Discovered in 1460, the island was called San Cristovào, until, after a long travel, a sailman said ''Boa Vista'', which means ''Land in sight''.

Christopher Columbus also visited the island in 1489. Until 1600, the island was populated by about 50 inhabitants in Cape Verde and, then, by a group of hunters of goats. However, when the prestigious salt of Boa vista was discovered, the commercial activities increased and the first real village of the island rose. Porto Inglés, the current Sal Rei, became the most important town in Boa vista. Because of sacks and raids by pirates, circular fortifications were built up, the pillbox of Duque de Bragança, whose ruins are very important from a cultural point of view. After this peaceful period, there was a period of decadence, characterized by starvation that affected the population in 1855.

Eventually, at the end of the century, a new period of prosperity and fruitful trade started thanks to the tourism and the Society of Development in Boa vista and Maio, set up in order to protect the beauties of the island.