Tarrafal
Santiago's northern beach town combining colonial-era concentration camp museum with developing alternative tourism.
Tarrafal anchors Santiago's northern tip—a municipality known for its colonial-era concentration camp and developing beach tourism. The town of Tarrafal draws visitors seeking beaches less developed than Sal or Boa Vista, creating modest tourism activity distinct from the all-inclusive model.
The Tarrafal concentration camp (Colónia Penal do Tarrafal), operational from 1936 to 1974, imprisoned opponents of the Portuguese Estado Novo dictatorship. This dark heritage site now serves as museum, attracting visitors interested in colonial history and the anti-fascist resistance.
Beach tourism provides the primary growth sector. Tarrafal's bay offers calm waters and accessible beaches for day-trippers from Praia and overnight visitors seeking alternatives to Sal's resort concentration. Investment in accommodation and services gradually expands.
The biological pattern is heritage-beach hybrid: Tarrafal combines historical significance with natural assets, creating a tourism product that differs from pure beach destinations while remaining within Cabo Verde's tourism-dependent economic structure.