Why visit Cape Verde
If you enjoy magnificient scenery, first class beaches, vibrant cultures and have a sense of adventure, Cape Verde is the solution!
If white sand beaches and crystal clear sea are what you are looking for, Cape Verde won't disappoint you. If breathtaking scenery, bird-watching and hiking are what you are looking for, Cape Verde still won't disappoint you. With so many different islands to choose from, you will certainly find one or many to suit your taste.
This guide has been designed for anyone planning to visit and experience the Cape Verde Islands, it will provide almost every information, about this wild and still unspoiled, paradise-like, captivating archipelago offering plenty of opportunities for relaxation or active pursuit.
www.travelguide2capeverde.co.uk. Monte Leone in the distance. Sal Island.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Cape Verdes are an arrow-shaped archipelago of ten islands in the Atlantic Ocean, the most easterly is about 460km from the coast of Senegal and the most westerly is 830km. The archipelago is divided in two groups: The Barlavento islands, or windward, situated in the north are: Santo Antao, Sao Vicente, Santa Luzia, Sao Nicolau, Sal and Boavista; the Sotavento islands, or leeward, situated in the south are: Maio, Santiago, Fogo and Brava. The largest island is Santiago, about 992km sq., the smallest island is Santa Luzia, about 34km sq. and the smallest inhabited island is Brava, at 65km sq.
CLIMATE
The climate of the islands is for much of the year dominated by the dry northeast tradewind which causes dry periods that last for months. Unfortunately Cape Verde's position is a little too far north for the rains to be guaranteed each year: it lies just above the doldrums, the spot where the northeast and southwest tradewinds meet and where there is guaranteed rainfall; given this erratic nature, there can be several dry years in a row.
The rainy season lasts from the end of July to the beginning of November, and the amount varies from island to island, even between different slopes of the same island, however the flat islands receive much less moisture, leaving them almost totally barren.
Temperatures are tipically tropical: between 22C and 27C and constant throughout the year, with small variation with the coolest months from December to March.
Daily hours of sunshine average from seven to ten and are highest in the months from February to June.
For real time weather updates, please check www.wunderground.com.
ANNUAL WEATHER STATISTICS
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Temp. C Day | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
| Temp. C Night | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 20 |
| Sea Temp. C | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 22 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
| Days of Rain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
WHERE TO GO
In Cape Verde there are islands to suit every taste.
- For hiking, the most dramatic options are the volcanic craters of Fogo and Brava and the steep ribeiras, normally dry river valleys, on Santo Antao, Sao Nicolau and Santiago.
- For beach holiday and watersports, Sal is the best equipped (surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing), with Boavista following, where you can rent good quality equipment, and take lessons. Some windsurfing can also be done in Sao Vicente. The diving is attractive for several reasons: the volcanic underworld, the shipwrecks and the big fish close to shore and boat-fishing is another exciting possibility, going out with local fishermen to hunt for supper with a harpoon, can net the most spectacular catch.
- Sightseeing, There is not a lot to see in the form of buildings and museums, the only exception to this is Santiago, where you can find few museums and the old city of Ribeira Grande, the first European city in the tropics, with fort, the remains of a cathedral and churches.
The most visited islands are Sal, Boavista, Fogo and Santo Antao, though real luxury beach holidays is available only on Sal, Boavista and Santiago, and to a lesser extent on Sao Vicente and Maio.
ACTIVITIES
| Walking | Wind-Surfing | Diving | Fishing | Beaches | History | Nightlife | |
Santo Antao | X | ||||||
Sao Vicente | X | X | X | X | |||
Sao Nicolau | X | X | |||||
| Sal | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Boavista | X | X | X | X | |||
| Maio | X | ||||||
| Santiago | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Fogo | X | X | |||||
| Brava | X |
For a more in-depth description of the activities available for each island see 'The Islands' page.
Image sourced from www.fuggire.it. Santa Maria beach, Sal Island.
Image sourced from www.fuggire.it. Sand dunes, Boavista Island.
Photo sourced from Página Oficial do Governo de Cabo Verde. Pico de Fogo volcano, Fogo Island.