The main square in Ribeira Brava 
One of many fine walks    |
Sao Nicolau Island Cape VerdeThe world's best kept secret for blue marlin fishingSao Nicolau is a volcanic island with the peak of Monte Gordo, 1304m high. Discovered on Santa Claus Day 6th December 1461. In Portuguese he is known as Sao Nicolau or in English Saint Nicholas. Only later did this day become associated with Christmas. For a long time , it remained uninhabited. Sao Nicolau was first settled at Porto da Lapa only in the I7th Century. Pirate attacks forced a move inland to Ribeira Brava, and the port switched to Preguica on Sao Jorge Bay, which has had a fortress since 1818. Sao Nicolau is one of the more fertile islands since rain does fall here in the Autumn. Oranges are grown as well as coffee high up on the slopes of Monte Gordo. Maize or sweet corn grows in the valleys. . There is enough greenery for horses and a few live contentedly in the relatively mild climate. Walking is one of the special pastimes of Sao Nicolau and there is a route that follows the main spine of the island. Ribeira BravaA town of narrow streets are lined with pretty colour-washed houses, with a fine old church and mission school in the town square. Preguica The fishing port of Preguica is on St George Bay, with a fine view of Caldeira, the extinct volcano known as the cauldron. It is a small place with a population of only a couple of thousand, Many of the native born emigrate to Sal for work.TarrafalThe main town on the beach of Sao Nicolau and also the main ferry port. The town of Tarrafal is renowned for its beach of black sand, rich in titanium and iodine, and visited by many people in search of relief from rheumatism. Nearby is the Rocha Escribida or written on rock face with some unclear inscriptions, which may be very ancient. This is the island that hardly anybody visits. You can reach it by ferry from Mindelo or Praia, usually on Wednesdays and Thursdays and sometimes from Sal on Sundays. Or you can fly from Sal, Praia or Mindelo. It is the best place to catch blue marlin in the Cape Verdes and one of the best in the entire Atlantic. The seas around the island of Sao Niciolau are rich in tuna, wahoo, blue marlin and swordfish. Fishing here can be more productive in terms of weight of fish caught per dollar spebnt than almost anywehre in the world. It also offers wonderful walks along the mountain ridges and horse rides along the mule tracks.alleys.There is a wide variety of attractive tracks in different landscape, from volcanic lave to empty beaches, green valleys and savannah. Monte Gordo is not as high as peaks on other islands but there is a network of former mule tracks criss-crossing the entire which make for easier waliojking than on Santa Antao or Fogo. |