LivingTravelCape Verde: facts and information

Cape Verde: facts and information

The islands of Cape Verde (known locally as Cape Verde , the “Cape Verde”) are located off the coast of Senegal in West Africa. Cape Verde is famous for its warm tropical climate, volcanic islands, wonderful musicians, and delicious cuisine. Americans may not have heard much about Cape Verde, but Europeans are much more familiar with the islands as a winter getaway.

Basic facts

The Cape Verde Islands are made up of an archipelago of ten islands and five islets that lie about 500 km off the west coast of Africa. In total, Cape Verde covers an area of 4,033 square kilometers (1,557 square miles). The Portuguese colonized the unpopulated islands in the 15th century to establish a slave post. The population is consequently a mixture of Portuguese and African descendants and the majority of the people speak Creole (a mixture of Portuguese and West African languages). The official language of the government is Portuguese.

The capital city is Sal, the largest city in the archipelago that is located on the largest island, Santiago.

Terrible droughts in the mid-20th century, as well as some volcanic actions, left more than 200,000 people dead and prompted many of the remaining inhabitants to leave Cape Verde. Now there are more Cape Verdeans living in other countries than on the islands themselves. The current population in Cape Verde is around half a million.

The best time to go

Cape Verde has a good stable tropical climate throughout the year. It is cooler than most of the rest of West Africa. Average daytime highs range from 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 28 degrees Celsius), with warmer temperatures dropping from May to November. For the tourist, it is basically warm enough to walk and swim year-round, although nights can be chilly from December to March. The harmattan reaches the middle of the archipelago, bringing warm winds and Saharan sands along with it during November to March.

Most of the rain falls between the end of August and the beginning of October.

The best time for festivals is around carnival in February – Mindelo on the island of Sao Vicente, in particular, is not to be missed. The busiest season is between November and April, when the hot and dry weather attracts many Europeans looking to escape their winter.

Where to go

Cape Verde is a popular destination, especially if you are looking for a relaxing, sun-filled vacation. If you like to get off the beaten track and hate resorts, then you will have to put in a little extra effort to explore the more remote islands on your own. Cape Verde’s crime rate is very low and the people are friendly. The seafood is excellent, the tap water is safe to drink, and there are decent medical facilities on the main islands. All of this helps make it an attractive destination for tourists.

The main attractions in Cape Verde include:

  • Santa María: Charter flights often fly directly to the island of Sal, where many enjoy water sports and the beaches of Santa María. This is one of the most developed islands in Cape Verde, and many beach lovers will only stay here for the duration of their vacation (but there is so much more to explore!). The rest of Sal is quite arid, so head to one of the other islands for more greenery and good hiking.
  • Santiago is the largest island in Cape Verde and the most densely populated. The capital city Praia is quite hectic and can be a bit of a shock if you haven’t traveled to Africa before. But there is a good vegetable market and a lot of history including pirates and Charles Darwin. The best beaches are in Tarrafal, and don’t miss the UNESCO historical site of Cidade Velha, just 15 km from Praia.
  • Boa Vista: One of the best beaches in the country is Santa Monica Beach on the island of Boa Vista. If you are visiting Cape Verde for the sun, this is the place to go. The island’s volcanic interior is also worth exploring, and many enjoy doing it on 4 × 4 quads.

What to see and do

  • Music: Cape Verde’s most famous musician and cultural ambassador, Cesaria Evora, passed away in 2011. But his legacy lives on and you can enjoy traditional Cape Verdean music ( morna and coladeira ) on all the islands. The best places to hear the typically poetic and melancholic notes include the island capital of Sao Vicente, Mindelo, the cultural capital of Cape Verde, and the hometown of Cesaria Evora. The carnival here is by far the best on the island and takes place in February each year.
  • Hiking: Mount Fogo, an active volcano on Fogo Island and the highest peak in the archipelago, is an obvious destination for hikers. But to enjoy great scenery and beautiful cobbled paths, head to the island of Santo Antao. Volcanic peaks, a spectacular rocky coastline and some tropical forests make for a wonderful trek. Spend the night in a bed and breakfast in one of the small villages for an authentic experience.
  • Watersports: Fishing, diving and surfing are possible on the islands, the island of Santiago is the tourist center and it is easy to organize day trips and packages from any number of tour operators and / or resorts. It is quite windy on all the islands, so Cape Verde has become a popular destination for windsurfers and more and more kitesurfers.

How to get there

Take a look at the tour operators that specialize in Cape Verde for the best deals. A direct flight on Cape Verde’s National Airline (TACV) leaves Boston for Sal once a week thanks to the large local population of Cape Verdeans in the area. TACV also has regular flights to and from Amsterdam, Madrid, Lisbon and Milan.

Move

There are taxis to get around each island. Shared taxis are the cheapest way and have established routes. Ferries and small planes are the best way to jump from island to island. Keep in mind that ferries don’t always arrive on time, so make sure your plans are flexible, as some of the islands take half a day to arrive. The local airline TACV flies regular flights between all the main islands.

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