Cape Verde Travel Guide

What travelling Cape Verde is actually like

Cape Verde, or Cabo Verde, is an archipelago about 570 km off the coast of Senegal. Its ten main islands are volcanic, and they're surprisingly varied: some are flat, sandy and desert-like, others mountainous and green, with deep valleys and terraced fields.

The islands were uninhabited until the Portuguese arrived in the 15th century, and Cape Verdean culture grew from a mix of Portuguese and West African roots. Portuguese is the official language, but people speak Kriolu (Cape Verdean Creole) day to day. Music is everywhere, from the melancholy morna made famous by Cesária Évora to the faster funaná and coladeira.

For travellers, the islands split roughly into three groups. Sal and Boa Vista, in the east, are flat and sandy, with long beaches, resorts and kitesurfing. São Vicente and Santo Antão, in the north-west, combine Mindelo's music and nightlife with some of the best hiking in Africa. Santiago, with the capital Praia, and Fogo, with its active volcano, are in the south.

Cape Verde is one of the most stable and safe countries in Africa. Prices are higher than in mainland West Africa, especially on Sal and Boa Vista, and getting between islands takes planning, with ferries that can be unreliable and inter-island flights that can sell out.

Ten days to two weeks lets you combine two or three islands, such as Sal, São Vicente and Santo Antão.