Holidays to Cape Verde Islands
Cape Verde Islands Holidays
Santa Maria beach, Cape Verde
Similar in climate to the Canary Islands, the Cape Verde Islands are situated midway between Portugal and Brazil, to the west of Africa. The beauty of holidays in the Cape Verde Islands is their diversity. You can enjoy wonderful tropical beaches and clear warm waters, or for the more active holiday there is fishing, scuba diving, and hiking through breathtaking mountain scenery with volcanic landscapes.
The people of the Cape Verde Islands are friendly and welcoming, and this holiday destination has a rich history and culture. Historically a colony of Portugal, the official language is Portuguese but the most frequently used spoken language is Creole.
Cape Verde Islands holidays are renowned for their year round sunshine and have virtually no rain, although it can often be windy due to their situation in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Cape Verde Islands are a relatively new, undiscovered holiday destination and therefore unspoilt.
Beach holidays in the Cape Verde Islands
An excellent beach holiday destination, Cape Verde’s white sands and clear turquoise waters are idyllic, you won’t find crowded beaches here. You’ll be transfixed by the beautiful tropical beaches that seem to stretch endlessly along the coastline. A perfect de-stress destination for your holidays where you can relax, unwind and soak up the sunshine.
Walking & Hiking holidays in Cape Verde
Jungle valley in Cape Verde
The Cape Verde Archipelago has plenty to offer those keen on walking and hiking holidays and there are walks to suit all levels of ability. Walking guides can be hired during your holiday and you should always take plenty of water with you because water is in short supply in the mountains.
On Santo Antao, experience the stunning mountain landscape views, and walk up and down the deep green valleys. Hiking up the beautiful ribeiras (dry river valleys), you can see how people live and how some of their houses cling to the steep slopes like nests.
The most challenging walk in the Cape Verde Islands is the Volcanic crater Pico de Fogo on the island of Fogo, the top of which is 2829m. The walks up and round the peaks are truly memorable.
Brava has more dramatic walks, it is the smallest inhabited island and is just 10km wide. Brava is the greenest of the Cape Verde Islands and is known as the Island of Flowers.
There are also many beautiful walks on Santiago, the largest of the Cape Verde Islands. With rocky mountains at its centre, beautiful valleys add an eye-catching contrast.
On Sao Nicolau there are spectacular walks across the arid lunar landscape. Like the other islands it is volcanic in origin, barren and dry, but there is a fertile and cultivated valley in the centre.
Watersports holidays in Cape Verde
If your dream holiday involves watersports then the Cape Verdi Islands won’t disappoint. The island of Sal is superb for windsurfing and kitesurfing, particularly during the months of late November through to June.
Scuba diving is also popular in the Cape Verde Islands with wrecks to explore, an array of marine life including rockfish, surgeonfish, spotted triggerfish, dolphins, turtles and different types of sharks, and more. The best season for diving is from June to September when visibility is optimum and there are not too many waves.
Other holiday activities in Cape Verde
Cape Verde beach
Sea Fishing in the Cape Verde Islands is exceptional with an abundance of colourful shoals of smaller fish as well as larger fish such as hammerhead and tiger sharks. You also have the opportunity to take trips with local fishermen, half or full days can be booked.
Horse riding is also available, you can book lessons or take accompanied treks.
Island tours are available on Sal, Santiago, Sao Vicente and Fogo. Highlights include: Cidade Velha, Santiago’s old capital and Pedra de Lume salt pans in Sal. Island hopping and twin centre Cape Verde Island holidays are also available.
Nightlife is mainly hotel based and normally takes the form of live music and dance. Creole is the music of the Cape Verde Islands, enjoy the sounds of Africa combined with European and Latin instruments.
Food & Drink in the Cape Verde Islands
Cape Verde mountain village
Dining in the Cape Verde Islands is a relaxed experience and if you like fish then there are plenty of inexpensive local fish delicacies to choose from. Cuisine is mainly Portuguese or Creole although the larger towns have a wider choice. The local dish is called Cachupa, it is a slow-boiled stew which includes boiled maize, herbs, beans, cassava and sweet potato. This basic version of Cachupa is known as the “poor man’s version”, the same dish with added chicken or other meat is known as the “rich man’s” Cachupa.
Wines and beers are mainly imported from Portugal although some wine is made locally in the island of Fogo. A Cape Verdean speciality is the Grogue which is a local rum produced on Santo Antao and Santiago.
Find Cape Verde Island Holidays
Holiday destination highlights: Watersports, Walking, Year-round sunshine, Beaches
Flight time from the UK to Cape Verde Islands: Approx. 5.5 hours
Bookmark the permalink.