Take care
- Isolated beaches at night: robbery risk
- Driving off-road alone without water and a charged phone
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drug offences carry heavy penalties
- Topless sunbathing is not accepted on public beaches
How Boa Vista compares in Cabo Verde
Quick answers
Is Boa Vista safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable for solo women, with some verbal attention from men. Avoid empty beaches at night and take taxis home.
Is Boa Vista safe at night?
Sal Rei is quiet and generally fine after dark. Avoid walking the unlit beach road alone; take a taxi to resorts.
What is the crime rate in Boa Vista?
Small-scale theft from rooms and beaches, and some harassment from touts in Sal Rei. Violent crime against visitors is rare. Nationally, Cabo Verde records 7.0 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2020).
What number do I call in an emergency in Boa Vista?
Police 132 · Ambulance 130 · Fire 131 · All emergencies 112.
More about Boa Vista
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Cabo Verde Airports (ASA)
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.