Regions of Cape Verde

The Beauty of Diversity

Cape Verde is made up of 10 volcanic islands and the majority of visitors tend to spend their stay on one island only, unaware of the treasures surrounding them.

Although Sal is currently best served by international flights, direct flights to Boa Vista are to start in July. Nonetheless, each island has its own unique appeal and an opportunity to go island hopping shouldn’t be passed up.

Barlaventos (northern island group)

Sal

Sal is the most developed of the Cape Verde islands and is a major tourist destination, the preferred choice of many visitors to Cape Verde, mainly because of its wide range of accommodation, direct flights and access to other islands. The landscape may not be especially verdant but its beautiful beaches and lovely town of Santa Maria more than satisfy. Watersports enthusiasts will be in their element here as the marine life around Sal is outstanding, the warm tropical seas populated with countless species, including dolphins, turtles and colourful tropical fish. The island is also considered to be in the world’s top 5 windsurfing locations. The expansive, powdery beaches are perfect for taking along sandy walks.

The flattest island of the archipelago, Sal takes its name from the now inactive Pedro Lume salt mines – make sure you visit the salt lake in an extinct volcano crater in the north of the island. Sal is probably the most cosmopolitan of the Cape Verde islands, enjoying a bustling music scene and offering the visitor a good range of restaurants and clubs and shops, especially in pretty Santa Maria, situated 18km from the airport.

Next to the airport is the town of Espargos which is the administrative centre of the island, offering shops, bars and restaurants.

The choice of accommodation on Sal is diverse and car, jeep and beach buggy hire is available as are taxis.

Boa Vista

Boa Vista is the closest island to the African coast and, as such, offers sunworshippers one of the world’s most stunning places to just lie around a do nothing. Powdery white sand and turquoise sea makes this a pure paradise. Popular with windsurfers and fishing enthusiasts, the beach at Santa Monica (Curralinho) is the island’s main draw, and there are many fantastic wreck sites hidden in the depths of the reef-ringed island for scubadivers to explore. There is little to do if you’re not a fan of watersports, other than guided walks. Boa Vista’s mysterious sand dunes have been likened to those of the Sahara and are an impressive sight. Nature runs wild here and you may even spot some turtles. In contrast, Boa Vista’s interior is a volcanic lunar expanse punctuated by the surprising extremes of palm filled oasis. A trek through this wilderness is recommended. Visitors stay in peaceful Sal Rei but accommodation is limited. Car hire is available, or you can take advantage of a local aluguer (taxi).

Santo Antao

An hour’s ferry ride from Sao Vicente is Santo Antao, Cape Verde’s greenest, most spectacular island. Popular with hikers, m any of the island’s deep flat-bottomed valleys are the craters of extinct volcanoes, long overgrown by trees and tropical vegetation. The Ribeira Grande Mountain takes a day to climb but is definitely worth the effort. The infamous Cape Verdean rum or grog is produced on Santo Antao – don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Sao Vicente

Battling with Sal for the title of most cosmopolitan island, Sao Vicente is home to its capital Mindelo, a real cultural centre and home to many of Cape Verde’s finest artists and musicians, including the world renowned singer Cesaria Evora. British influence is evident here and combines well with Mindelo’s acknowledged architectural beauty. Historically, Mindelo’s port was important as a coaling station for transatlantic steamers refueling with Welsh-mined coal and the island has been a major global link as a vital telegraph station. The driest of the islands, and enjoying some of the best surf in the archipelago, Sao Vicente has spectacular beaches. Baia das Gatas is the safest beach with its own natural swimming pool, formed by a natural lagoon, and the beach, in the north of the island, can be reached by 4x4. Sao Pedro is recognized as one of the finest places in the world for speed wind surfing. The beach at the Foya Branca Hotel is definitely the best on the island with crystal clear waters and shimmering white sands.

Santa Luzia

The smallest of the Cape Verde islands, Santa Luzia is dry, barren and uninhabited. The only way to get there is from Sao Vicente.

Sao Nicolau

Tourism has yet to come and disrupt the harmony of the stunning island of Sao Nicolau and as such, indigenous flora and fauna abound amongst the fertile slopes, making this a popular choice for hikers and birdwatching fans. Home to the wondrously-named endangered fairytale dragon tree.

Sotaventos (southern island group)

Maio

A flat island of white, sandy beaches, Maio is the land that time forgot, its magnificent beaches deserted, its gracious capital Vila Do Maio sleepy. Located 25 km to the east of Santiago, the landscape is similar to those of Sal and Boa Vista, the island’s wondrous dunes making for the best walks. Around 3 miles from Vila do Maio is the small town of Morro, with its one main street, surrounded by coconut palms. Jeep hire is recommended for exploration of this incredibly peaceful island, home to some 6,000 people, known for their friendliness.

Santiago

Santiago is the largest of the Cape Verde islands and home to the country’s distinctly African capital, Praia. It is also the longest populated and thought to be the oldest, its past inextricably linked to its slavery past, giving it a rich and interesting history. Captain Cook, Sir Francis Drake and Vasco de Gama all docked here on their voyages of discovery and slave ships from the West African coast would stop here on their way to the Americas with their loads of manpower. The most African of all the islands, Santiago is bustling, noisy and well known for its stunning fertile scenery and colourful African market in Praia as much as for its music scene. Santiago’s diverse landscapes include green mountains ( Pico d’Antonia is 1392m high) , lush valleys and beautiful beaches and hiking is very popular here.

No visit to Santiago would be complete without a trip to the grand cathedral and fort of the old Portuguese capital of Cidade Velha, about 10kms from Praia, whose fortunes were built on the slave trade between African and Europeans. There are excellent botanical gardens and the pretty fishing village of Tarrafal, situated on a hillside a few metres above sea level on the north coast, is well worth a visit.

Fogo

Fogo takes its name from the Creole word for fire and is a dramatic island of opposites, its incredible Pico de Fogo active volcano dominating the island. Fogo is the hottest of the Cape Verde islands and its scenery is lunar, with dark rocks and black sands; white ocean frothing over black sand is quite a sight. The interior of the island is even more extreme, fertile and lush scenery making way for the grey cone of the volcano. A visit to the volcano is a must but you should be in good physical shape as the ascent of 1,200m takes approximately 5 hours. Horseback tours are available. Visit the actual point of the 1995 eruption and feel the heat still emanating from the crater, 500m in diameter and 180m deep. Incredibly, people live in this unpredictable landscape, farming and producing wine. The surrounding areas are lush with banana and orange plantations.

Sao Filipe, Fogo’s capital is a pretty pastel town, built on a cliff, and its architecture reflects its colonial past. Its grandeur may be faded but nonetheless it remains a gracious town with pretty squares, classic colonial homes and wide avenues. To the north of Sao Filipe is Salina de Sao Jorge with its naturally formed swimming pool protected by black reefs.

Brava

Brava is a tiny island of mountainous scenery which can be reached by ferry from Fogo. Its rich diversity of flora and fauna gives Brava it name of the 'island of flowers'.