The lesser-visited African island that’s never below 20C, has Maldives-like beaches and direct TUI flights

“ARMS out like a bird,” I’m yelled at just moments before taking off down a huge sand dune on nothing but an oversized board.

Thankfully the mound wasn’t as steep as it seemed, and I skidded to an ungraceful halt just moments later.

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The only downside was the amount of sand now in my shoes.

Perhaps this is to be expected while on the Cape Verde island of Boa Vista, known for its desert-like landscape.

The islands in the Atlantic Ocean, just 350 miles off the west coast of Africa, celebrate 50 years of independence this year and I’m exploring Boa Vista, the lesser-developed island often overlooked in favour of its busier sister, Sal.

Tour giant TUI has just added extra flights from the East Midlands to the island, starting next weekend, in addition to its flights from Gatwick.

My guide Paolo gave me a brief insight into the history of the island, colonised by the Portuguese until 1975.

We learn of morna music — created by the indigenous population when they were enslaved by both African nations and Portugal — slow, danceable rhythms with tales of love and longing for the homeland.

And one can understand their longing to return when you discover Boa Vista’s blissfully quiet beaches.

Santa Monica, on the southeast of the island, is the finest in Cape Verde and often named as one of the best in the world by Tripadvisor.

Despite the abandoned apartment complex overlooking the beach (left half-finished for decades), the rest of the beach is almost as idyllic as any in the Maldives.

I was the only person there, sinking my toes into the soft golden sand, so powdery it almost felt like flour.

And the bright blue sea within the curved basin of the beach was (just) warm enough for a dip before a drink at the simple beach bar behind.

My other favourite beach was Praia Carlota, where you can lose the days in the hippy Morabeza beach hut, chilling out while enjoying fried fish and local Strela beer and admiring the soaring kite-surfers braving the winds that whip across the waters.

Expect a bumpy journey getting there — many of the island’s roads are secluded dirt tracks, dubbed a “free massage” by our driver.

But one of the most accessible beaches is Praia das Dunas beside the huge Riu Palace Boavista hotel, my home for the week.

One of the first to open on the island in 2018, it is also one of the highest-rated resorts in Boa Vista.

Despite having more than 500 rooms, it never felt crowded, thanks to the palm-tree-lined pathways and open spaces.

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If you want some of the good vibes then it’s the pools you will want to head to.

With three to choose from right by the beach, you won’t have to fight for space at the two swim-up bars.

My daily Aperol spritz rarely took more than a few minutes to make, before taking it to the pool seats to people-watch for the day.

But for some privacy, the hotel’s swim-up rooms are made for solo sunbathing.

While small, the pool’s glass-sided walls made me feel tucked away, apart from a few birds tweeting above me as I sheltered from the 26C heat.

The rooms themselves are huge — my massive shower had a built-in tiled seat and there was a king-size bed.

But if the sea is calling you back, then the island has you covered.

I made the most of the free snorkelling and kayaking offered at the hotel, the best place for views of the beautiful hilly landscape from the sea.

Visit between February and April and you can go on a whale-watching cruise, as it’s the humpback mating season.

We sadly failed to spot them, but were graced with a consolation turtle just as we were pulling back into the harbour.

Make sure to visit in July to sport nesting sea turtles too, with one of the world’s largest populations of loggerhead turtles.

My disappointment of missed animals was quickly drained out of me after returning to the resort for an evening of fine dining and entertainment.

Live dance shows and even some rather embarrassing karaoke were some of the highlights, even if I was disappointed to miss the weekly theme that Friday.

I whizzed down the resort’s waterslides, with the on-site water park even having a separate kids’ splash park.

If you need some downtime, my worries were smoothed out of me after a hydrating facial at the onsite spa, followed by a dip at the heated indoor pool.

And when my stomach started rumbling, I was often tempted over to the buffet restaurant with an ever-rotating menu of everything from pizza and pasta to salads and steaks.

Otherwise its speciality restaurants have special menus if you get buffet-overwhelmed.

There is Mitsuki, serving Japanese cuisine in the form of soft pork gyozas and freshly made sushi while Med-fusion Krystal served up rich mushroom ragu and a rich duck with plantain.

Otherwise for something simpler, the steakhouse restaurant near the beach serves up barbecue grill specials — let’s just say I struggled to finish my massive plate of surf and turf.

It’s only as I’m watching the sunset from the beachside restaurant that I’m reminded what Boa Vista translates to.

And with the pink sun setting over the red dunes, “beautiful view” could never be more fitting.