Vila do Maio, also known as Porto Inglês, is the main town on Maio, a cluster of low houses on the south-west coast. English ships once loaded salt here, and the old salt pans still spread beside the town. The small Forte de São José, with a lighthouse beside it, guards the harbour. Beyond the town, a handful of villages are scattered across a dry, open island of low hills, with Monte Penoso rising to 436 metres. Long, empty sandy beaches run around much of the coast.
Beaches and nesting turtles
Bitxe Rotxa, right beside Vila do Maio, is the easiest place to swim, and Calheta, a little north on the west coast, is sheltered from the wind and good for snorkelling on calm days. Maio's quieter beaches are an important nesting ground for loggerhead turtles. From about June to October, with a peak in August, females come ashore at night to lay their eggs, and you can watch only on guided walks with trained local monitors. Energetic walkers can hike up Monte Penoso for wide views over the island.
Booking on adventuro
Short flights and ferries from Praia both arrive at Vila do Maio, so the town makes an easy base. For the far beaches, take a jeep tour with a local guide. Use the Book here tab to see live dates for turtle walks and beach trips on Maio.
