Visit Cape Verde: which island to choose and when to go

Ten islands scattered across the Atlantic, each with its own character: dunes and lagoons on Sal and Boa Vista, an active volcano on Fogo, dizzying trails on Santo Antão, music-filled nights in Mindelo. A Creole archipelago where beach time, hiking and encounters combine easily.

Why visit Cape Verde?

Cape Verde is an archipelago of ten volcanic islands lying about 600 km off the coast of West Africa, with a dry, sunny climate for much of the year. It combines beaches, mountain hiking and Portuguese-speaking Creole culture, with landscapes that change dramatically from one island to the next.

What to discover in Cape Verde?

Sal and Boa Vista, the flat beach islands

The two eastern islands hold most of the hotels and direct flights from Europe. Sal often comes down to the resort of Santa Maria and its long beach, very windy from November to May: ideal for kitesurfing and windsurfing, less so for young children. Boa Vista is wilder, with dunes and near-empty beaches, and hosts loggerhead turtle nesting from June to October. A week on either island is enough for a beach break; add another island if you want to see the archipelago's real mountains.

Santiago and the capital Praia

The largest island and historic heart of the country, Santiago deserves three to four days. Praia, the capital, is built around the Plateau, its old hilltop district. Some fifteen kilometres west, Cidade Velha was the first European colonial town in the tropics and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the north, about two hours by road over the mountains and the Serra Malagueta, Tarrafal offers a sheltered bay and the former political prison camp, now a museum. Santiago is also the most African of the islands, much like its mainland neighbour Senegal, which has direct flights to Praia.

Fogo and Brava, the volcano islands

Fogo is dominated by Pico do Fogo, which rises to 2,829 metres and whose last eruption, in 2014 and 2015, partly buried the villages of Chã das Caldeiras. Residents have returned and still make wine on the ash. Climbing the summit takes a full day with a local guide, starting before dawn. Allow two to three nights on the island, reached by a short flight or by ferry from Praia. Brava, the smallest inhabited island, can be added by boat from Fogo, though crossings depend on the weather.

São Vicente and Santo Antão, music and hiking

Mindelo, on São Vicente, is the country's cultural capital: morna, listed as UNESCO intangible heritage, the memory of Cesária Évora, carnival in February and the Baía das Gatas festival in August. From its port, the ferry reaches Santo Antão in about an hour. This island, with no airport in service, is a hikers' paradise: the sugar cane valleys of Paúl, the Cova crater and coastal trails to Ponta do Sol. Plan four days at least. Its mix of Portuguese-speaking islands, Creole heritage and tropical mountains recalls São Tomé and Príncipe further south.

Cities to visit in Cape Verde

Featured destinations appear first.
Coming soon.

Unmissable in Cape Verde

Six places that sum up the archipelago's diversity, from the Fogo crater to the Sal salt pans.

Pico do Fogo

An active 2,829-metre volcano and the country's highest point, climbed at dawn from Chã das Caldeiras with a local guide.

Cidade Velha

The first European colonial town in the tropics, on Santiago's south coast, with its Rua Banana, its pillory and its royal fortress.

Pedra de Lume Salt Pans

An old crater on Sal turned into salt pans, where you float effortlessly in very salty water, reached through a tunnel cut into the rock.

Viana Desert

A sea of pale dunes in the interior of Boa Vista, formed by sand carried on winds from the Sahara, explored on foot or by quad bike.

Paúl Valley

A lush valley on Santo Antão covered with sugar cane, mango and banana trees, walked down on foot from the Cova crater.

Mindelo Carnival

A major February celebration on São Vicente, with costumed parades, floats and percussion groups filling the streets for several days.

Frequently asked questions

Sal or Boa Vista: which island is best for a beach holiday?
Sal suits travellers looking for nightlife, restaurants and kitesurfing in Santa Maria. Boa Vista is quieter, with vast empty beaches, dunes and turtles in summer. Both are fairly flat: for mountains and hiking, you need to add Fogo or Santo Antão to your trip.
How do you get to Santo Antão from Mindelo?
By the ferry linking Mindelo harbour to Porto Novo in about an hour, with several departures a day. The channel can be rough, so take precautions if you suffer from seasickness. From Porto Novo, shared minibuses called aluguers run to Ribeira Grande, Paúl and Ponta do Sol.
Do you need to pay the TSA fee before arriving in Cape Verde?
Yes, you are advised to register and pay the airport security fee online on the EASE platform several days before departure. Some package holidays already include it, so check with your tour operator. Keep the confirmation, as it may be requested at arrival.
When can you see loggerhead turtles on Boa Vista?
Females come ashore to lay eggs from June to October, peaking in July and August, and hatching mostly takes place from September to November. Night outings are only run with guides approved by conservation groups, without torches or flash so as not to disorient the turtles.
Can you climb Pico do Fogo on your own?
It is not recommended. The trail starts at Chã das Caldeiras, takes around three to four hours to climb over loose ash and rock, and the route is not marked. Village guides know the terrain, set off before dawn and descend by a very fast sandy slope.
Is Cape Verde comparable to Mauritius for a beach holiday?
Not really. Cape Verde is drier and windier, with fewer coral reefs and hotels concentrated on Sal and Boa Vista. For sheltered lagoons and tropical greenery, Mauritius is a better fit; Cape Verde appeals with shorter flights from Europe and its volcanoes.

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