Maio
Maio is located in the Sotavento group, the island is also one of the least known and least developed islands in Cape Verde.
The island is small and quite flat, characterized by large beaches of fine white sand. Its main urban center is the City of Porto Inglês, formerly Vila do Porto Inglês or Vila do Maio.
Maio represents an excellent destination for those who want to escape the dynamics of the city of Praia, and relax in a very quiet place with beautiful beaches of white sand and crystal clear water. This mostly marine biosphere reserve, is home to several endemic species, including turtles, as well as an abundance of fish, seabirds and marine reptiles.
One of the most arid places in the country, Maio features gorgeous beaches, which, alongside its festivals, craft markets and historic heritage, attracted a growing number of tourists in recent years.
Most of the island’s population, make a living from the production of maize, beans, melons and salt, as well as tourism.
Places to Visit in Maio
Forest Perimeter
Contrasting with the beaches, there is a forest area that represents the largest forest perimeter in Cape Verde, despite the fact that the island is small. Its highest point is Monte Penoso, with 437 m of altitude. A landscape that serves as a habitat for various species of fauna.
Despite being one of the most arid islands has the largest forest perimeter of Cape Verde, a spot of 3500 hectares, composed mainly of acacia trees, the result of a reforestation plan. It is next to Calheta, a village that fishing is the main activity, and it is the second largest on the island.
Beach Rotcha Beach
The beach of “Beach Rotcha” inevitably represents the paradisiacal access to the island of Maio. From its clean, white and massive sand to its meekness of the waves and the gentle glow of its breeze. This beach is characterized mainly by its living tone of the waves that provides the revival of the sands and the freshness of the breeze to its visitors. It features white sand in combination with the cleanness of warm water that marvels any tourist, national or foreign.
North Natural Park
It is a protected area, which has the most extensive salt pan ecosystem in the entire archipelago, combined with large and interesting sand formations and a coastline of extensive and continuous beaches. The Maio Biosphere Reserve in Cape Verde encompasses the entire island and marine zone.
Diving into the marine ecosystems, and one can expect to find eight local endemic species of fish, three species of turtles (Chelonia mydas, Eretmo-chelys imbricata, and Caretta caretta) and cetaceans such as the Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) and Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). Turning to the shore, there are over 256 species of fauna can be identified including three endemic lizards(Chioninia spinalis Mayensis , C. delalandii and Tarentola Mayensis ). Over 100 varieties of migratory birds have been recorded in the region.
Porto Inglês salt pan
It consists of a protected landscape that is home to beaches that serve as nesting sites for turtles. There is still an artisanal way of extracting salt. It is a saline wetland in the southwestern part of the island of Maio, Cape Verde, northwest of the city Porto Inglês. It is a 5.34 km2 protected area and a Ramsar site. It encompasses ecological, landscape, historical and cultural values. The site is frequented by species of birds of conservation interest, some of them protected by national laws and international conventions, and some endemic to the archipelago. The site supports 10-13% of the global population of the cream-coloured courser and the endangered loggerhead sea turtle. It hosts characteristic sand dune and wetland birds, including the greater hoopoe-lark the black-crowned sparrow lark.
Dunes of Morrinho
The Dunes of Morrinho occupy the northwest part of the village of Morrinho in an extension of approximately 4 km. It comprises the coastline between calhetinha beach and Santana Bay and is located within the protected areas “Saltland National Park”. It is approximately 30 meters high considering its highest point.
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