About
Maio Cape Verde offers a perfect destination for a quiet ‘get away from it all’ holiday. The islands of Sal and Boa Vista are better known for their beaches, however, Maio is the forgotten gem. It is also an island for lovely sand beaches, but here you will often have the beach all to yourself. Maio has not been taken over by commercial tourism. It is a little piece of paradise; a lovely, forgotten island and only 15 minutes by plane from the capital city of Praia. When arriving on the island you will arrive at the main town of Porto Inglês (also called Vila do Maio). This is where the port and the airport are located. The port accepts roll-on-roll-off ferries. The island only has transport connections with Praia. If you enjoy long walks, or prefer just sitting and relaxing, this is the place for you. It may be a little harder to get to, but it is well worth the effort. Maio has a charm all of its own and the local people are some of the friendliest in Cape Verde. Locally Maio is often called Djarmai.
Beaches
The long deserted beaches are an attraction to a variety of sea birds and there are turtles found in the waters. Between June and October you may be lucky and see the turtles laying their eggs in nests in the sand dunes. Then watch the babies make their way into the sea. Organised trips should be arranged, as it is important not to endanger these beautiful creatures by destroying their habitats. The main beach in Vila do Maio stretches a long way beyond the pier, so if you want to be completely alone you can be if you walk a little further. To the south-east of the town there is another long beach at Ponta Preta. There other beautiful beaches around the island including at Ribeira Dom João. However, this one can only be reached with a 4-wheel drive car.
Entertainment
There are bars and restaurants dotted around Porto Ingles, including Bar Tropikal on the main beach. There you can spend the day relaxing, swimming, eating and drinking. Bar Tropikal sometimes organises a popular Tocatina (live music and dancing) on a Saturday evening. The night life on Maio is based upon restaurants and bars. It is not an island to visit for a variety of lively nightlife, but you will enjoy what there is. A local guitarist and composer, Tibau Tavares is prominent in the music life of Cape Verde. He is identified in what has become known as new Cape Verdean music. This includes a combination of modern and traditional dance. The local music is infectious and you may well find yourself dancing with the locals in one of the bars, or even outside in the street. Festivals, including carnival are celebrated on Maio and In early September there is a beach festival in Porto Inglês.
Places to visit
You will find sleepy towns with colourful little houses, hilly landscapes, limestone valleys, acacia forests, coconut palms and tranquility in abundance. There are long stretches of perfect, almost deserted white sandy beaches and warm clear waters. The main town of Vila do Maio is in the south west of the island. It is a lovely quiet, attractive little town with very few cars. You may see chickens, a pig, a goat or even a cow in the street. The quaint cobbled streets offer glimpses of the sea as they slope down the hillside. At the centre of the town is the Town Square with attractive planting and places to sit. The square is watched over by the Catholic church of Nossa Senhora da Luz (Our Lady of Light). The roads are quiet and a guided tour of the island is a lovely experience and an informative way of seeing the island. A tour will take in the attractive little villages, the sand dunes at Morrinho, acacia forests (now the largest continuous wooded area within Cape Verde) and also the charcoal pits.
Geography
Maio is the closest island to the capital city of Praia on the island of Santiago. It is in the Sotavento islands in the south of the country. The southern part of the island is largely desert, while in the north there are forests and a slightly more mountainous terrain. Cobbled roads connect all the small villages such as Morro, Calheta and Morrinho to the main town of Vila do Maio. Monte Penoso is the highest point on the island at 436m.
