Boa Vista Experience

andre

The wreck is well worth a visit, probably better to go by 4WD, however I have seen people trekking out there, they did build up a good sweat though.

The wreck is 8km NE of Sal Rei. The Spanish freighter ran aground in 1968, and has been rusting ever since. At present there are 2 distinct "pieces". The freighter had a cargo of car-parts, garlic,rosemary + none magazines. This was obviously collected by locals and rapidly traded across the island. I wonder what fetched the best price! Boavistans all being good Catholics!?!

To get to the wreck you travel north out of Sal Rei, along Praia Cabral, just before Marine Club turn right, heading east across country, following a track for a few hundred metres until you reach a church in a large white-walled plot.You then head uphill over the crest until you reach the northern coast of Boavista. You should have a clear view of the wreck about 2kms away.A driveable track takes you down to the beach. Of interest along the track is the dry-stone walling laid out to prevent sand blowing onto the island. This walling is broken in places.

To hike to the wreck you would do a round trip of 14km, so allow 4 1/2 hours.

Observing the wreck is very peaceful, the waves continuously crashing against the wreck. It is peaceful now, I suppose in the future there could be bus-loads of tourists in a car-park, depends if the wreck collapses completely from corrosion/force of the waves, or the road comes 1st!

Andre

jak · Senior Member Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 809

The link below is to a video of the ship wreck taken in April 2008.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TFICimDJ_Co

It is different from the video on the www.boavistaexperience.com website and gives an idea of how remote and deserted the location is. The constant wind can also be heard which is a feature of the exposed northern coast of Boa Vista. The other background noises are from the radio of the 4x4 we were travelling in.

Enjoy.

John Dowling

rosemary · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

Hi John
Thanks for the link to the UTube video of the ship wreckage at Santa Maria, we also visited this beach in April. When we visited it was also very windy but sunny and hot and pretty spectacular really. We went by quad bike which was a challenge but fun.

jak · Senior Member Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 809

Shirley,

how long did it take to reach the wreck on your quad bikes? I have only travelled there by 4-wheel drive and you have to stick to the defined tracks for fear of breaking an axle. Was there anyone else on the beach at the time, it has always been totally deserted on the couple of ocassions I have visited the wreck which made it seem very surreal.

Regards,

John Dowling

jak · Senior Member Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 809

Here is a more recent pictures of the ship wreck taken in September 2009:

John

jak · Senior Member Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 809

Another view of the wreck showing further deterioration

John

jak · Senior Member Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 809

I went to the shipwreck yesterday and I would urge any visitor to Boa Vista to visit before it collapses. It has visibly deteriorated since I was last here in September 2009. It was still as haunting as ever standing all alone on the vast expanse of Boa Esperanca.

John