Maio, Cape Verde Island

Address: Maio Island, Maio Municipality, Cape Verde

Maio is an island in the Sotavento (leeward) group of Cape Verde, administered as the Maio municipality. The island is noted for extensive sandy beaches, a low-density population and a largely rural, maritime economy.

Visitors are drawn to long undeveloped beaches, coastal birdlife and opportunities for quiet beach-based tourism, fishing and small-scale sailing. The main settlement and administrative centre is Porto Inglês (Vila do Maio), which contains the island’s harbour and most services.

Historically the island produced salt and supported small-scale agriculture and fishing; traditional livelihoods remain important alongside growing tourism. Infrastructure and visitor services are more limited than on Cape Verde’s larger islands, which contributes to a less crowded experience.

Geographically Maio lies in the central Atlantic within the Cape Verde archipelago to the west of mainland Africa and forms part of the Sotavento island chain.

• Character: Maio is one of the Sotavento (leeward) islands of Cape Verde and is known for long sandy beaches, low population density and a quieter tourism profile compared with more developed islands.
• Access: Island transport is limited compared with larger islands; maritime connections and occasional inter-island flights link Maio to other Cape Verde islands, with services that vary by season.

What to See#

• Porto Inglês (Vila do Maio): Porto Inglês (also called Vila do Maio) is the island’s main town and harbour, where ferry services and local administration are based.
• Salt pans: Coastal salt pans and saline flats on Maio reflect the island’s historical salt production, visible at scattered locations along the shore.

• Check ferry and flight timetables before travelling to Maio - services are infrequent and schedules change seasonally, so plan connections and accommodation around confirmed departure times.
• Visit early in the day to reach remote beaches and birding spots before fishing boats and local traffic increase; many visitors concentrate on the main town and miss quieter bays and salt flat areas inland.
• Contact local guides for turtle‑watching or fishing excursions during season - guided visits are the best way to see nesting sea turtles and the island's characteristic lagoons while following conservation rules.