THE ISLANDS

Sal

Sal is the most developed of all the Cape Verde Islands in terms of tourism. In the north of the island you will find a salt lake in an extinct volcano crater, an impressive sight. Sal is understandably a popular choice, with the widest range of accommodation and international flights as well as access to most of the other islands. Despite its dry barren landscape, the tropical beaches more than make up for it with crystal clear waters and white sand.



Santiago

The largest island in the archipelago islands, the firstisland to be populated, Santiago has a rich and interesting history. Slave ships from the West african coast would stop here before continuing their journey to the Americas. Predominantly a green and mountainous island, Santiago has lush valleys as well as beautiful beaches. In addition Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, is renowned for its music and has a colourful, bustling African market. A visit to Santiago wouldn’t be complete without time exploring Cidade Velha, the old capital of the islands and Forte Real de Sao Filipe, the main slave trading point between Europe, Africa and America. Santiago is rich in history and culture and known for its lively nightlife.



São Vicente

São Vicente is home to some of Cape Verde’s greatest musicians, writers and thinkers including Cesaria Evora a famous Cape Verdean singer known as the barefoot diva. Generally considered the cultural hub of the island, Mindelo is proud of its rich tradition of music and art and has a vibrant nightlife with a lively buzz of music throughout the pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. If you’re looking for culture and a traditional experience then São Vicente will not disappoint. Windsurfing and body boarding are popular as some of the best surf on the archipelago is found here. Mindelo is full of architectural delights that reflect the early British influences and monuments that date back to colonial times and is well worth a visit. Alternatively the beach at the Foya Branca Hotel is definitely the best on the island with crystal clear waters and shimmering white sands. A free shuttle bus takes visitors on the 15 minute journey to and from Foya Branca to Mindelo so visitors have the best of both the beach and the nightlife. Beaches on São Vicente are not always the most aesthetically pleasing in comparison with other islands but are a real treat for windsurfers. São Pedro is arguably one the worlds finest for speed windsurfing. In fact, in 1997 Sandy Beach at Calhau was included in the European professional circuit. Baia das Gatas in the north of the island which can be reached by four wheel drive is great for swimming because of the natural lagoon. Many visitors to São Vicente choose to visit Santo Antão, the greenest island in the archipelago. An hour long ferry crossing will take you to this beautiful island with rugged mountains and green valleys, a popular choice for hikers.



Boa Vista

Boa Vista is home to some of the most dazzling beaches on the archipelago covering a staggering 55km. Closest to the African mainland, Boa Vista is not only renowned for its stunning beaches but its marine life too. Nightlife here is very low key and quiet with just a scattering of local restaurants and bars. Dazzling beaches, rich marine life and mysterious dunes make this island a popular choice. Boa Vista is a diver’s paradise with many wrecks to explore as well as being an excellent centre for windsurfing and fishing. The beaches here will take your breath away as they stretch as far as the eye can see and if you are lucky you may see turtles nesting. The island is perfect for relaxing on the white sandy beaches and enjoying the tranquil atmosphere.



Santo Antão

Santo Antão is the greenest island with verdant valleys, rugged mountains and spectacular contrasting scenery. The drive from Porto Novo over the mountain range to Ribeira Grande is dramatic with landscapes quickly changing from bare and arid to mountains offering rewarding views of the valleys. The hour-long ferry crossing from São Vicente is a pleasant experience when calm but can vary depending on the weather. Santo Antao is truly stunning and spectaclar. A huge maintain range exceeding 1500m splits the island in two. In the valleys it is very fertile but around the coast it is baron and rugged There are some flights available to the island but these are not very frequent. The most popular way of reaching the island is by taking a 1 hour ferry ride from Mindelo on the neighbouring island of Sao Vicente. The island provides excellent hiking.



Maio

Located 25 km to the east of Santiago, the terrain is similar to that found on Sal and Boa Vista although parts of the island have now been re-forested. There are some magnificent beaches. Maio provides a landscape of vast empty beaches. Although it was created by a volcano little evidence of it's volcanic past remains today. It is a very flat island unlike the other more mountainous island. It has a vast array of beautiful white-sanded beaches The small town of Vala Do Maio is the capital and main port of Maio. It is situated on by one of the longest beaches of the Islands. Too many to mention. Pretty much the whole coastline has beautiful white-sanded beaches A visit to the small town of Morro is recommended. To properly see this island it is necessary to get your own transportation. It is recommended to get a jeep or 4x4 so that you can go off-road and explore the coastline. The island attracts Bird watches as it has a large population of indigenous bird life.



Fogo

The Pico de Fogo volcano rises over 1700 metres from the Chã das Caldeiras, an area formed from old lava flows. The scenery is impressive: dark rocks and black sands give an impression of a lunar landscape.



Brava

This tiny island, known for its rich assortment of flora and fauna is often referred to as the ‘island of flowers’. Boasting mountainous scenery and deep gorges, it can be reached by ferry from Fogo.

São Nicolau

Tourism is in its infancy here so still retains a genuine unspoilt feel with stunning scenery. São Nicolau is excellent for walking and popular with birdwatchers; it is home to the endangered fairytale dragon tree. Ribeira Brava, the capital is small and clings to the fertile slopes of the mountainside. Sao Nicolau offers breathtaking rugged volanic landscapes which attracts many hikers. It is a quiet island with small communities along the coastal regions. Vila de Ribeira Brava is the capital of the island. There are 2 mountain ranges (highest point 1,312m) on the island and Vila de Ribeira Brava sits in between the two. The main port is Tarrafal. The bay of Tarrafal has a large stock of fish, so much so that this has attracted tourist fishing trips trying to land a Blue Marlin. Dolphins frequent the shore here and are regularly seen by fishermen. Fishing trips are provided by local fishermen. There is extensive hiking trails in Sao Nicolau. There is a small island off the coast which can only be accessed by local fishing boat. This Island is home to a wide range of bird species including the Cape Verdean Lark. The island is of Raso is served only by local fishing boat from Tarrafal on the island of Sao Nicolau. Amongst other birds, the island is the home to the Cape Verdean Lark.



Santa Luzia

The smallest of the archipelago, Santa Luzia is dry, barren and uninhabited. The south coast has some beautiful deserted beaches.