Hotel Riu Palace Boavista Review | Boa Vista All-Inclusive
Hotel Riu Palace Boavista, Cape Verde — The Complete Resort Review
Resort Overview & Vibe
The Hotel Riu Palace Boavista is one of the standout 5-star addresses on the island of Boa Vista, and it runs on RIU's signature 24-hour all-inclusive basis — food, drinks and snacks are available around the clock, not just at set mealtimes. Opened in late 2018 after a reported €70 million investment, it was RIU's fifth hotel in Cape Verde and its third on Boa Vista, arriving a full decade after the chain first landed on the island with the Riu Karamboa.
What gives the Palace its particular character is the balance it strikes. This is a genuinely family-friendly resort, with a kids' club, a children's pool and spacious two-bedroom family rooms — yet it also carves out adults-only sanctuaries, most notably its exclusive swim-up villas. The design leans into modern, understated elegance: clean lines, blue and earth tones, and a low-rise, flat layout spread across landscaped tropical gardens. That single-level sprawl makes it unusually easy to get around, which guests with mobility considerations tend to appreciate. The property has also earned Gold certification under the Travelife Sustainability System, a point worth noting if responsible travel matters to you.
In short: polished and spacious enough to feel like a treat, but relaxed and well-equipped enough to suit families and couples alike.
Location & The Beach
The Riu Palace Boavista sits directly on Praia das Dunas, a long, fine, white-sand beach on the eastern side of the island that runs for roughly four kilometres. Few resorts anywhere can match its convenience: it is located just 1.5 km from Aristides Pereira International Airport, making the transfer one of the shortest you will encounter on an all-inclusive holiday — handy if you are travelling with tired children. The island's main town, Sal Rei, is about 8 km away if you fancy a trip beyond the resort gates.
One honest caveat. The Atlantic here is beautiful but lively. Boa Vista is known for its wind — a magnet for kitesurfers and windsurfers — and the ocean off Praia das Dunas can have strong currents. Swimming is best done with awareness of conditions and flags, and many guests happily spend their pool time in the resort's calmer waters while saving the beach for long walks and sunsets.
Rooms & The Exclusive Swim-Up Villas
The resort has 505 rooms, all kitted out with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a safe, a satellite TV, a regularly restocked minibar and RIU's signature in-room liquor dispensers, plus a private balcony or terrace.
Double & Family Rooms. Standard double rooms are contemporary and comfortable at around 28 sqm, with a king-size bed or two twins and a small sofa in the living area. If you are travelling as a group or a larger family, the Family Rooms are the ones to book: roughly 47 sqm with two separate bedrooms, a sofa bed, a bathroom and an additional powder room — a genuinely practical layout when you need a bit of breathing space.
Adults-Only Swim-Up Rooms. This is one of the Palace's headline features. The swim-up double rooms are reserved strictly for guests over 18 and are distributed across garden villas spread through the grounds. Each opens straight from its terrace onto a small private pool, so you can slip into the water without ever leaving your room. It is a quietly luxurious touch and one of the main reasons couples choose the Palace over more standard all-inclusives. Because demand is high and the inventory sits within a limited number of villas, these are worth booking early.
Pools, Splash Water World & Kids' Facilities
The Pools. The outdoor area is built around three main pools (some heated in the cooler winter months), complete with in-water sun loungers for that drink-in-hand, feet-submerged kind of afternoon. Two swim-up bars, Grogue and Pontchi, sit right in the water so you never have to dry off for a refill.
Family Fun. Parents are well looked after. There is a dedicated baby and children's pool, the supervised RiuLand kids' club, and an outdoor playground to burn off energy. The big bonus for families, though, sits next door: guests have access to Splash Water World, the waterpark shared with the neighbouring Riu Karamboa, where older kids and adventurous adults can throw themselves down the slides. It turns a relaxing beach holiday into something the whole family can get excited about.
Food & Drink: 24-Hour All-Inclusive Dining
Dining is where the 24-hour format really earns its keep, and the variety is broad.
Africa (Main Restaurant). The expansive international buffet is the heart of the operation, with live show-cooking stations — fish or meat prepared in front of you — and rotating themed evenings. Breakfast here is consistently praised by guests.
À La Carte Specialty Restaurants. For something more occasion-worthy, the Palace offers a set of themed venues: Krystal for fusion cuisine, Mitsuki for Japanese, and Sal Rei, a poolside spot that transforms into a steakhouse in the evenings. It is worth setting expectations honestly here — some seasoned RIU guests rate the à la carte restaurants as good rather than exceptional compared with the chain's flagships elsewhere — but the choice and the convenience of having them all on one site is a real plus.
Bars & Cafés. Six bars are scattered across the resort, including a 24-hour Sports Bar so there is always somewhere serving. Don't miss the Capuchino patisserie for coffee and fresh pastries through the day, the elegant Kizomba lounge bar, and the lively Muscat lobby bar for an evening drink before the entertainment kicks off.
Entertainment, Renova Spa & The "RIU Party"
There is plenty to fill the day, whether you want to keep moving or barely move at all.
Renova Spa & Wellness. The tranquil Renova Spa offers a full menu of massages and treatments, alongside a steam bath and whirlpool. There is also a free gym. Note that the spa's adults-focused wellness areas are restricted to guests aged 18 and over, keeping them calm and grown-up.
Daytime Activities. RIU's structured programmes run throughout the day: RiuFit group sessions such as aqua gym, beach volleyball, kayaking, and the RiuArt creative workshop for those who fancy something more hands-on. The constant wind also makes the beach a natural draw for watersports.
Nightlife. Evenings bring live music and shows on the resort's stage. The headline perk, though, is what's available next door: Palace guests get free entry to the Pacha discotheque and to the famous RIU Party (also billed as the Riu Get Together Party) events hosted at the sister hotel, Riu Karamboa. It is the best of both worlds — a relaxed, family-suitable home base with a high-energy party scene a two-minute walk away whenever you want it.
The Showdown: Riu Palace Boavista vs. Riu Karamboa
The two RIU hotels sit side by side on Praia das Dunas and share several facilities, so the obvious question is which one to book. Here is how they differ.
Riu Palace Boavista is the premium, family-friendly option. It welcomes children with the RiuLand kids' club, a children's pool and family rooms, while still offering grown-ups their own escape through the adults-only swim-up villas. Choose it if you are travelling with kids, or if you want a more refined, mixed-crowd atmosphere with the option of adult-only privacy.
Riu Karamboa is the high-energy sibling. Fully renovated and reopened in 2022 as a 100% adults-only resort, it is known for its striking domed architecture, around 921 rooms, five pools, and a lively party atmosphere. Choose it if you are a couple or group of friends after a buzzier, child-free holiday.
The clever part: because the two hotels share Splash Water World, the Pacha discotheque and the RIU Party, staying at the Palace doesn't mean missing out on Karamboa's best attractions — you simply return each evening to a quieter, more family-suited base.
FAQs
Is Riu Palace Boavista good for families? Yes — it is very family-friendly. It offers the supervised RiuLand kids' club, a dedicated children's pool, a playground, spacious two-bedroom family rooms, and access to the Splash Water World waterpark next door.
Does Riu Palace Boavista have a waterpark? Not on its own grounds, but guests have full access to Splash Water World, the waterpark shared with the neighbouring Riu Karamboa — slides and all.
Are there swim-up rooms at Riu Palace Boavista? Yes. The swim-up double rooms each have a small private pool accessed directly from the terrace. They are located in exclusive garden villas and are reserved strictly for adults aged 18 and over.
How far is Riu Palace Boavista from the airport? It is exceptionally close — just 1.5 km from Aristides Pereira International Airport, so the transfer takes only a few minutes.
Can Riu Palace Boavista guests use Riu Karamboa? Guests can access the facilities the two hotels share, including the Splash Water World waterpark, the Pacha discotheque and the RIU Party events held at Karamboa. (Karamboa's rooms and adults-only pool areas remain for its own guests.)
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Related reading: Riu Karamboa Review · The Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Boa Vista · Tipping & Money at Cape Verde Resorts · Sal vs Boa Vista for an All-Inclusive Holiday