Magically placed in the warm Atlantic waters off the west coast of Africa, Cape Verde is a very beautiful archipelago.
Cape Verde Islands are ranked among the world’s most beautiful and unspoiled islands. Some of the islands are desolate, while others have high mountains covered in lush vegetation.
Cape Verde holidays offer holiday goers the opportunities to explore the picturesque white sand beaches.
It’s no wonder then that so many tourists from Britain choose to go on holiday in this archipelago.
Situated in the north eastern side of the islands, Sal is Cape Verde’s main island. Sal enjoys sunshine most of the year and this, combined with the cool ocean currents, makes it a unique holiday destination.
Things to do:
1.) Surfing – Endowed with some of the world’s best waves, Cape Verde is naturally a paradise for wave surfing fanatics.
2.) Beach holidays – While in Cape Verde you get the opportunity to spoil yourself in some of the best beaches of the world including the black sand beaches of Sao Nicolau and the white sand beaches of Sal.
3.) Birding – Cape Verde is a paradise for lovers of birds as it hosts numerous rare breeds of African birds and unique swifts of Sparrows, warblers and swifts.
4.) Trekking – The archipelago offers countless opportunities for trekking, especially around the islands of Fogo and Boa Vista.
How to get there
Most international flights land on Sal, although Praia is now experiencing an increased number of arrivals.
TACV (www.tacv.cv), the national flag carrier, flies from Lisbon three or four times a week and once or twice weekly from Amsterdam, Madrid, Boston, Fortaleza, Munich, Paris and Basel. The airline flies between Praia and Dakar three or four times a week.
Cape Verde is also served by South African Airways (www.flysaa.com), Air Sénégal International (www.air-senegal-international.com) and Tap Air Portugal (www.flytap.com). South African Airways flies to Sal from Buenos Aires, New York, Atlanta and Johannesburg.
When to go:
Thanks to the excellent Cape Verde weather, there is no real best time to go to Cape Verde as the archipelago is a superb holiday destination all year round.
However, if you enjoy relaxing on the beaches then you should travel during the high season (April to September). The low season (November to March) is best if you want to tour around the island’s tourist attractions.
Where to stay:
Accommodation in Cape Verde can be found in any of the international chain hotels that are located on the main islands. Visitors can also stay at beach resorts in Sal or beach huts on the minor islands. You should book your accommodation well in advance to avoid disappointment especially during the high season.
Quick Facts About Cape Verde:
Time: GMT/UTC -1
Population: 512,600 (UN estimate 2010)
Area: 4,033 sq km (1,557 sq miles)
Telephone: Code + 263
Capital: Praia
Language: Portuguese, Crioulo
Visa: All non-Cabo Verdean citizens require a visa
Currency: Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)