Cape Verde

Discover The Cape Verde Islands
One Week From Just £615pp

The archipelago of presents the nearest tropical islands to the . Climatically they are a marine extension of the Sahara, and benefit from a dry, moderate climate throughout the year with generally very little rainfall although it can vary according to the island and altitude. At the coast it rains on average only 22 days a year in contrast to nearly 3000 hours of sunshine (average 8 hours per day). There is a pleasant, almost permanent breeze. It can rain more often in the green and mountainous islands.

is a cocktail of what you may find in other destinations. The magnificent beaches often with lush interiors and the Creole people are reminiscent of the . Islands such as Sal and Sao Vicente have a barren landscape and climate similar to the Canary Islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. In the verdant highlands of Santiago and Santo Antao you could quite easily be in ’s Rift Valley. Some of the coastal areas and fishing villages recall The Gambia. The awesome volcanic island of Fogo rises from the sea like Stromboli. The overall impression is of a fascinating and unspoiled holiday destination with each island different to its neighbour.

Although tourism to the islands is developing, it remains in its infancy and many aspects are unsophisticated compared to more established and well-known resorts. will appeal to those wishing to experience a vibrant way of life, fascinating people, fabulous beaches, sunshine, some island hopping and a sense of adventure.

LOCATION The islands lie 385 miles from and 800 miles south of the Canaries. They are on the same latitude as and there are regular flights to . As they are just one hour behind time there is no jet lag.

BEACHES The beaches are superb with long stretches of fine white sand. The most popular are on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista, whilst Santiago and São Vicente have fine but little visited beaches.

FOOD & WINE You can find restaurants to suit most tastes in the more popular areas. Freshly caught fish is always on the menu cooked to local recipes, with relatively inexpensive swordfish, tuna and lobster widely found. Bananas, papaya and other fruit including strawberries are readily available. Most meat is imported from and .
The wines come mainly from , although there is quite a good white and rosé from the island of Fogo, and there are local beers and firewater as well as rum-based grogue! Fogo also produces fine coffee and cheese.

ACTIVITIES Island hopping, trekking, horseriding, diving and watersports are popular activities.
comprises two distinctly different types of islands. Seven of the more westerly islands are characterised by their mountainous landscapes, whereas the three closer to Africa (Sal, Boa Vista and Maio) are distinguished by their long sandy beaches. Island hopping between them using a combination of local ferries and inter-island flights is a popular pastime.
Trekking and rambling along the paths created by the locals introduces you to breathtaking scenery with green valleys, rocky inlets, terraced plantations and volcanic peaks. Bird watching and whale watching are also popular. The islands are a key nesting site for loggerhead turtles, and hump back whales feed in the surrounding seas. The crystal clear waters around the islands are excellent for scuba diving and deep sea fishing.

SHOPPING Interestingly many shops are now run by the Chinese! There is a good curio and ceramic shop on Santiago and local foods and liquor are popular purchases.

ENTERTAINMENT Some of the larger hotels provide international style entertainment. However local entertainment will be more interesting for most, especially on Sal where there is a choice of clubs, bars and restaurants. The locals thrive on music and dancing and a band will strike up anywhere for an impromptu beach or street party. Salsa and Samba mixed with tribal African dance are de rigueur.
Cape Verdeans love festivals, the most splendid being the annual Mardi Gras, but each island indulges in at least two additional fiestas each year.

GETTING AROUND There are international airports on Sal and Santiago with new ones due to open this year on Boa Vista and São Vicente. Travel within the islands is by daily inter-island flights or by ferry. An inexpensive air pass with up to ten flight coupons is ideal for adventurous island hoppers. Travelling around the islands by aluguers, locally run minibuses, is a great way to get to know the locals.
Car hire is available on most islands. Most roads are challenging and are often of local stone or rough tracks.