Riu Palace Boavista
cape verde, cape verde · ★★★★★
The Verdict
Worth it for your honeymoon?
Riu Palace Boavista is the largest and most ambitious all-inclusive resort on Boavista — a 750-room, 24-hour all-inclusive Palace property fronting one of the longest empty white-sand beaches in the Atlantic, with multiple pools, a spa, and a string of à la carte restaurants. For honeymooners, the case for Boavista over Sal rests on scale and quiet: the island is less developed, the beaches are vaster and emptier, and the resort can absorb its 750-room footprint into a horizon so wide it feels uncrowded even at full capacity. Cape Verde sits five hundred kilometres off the West African coast, and Boavista is the dune-fringed Sahara-facing island where the desert meets the Atlantic — there is genuinely nowhere else within a six-hour flight of London with this kind of long, empty, reliably warm beach. The Riu Palace tier delivers a full all-inclusive with premium spirits, room service, and à la carte dining, the kitesurfing schools at nearby Santa Mónica beach are world-class, and the Cesária Évora Portuguese-Creole soundtrack threads through the small inland town of Sal Rei a short drive from the resort. It is the right choice for couples who want maximum beach, maximum AI value, and minimum decision-making, and who don't mind a resort large enough to feel resorty.
- ✓Prioritise spa & wellness
- ✓Want direct beach access
- →Need a strictly adults-only resort
- →Prefer boutique & intimate properties
Score Breakdown
85/100
Book Your Stay
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At a Glance
Room Recommendation
Which room to book
The Junior Suite Sea View with private terrace and direct ocean panorama is the right honeymoon category — the upper-floor versions in the south wing have the longest beach view on the property. The Junior Suite Swim-Up Room (ground floor with direct entry into a quiet swim-up pool from the terrace) is the alternative for couples who prioritise a semi-private water space over the high-floor sea view; both upgrades over the standard double room are worth the supplement.
No Surprises
True cost breakdown — 7 nights for two
Based on mid-range rooms, premium-economy flights from Europe, full dining and signature experiences. Adjust for your actual travel profile.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Room (7 nights avg $550/nt) | $3,850 |
| Flights (2 pax, economy/premium) | $1,800 |
| Airport transfers / seaplane | $200 |
| Dining & drinks (beyond room) | $5,775 |
| Excursions & experiences | $700 |
| Spa / signature treatments | $300 |
| Tips & service (8%) | $770 |
| Total estimated | $13,395 |
Day by Day
Your 7-night honeymoon itinerary
Arrival on Boavista
Direct flight or a short hop from Sal lands at Boavista's Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC), with a 30-minute transfer through dune country to the Riu Palace. Welcome amenity in the sea-view room, slow afternoon by the main pool, dinner at the resort's all-inclusive main restaurant. The 24-hour AI starts immediately.
Empty-Beach Day
Boavista's headline asset is the 18-kilometre stretch of empty white-sand beach in front of the resort. Spend a full day on it — the Riu beach service is well-organised, the Atlantic water is brilliantly clear if cool by tropical standards, and the dunes behind the beach give the horizon its Sahara look. Lunch at the beach grill, afternoon by the adults-skewed pool.
Kitesurfing or Surfing Lesson
Nearby Santa Mónica beach and the Riu's own beach offer some of the best kitesurfing and surfing conditions in the Atlantic — consistent trade winds, shallow flat water, and uncrowded line-ups. A half-day intro lesson is one of the strongest Boavista honeymoon stories. Recovery afternoon at the spa, dinner at the resort's Italian à la carte.
Sand Dunes & Shipwreck Tour
Full-day 4x4 island tour across Boavista's vast inland dune fields — the Viana desert, the rusting Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck on the north coast, and the inland oasis village of Rabil for a catchupa lunch. The contrast between desert, ocean, and ochre stone is the trip's most photographic day.
Catamaran Sunset Cruise
Late-afternoon catamaran sail from Sal Rei harbour with snorkelling stops, frequent humpback whale sightings in season (March–May), and a sundown return as the resort lights pop on along the bay. Dinner back at the Riu's Asian or seafood à la carte — both part of the AI.
Island-Hop or Quad Biking
Two strong options: a short flight north-west to São Vicente for a day in Mindelo, the cultural capital and Cesária Évora's hometown; or a half-day quad-bike circuit through the dunes south of the resort to deserted beaches the tour buses do not reach. Either way, return for sundowners on the rooftop bar.
Cesária Évora Music Night
Final morning on Boavista's empty beach, long lunch at the pool grill. For the last evening, head into Sal Rei town for dinner at a local seafood restaurant followed by live morna at one of the small music bars — the Portuguese-Creole soundtrack of Cape Verde and the right note to end the trip on. Slow drive back to the Riu.
Honest Assessment
What to know before you book
December–February is the Harmattan dust season — Saharan dust from the nearby African mainland can leave Boavista skies hazy for days; great for kitesurfers, less ideal for sunbathers.
The Atlantic water is cool by tropical standards year-round; fine for swimming but not bathwater warm — the resort pools are the warm-water bridge.
Boavista's infrastructure outside the resort is basic — limited restaurant choice in Sal Rei, intermittent road quality, and Portuguese/Creole dominate over English.
Cape Verde has documented shark presence on east-facing coasts; always swim from monitored beaches and follow the Riu lifeguards' guidance.
Pre-Arrival
Email to send the hotel
Subject: Honeymoon inquiry — Riu Palace Boavista Dear Riu Palace Boavista team, We are planning our honeymoon [DATE]–[DATE] and interested in a Junior Suite Sea View or Junior Suite Swim-Up. Please advise on availability, current 24-hour all-inclusive rates, and any honeymoon amenities you can offer. Thank you, [Your names]
Send 2 weeks before arrival. Fill in names, dates, and preferences. Hotels respond to personalised requests.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Boavista or Sal — which is better for a Cape Verde honeymoon?
Boavista is wilder, quieter, with vast empty beaches and a more remote feel — the right pick for couples who want maximum beach and minimum bustle. Sal is more developed, with better restaurants, more 5-star choice, and stronger kitesurfing on Santa Maria. Choose Boavista for emptiness, Sal for variety.
Is the 750-room scale a problem?
Less than you'd think — the Riu Palace is spread along a long beachfront with multiple pools, restaurants, and bars, and the surrounding 18 km of empty beach absorbs guests effortlessly. It feels resorty in the buffet hall, not on the beach. For honeymooners who want a calmer footprint, ask for a room in the south wing furthest from the main pool.
Is the all-inclusive worth it?
Strongly yes — the Riu Palace 24-hour AI includes all meals, all à la carte restaurants, premium spirits, room service, and most beach activities. Boavista's outside-resort dining is limited compared to Sal or Caribbean destinations, so the AI plan is the right default.
When is the best time to visit?
March through June and October through November are the sweet spots — warm, sunny, manageable winds, with humpback whale sightings on March–May catamaran trips. December–February is peak season with the strongest winds and Saharan dust. July–September is hot and humid with rare short showers.
How do you get to Boavista?
Boavista has its own international airport (BVC, Aristides Pereira) with direct flights from the UK, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium in season. Out of season, fly to Sal (SID) and connect with a 25-minute domestic flight. Riu arranges transfers from BVC for all-inclusive guests.
Is Boavista safe for couples?
Yes — Cape Verde is malaria-free on Boavista, crime is low in the resort zone, and standard beach-resort precautions apply. The island is less developed than Sal so independent exploration is best done with a guide or organised tour rather than self-drive in remote areas.
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