The Ilhéu de Curral Velho and adjacent coast Important Bird Area lies in the southeastern part of the island of Boa Vista in the Cape Verde archipelago off the coast of north-west Africa in the Atlantic Ocean.

[2][3] The area on the main island consists of sand-dunes, a lagoon and an oasis with a vegetation dominated by palm trees, acacias and Tamarix senegalensis.

[4] The sandy beaches are important nesting sites for threatened Hawksbill and Loggerhead sea turtles.

Lizards found in the area include Chioninia stangeri and Hemidactylus bouvieri.

[4] The islet is a nesting area for the brown booby, magnificent frigatebird and Cape Verde shearwater.