Group of small islands located in the Atlantic ocean off the West coast of Africa, Cape Verde introduces you to volcanic mountain peaks, water sport facilities and sandy beaches. Cape Verde is in many ways like Canary Islands, another holiday paradise off the African coast. Yet the islands are much less burdened with mass tourism, and carry an African tradition which makes this former Portuguese colony a unique and fascinating travel destination, a pearl of the African west coast.
Nature and sports. You can start with enjoying the endless sandy beaches of the popular islands of Sal and Boa Vista, meeting the warm touch of the Cape Verde sun. From the beaches you can move on with exploring the volcanic landscapes of the islands, which are at their best on the island of Fogo, where a volcano sharing the same name reaches the sky with its 2829 meters high peak offering some interesting trails for hiking in Cape Verde. The islands offer plenty of things to enjoy also for those interested in water sports and for example golf in Cape Verde. There are several world class spots for surfing in Cape Verde, as well as good sites for diving in Cape Verde.
The main island of Cape Verde and the home of most of its inhabitants is Sao Tiago, which also includes the capital city of the islands, Praia. With only 60.000 inhabitants, the capital of Cape Verde is a lively place with no huge tourist attractions, but with some enjoyable facilities for nightlife and shopping in Cape Verde. Praia is also a home for excellent beaches, offering you a place to relax in between the city activities. The most famous event in the calendar of Praia is the carnival, which fills the streets of this coastal town with colorful parades in February and March. Facilities for shopping in Cape Verde are also available.
Getting there. Located 500 kilometers off the West Coast of Africa, Cape Verde is best reached by air, with flights to Cape Verde available from most corners of the world.
Cape Verde, African islands with volcanic nature and sandy beaches
Sunny islands with scenic landscapes and fascinating culture that is a mixture of African, Portuguese and Brazilian influences, Cape Verde has much to offer for the increasing number of visitors who come here every year. The lovely beaches and volcanic nature are the most popular places to start.Nature and sports. You can start with enjoying the endless sandy beaches of the popular islands of Sal and Boa Vista, meeting the warm touch of the Cape Verde sun. From the beaches you can move on with exploring the volcanic landscapes of the islands, which are at their best on the island of Fogo, where a volcano sharing the same name reaches the sky with its 2829 meters high peak offering some interesting trails for hiking in Cape Verde. The islands offer plenty of things to enjoy also for those interested in water sports and for example golf in Cape Verde. There are several world class spots for surfing in Cape Verde, as well as good sites for diving in Cape Verde.
The main island of Cape Verde and the home of most of its inhabitants is Sao Tiago, which also includes the capital city of the islands, Praia. With only 60.000 inhabitants, the capital of Cape Verde is a lively place with no huge tourist attractions, but with some enjoyable facilities for nightlife and shopping in Cape Verde. Praia is also a home for excellent beaches, offering you a place to relax in between the city activities. The most famous event in the calendar of Praia is the carnival, which fills the streets of this coastal town with colorful parades in February and March. Facilities for shopping in Cape Verde are also available.
Practical information for your trip to Cape Verde
Weather in Cape Verde is warm, with average monthly high temperatures rising to 25-30°C all through the year, and with average monthly low temperatures rarely dropping below 20°C. The wettest time of the year in Cape Verde is from August to October. The islands are a year-round destination, but if you want to get most of the sun, come between November and July.Getting there. Located 500 kilometers off the West Coast of Africa, Cape Verde is best reached by air, with flights to Cape Verde available from most corners of the world.
Photo: Yxo, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
In addition to airways, you can also reach the islands by ferry from African mainland. For moving around inside the islands there are some minibuses and taxis available, and rental cars in Cape Verde can be found in resort areas. There are ferries and domestic flights available for travelling between the islands.
Tourism services. Cape Verde is an increasingly popular travel destination with plenty of hotels in Cape Verde available as well as enjoyable experiences with food and restaurants in Cape Verde. The nightlife of the islands is concentrated in the main resort areas, which have plenty of bars and nightclubs available. Also of interest, the local music scene is quite rich with traditional folk music and dancing performances. Shopping in Cape Verde offers nothing extraordinary, but you can surely find your portion of tourist items and souvenirs from these African holiday islands.
Safety. Cape Verde is a quite safe travel destination, where you can enjoy your stay in friendly atmosphere created by hospitable people. English is spoken in Cape Verde mainly by people who work in tourism industry. Learning some phrases of Portuguese will help you in exploring the country beyond the resort areas.
