Discover 5 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Maio (Cape Verde). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Forte de São José, Salinas of the English Port, and Monte Batalha. Also, be sure to include Calheta in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Maio (Maio).
Table of Contents
Forte de São José
Fortress in Vila do Maio, Cape Verde. Forte de São José is a fort located in the city of Porto Inglês in the southern part of Maio Island, Cape Verde. It was built by the Portuguese around 1743, in order to protect the town of Porto Inglês from pirate attacks. Today, the fort is one of the tourist attractions of the town.[1]
Salinas of the English Port
Protected site. Salinas of the English Port 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.[2]
Monte Batalha
Mountain in Cape Verde. Monte Batalha is a mountain in the island of Maio in Cape Verde. Its elevation is 294 m. It is situated 4 km southeast of Calheta and 8 km northeast of the island capital Porto Inglês.[3]
Calheta
Town in Cape Verde. Calheta is a town in the western part of the island of Maio. It is situated on the Atlantic coast, around 11 km north of the island capital Porto Inglês and 6 km north of Morro. Its population at the 2010 census was 1,156, making it the island's second most populous settlement. The settlement was mentioned as "Kalyete" in the 1747 map by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin.[4]
Morrinho
Morrinho is a settlement in the northwest of the island of Maio in Cape Verde. It is 14 km north of the island capital Porto Inglês and 4 km north of Calheta. As of the 2010 census, its population was 444. To its north are the nature reserve Terras Salgadas and the beach of Baía da Santana.[5]