Explore Cape Verde

Car rental in Maio

Maio is Cape Verde's most discreet island, known for wild white-sand beaches, historic salt pans and a slow, almost timeless pace of life. The capital, Vila do Maio (Porto Inglês), is a small colonial town set on one of the country's loveliest bays, with a whitewashed church and an 18th-century fort. Beaches such as Ponta Preta, Morro and Santana stretch for kilometres with no buildings in sight — among the most pristine in the archipelago. The salt pans of Porto Inglês are still worked by hand. The island is essentially flat (highest point: Monte Penoso, 437m), making driving easy even in small cars. The main loop road around the island is paved for most of its length, with well-compacted dirt sections leading to the more remote beaches. Maio is ideal for travellers who left Sal or Boa Vista wanting something more authentic — and it is just one hour by ferry from Praia.