Travel Guide Tarrafal

Located 26 km south-west of Ribeira Brava, on the road to Cachaço and Fajã, the island's second-largest town has overtaken Vila da Ribeira Brava as the main fishing port. The construction by the Soviets of a well-sheltered harbor - one of the best anchorages in the archipelago - was decisive. The fish canneries are quite modern and the surrounding seabed is full of fish. A very active community lives from the sea, so essential that in 2015, a fishing museum was inaugurated opposite the beach. Every day, boats laden with fish moor near the warm sands to discharge the fruit of long hours spent in the waters of São Nicolau, which will serve to support the families. Part of the production is exported to Italy. After the hard work, the fishermen sleep in the shade of their boats, lined up as if on parade. In the morning, on the low walls, on the quays, on barrels, the fresh and salted fish are laid out by women helped by their children. They are left to dry in the open air until the evening, when they are stored in racks. Tarrafal de São Nicolau is also a popular spot for big-game fishing. This is where the best catches are made: swordfish, blue marlin... The sunsets over Tarrafal are renowned for being spectacular: the brightly-colored houses form a striking contrast with the black sand and the rugged backdrop, which takes on reddish hues. The nightlife is lively, with numerous restaurants, popular bars and some of the best hotels on the island.Tarrafal's beaches are beautiful and famous for their healing properties. Their black sand contains titanium and a high concentration of iodine, which heals bone-related illnesses such as rheumatism and arthritis. The best way to take advantage of these beneficial effects is to lie down in the sand, cover yourself in it and massage the painful areas. The beach with the best sand, Praia D'Francès, lies 6 km north-west of Tarrafal. These beaches can be reached by hiring cabs, sharing aluguers or walking along the partly jagged coastline. The long, arduous walks are offset by the unusual, almost lunar-like sites you'll pass through, and the chance to meet the locals and strollers. What better place to appreciate slowness and suspend time!