On our recent trip to Cape Verde, one of the main things I wanted to do was pay a visit to the beach at Praia de Atalanta (also known as Boa Esperança) to see the wreck of the Spanish cargo ship Cabo Santa Maria.
The ship ran aground on Boa Vista in 1968 and has since become one of the country’s main tourist attractions.
Reaching the coast involves a long and bumpy journey along partly cobbled tracks, through some barren but beautiful scenery.
It’s a popular location for tour groups, but it isn’t a crowded spot; you can still catch a moment to take some photos and enjoy a walk along the beach.
But the wreck is slowly crumbling, thanks to over forty years in the rough waves of the Atlantic Ocean. In a few years it will probably disappear completely. Take a look on Google Images to see the how the wreckage has changed over the years.
Sadly, the beach is littered with plastic bottles and other detritus, left behind by the tourists. In that way, it reminded me of a beach close to home where I enjoy spending time. But the rubbish doesn’t detract too much from the striking location, which is also covered in small stacks of rocks, left by visitors who also want to cast a wish out over the ocean.
It’s definitely worth making the trip out to see the shipwreck if you’re ever on the island.
Katie says
Ooh, that looks so interesting! I didn’t know this existed – what a strange sight to see eh? Looks beautiful.
Amy Lord says
Definitely worth the visit!
Claus Donau says
The story behind is interesting, too. The accident took place on September 1, 1968. The ship was on its way to Brasil, it carried oil, vinegar, vegetables – and four church bells meant for Oskar Niemeyer’s new cathedral in the new capital of Brasil. They went off and sank into deep sea. The Cabo Santa Maria belonged to Ybarra, one of the most powerful shipping companies of Spain. Even with the aid to three powerful tugboats it was impossible to drag off the ship so the freight was carried away – you still can see the bricks of the track that was built to do so. But the bells were gone, and the cathedral was inaugurated without the bells … three years later they found them in deep water.
Have a nice trip (by the way: the track is not so difficult, you even could manage it with a sedan or by bike – take a hat, its hot out there)
Amy Lord says
Thanks for sharing the story, Claus!