Welcome to the exotic Cape Verde Islands floating in the wilds of the Atlantic Ocean! With long, bone-white sand beaches, magnificent mountain ranges, lush interior with breathtakingly beautiful scenery, a unique blend of African, Portuguese and Creole cultures, old colonial buildings, crystal clear warm sea with cool breezes offering good conditions for water sports, including great scuba diving, surfing, kite surfing and marlin fishing, Cape Verde Islands are an ideal destination to spend a vacation you will remember forever. Holidays in Cape Verde are something special and more than adventurous as each island is dramatically different with its own appeal offering tropical greenery and desert-like landscapes with still soaring volcanoes. The island experiences wonderful weather all year round and there is no 'the best' time to visit the islands.
Officially known as the Republic of Cape Verde (República de Cabo Verde in Portuguese), the island country of Cape Verde is an archipelago of volcanic origin, comprising ten islands and five islets divided into the Windward (Barlavento) group with Santo Antao, Sao Vicente, Sao Nicolao, Boa Vista, Sal, Santa Luzia, Branco and Razo, and the Leeward (Sotavento) group with Maio, Santiago, Fogo and Brava. Located in the Atlantic Ocean, some 350 miles off the northwest coast of Africa the island has a total surface area of approximately 4.000 sq km. The highest peak is Pico do Cano, an active volcano, situated on Fogo. The island was discovered by the Portuguese in 1456.
With a surface of 991 sq km, Santiago is the largest island of the archipelago boasting predominantly green and mountainous interior perfect for hiking and palm-fringed white sandy beaches, where you can relax and sunbathe. For travelers short on time, a circular tour can be completed in just a day. Santiago has it all, offering something for everyone.
The northernmost Santo Antão is the second largest island featuring rugged peaks and deep verdant valleys, lush forests and endemic brush vegetation. Known as the 'Island of the Mountains' the island offers fine hiking opportunities and spectacular drives along coastal roads promising stunning views. The highest point is Tope de Coroa at 1,979 meters. In Santo Antão do not miss out to visit the village of Fontainhas, perched on the edge of a rock above a deep Ribera with unique houses lining the street.
Boa Vista is the third largest island with an area of 620 sq km, known as the Island of Dunes and Beaches. This desert island is home to miles of sand dunes, with one or two oases. It is the largest centre of reproduction for eastern Atlantic Caretta turtle and the resting place for the sole colony of the Rabil bird. Here you will also find a variety of accommodation options, from self-catering apartments to all-inclusive luxury hotels.
Built on cliffs overlooking a bay, Praia, formerly Praia de Santa Maria, is the capital city of Cape Verde, a very relaxed city with a population of about 105,000 inhabitants. Though Praia lacks many sightseeing opportunities, instead it boasts incredible nightlife and several pretty good beaches. Other attractions include Cidade Velha (the old city of Praia), ruins and old buildings, as well as the attractive fishing village of Tarrafal featuring one of the island's best beaches. The colorful local fruit and vegetable market as well as the fish market are also worth to pay a visit.
Activities in Cape Verde
Cape Verde holidays are an excellent choice for those in search of a stress free, relaxing and tranquil island holiday experience away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and untouched by mass tourism. For many travelers Cape Verde is a real Paradise on Earth, offering an affluent mix of holiday experiences and a wealth of 'to see' and 'to do' things to suit any taste and need from boat trips between the islands, to bird watching- a popular pastime on the island, to trekking in the best and most beautiful sites. You can also take a dip in the ocean's hospitable and warm water, walk along the bone-white sandy beaches, or else simply relax and enjoy exceptional music in the city of Mindelo. The choice is yours.If it's vibrant nightlife you're looking for head to the picturesque island of Sal, where the lively atmosphere of hip bars and restaurants and hot nightclubs will keep you entertained at all hours. If you plan your holidays in Boa Vista, you shouldn't miss out Morro Negro, the site or the name given to the region of Boa Vista featuring a light house on top of a huge rocky hill with wondrous and unrivalled views of the whole East Coast of the island.
Santo Antão, an island bursting with jagged peaks and deep ribieras (valleys) providing a majestic terrain is a hiker's paradise. The road journey from Porto Novo to Ribiera Grande is, perhaps, one of the greatest road journeys on the globe, offering mesmerizing and fantastic views of the surroundings. Those who are fascinated by spectacular volcanic landscapes can choose Isla de Fogo (Fire Island) as a holiday getaway, where the still active volcano dominates a landscape of black sand beaches and ancient volcanic lava flows.
Cape Vedre holidays are very popular with surfers and windsurfer due to the trade winds that create ideal surfing conditions. Ponta Preta on the south west of Sal is a perfect spot, offering one of the world's greatest breaks, during the winter season. Diving and fishing holidays are also popular in Cape Verde. Much of Cape Verde presents an underwater world of massive rock formations, caves, canynons, and ledges and in many areas marine life is plentiful, creating a haven for scuba divers. For the game fishing enthusiast Ilha do Sal has a world class wahoo fishery. The best fishing season is between July and October.
Cape Verde Hotels and Resorts
Accommodation options in Cape Verde range from motels, budget hotels and holiday apartments to five-star luxury resorts, providing a wide range of modern amenities and facilities and everything beyond imagination so that you can enjoy a wonderful and comfortable stay.With beautiful turquoise waters and sandy beaches, the popular friendly and family-run Hotel Morabeza is a hallmark and landmark ideally located on Santa Maria Beach on the island of Sal, close to Praia de Santa Maria, the capital city of Cape Verde. Originally the hotel has been home to a Belgian family, and now it is one of the most enticing hotels in Cape Verde that has attracted travelers from all over the globe. The Hotel features 90 well-appointed rooms and suites, all with private balconies and terraces overlooking the sea or the gardens, and comfortably equipped with marble bathrooms, satellite TV, mini-fridge, air-conditioning, wireless connection, ceiling fan and electronic safe.
The hotel futures 2 outdoor swimming pools with sun beds and umbrellas by the pool, 3 à la carte restaurants (1 on the terrace, 1 on the roof and 1 on the beach, offering international cuisine), a nightclub, lounge, 3 bars and a snack bar and themed evening buffet once a week. At this stunning hotel visitors will find perfect conditions for a variety of land and water sports, including archery, scuba diving, fishing near hotel, windsurfing and kite surfing, volleyball, fully-equipped gym, mini-golf and 2 tennis courts. The Morbaleza, a local word for hospitality, is the longest established hotel on Sal.
Situated in the picturesque island of Sao Vicente, close to the long sandy beach at Sao Pedro, Foya Branca Resort Hotel is a four-star hotel boasting 16 suites, 52 guestrooms and 6 self-catering villas which are spacious and comfortable, all featuring a balcony that looks out onto the sea, in-room safe, air-conditioning, mini bar, satellite TV, telephone and hairdryer. Hotel facilities include three elegantly designed swimming pools, of which two are for adults and one for children, fully equipped gym and a fitness centre, tennis court, playground, a poolside bar, restaurant, solarium, breakfast room, a snack bar and car parking facility. The recreational activities offered by or arranged through the hotel range from windsurfing, body-boarding, fishing for tuna with local boasts and diving to horse riding, tennis, riding and cycling on private tracks, various excursions and daily tours. Stay in this wonderful getaway and enjoy your holidays to the fullest.
Other hotels worth a visit include Oasis Atlantico Porto Grande, boasting excellent facilities, spacious accommodations, add to this world-class dining and top notching service, Mindel Hotel, one of the most modern hotels on the Sao Vicente Island, offering utmost services and amenities, the five-star Italian owned and managed Crioula Hotel Santa Maria Sal Island, featuring 242 rooms, as well as sport activities and divertimento, including equipped arena, solarium and inner beach, great swimming pool and much more.