9 best places to visit in Cape Verde

Paradise islands, fine sandy beaches, roaring mountains, Cape Verde is a dream destination for lovers of ecotourism. With less than 6 hours of flight from Brussels, winter and summer, let yourself be seduced by the exotic, authentic and sunny sides of the mysterious islands of the Republic of Cape Verde. Native land of the famous barefoot singer Cesaria Evoria, tremble and vibrate on Cape Verdean music like funana, coladeira and the melancholy morna passing by the zouk entwined the Kizomba. 
Located in the Atlantic Ocean, off the African coast of Mauritania and Senegal, Cape Verde is a mixed country with African and European cultures consisting of 10 volcanic islands and 8 islets. The archipelago is divided into two strings of islands: the islands of Barlavento to the north of the island and the islands of Sotavento to the south. 

Destination north of the island. 

• 1/ SANTO ANTAO

  
Santo Antao is one of the most popular cities for tourists. Sea, mountains, land of culture, trekking, you will not be disappointed with this dream archipelago or mixes ecotourism and seaside tourism. You can quietly and peacefully enjoy the beach with black sand and go to discover the fishing villages in Tarrafal de Monte Trigo. Do not miss the visit of sugar cane fields in this part of the archipelago. Its luxuriant vegetation and its mountainous panoramas make it a privileged site for hikers. 
What are the different activities to do?

• Visit the town of Tarrafal de Monte Trigo with its fishing villages, volcanic black sand beaches and sugar cane fields.
• Discovery of Ribeira Grande with the route of the rope, the Valley of Paul, the plateau of altitude of Nort.
• Hiking, trekking course Ascension of Ribeira Grande.

 

• 2/ SAO VICENTE

  
Sao Vicente is a cultural and historical region of Cape Verde. It is a lively and rhythmic place where the warm nights are festive and muy caliente. Moreover, it is a paradise region with fine sandy beaches and many evenings. With its upscale restaurants, bars, cafes and nightclubs, this is the ideal place to dance on funana or kizomba. In August, there is the Baía das Gatas festival where Cape Verdean music is celebrated along the beaches.
What are the different activities to perform?

• Visit the most beautiful city of the country Mindelo. It is the capital of culture.
• Bathing and sunbathing on the beaches of Baia des Gatas, Flemingo, and Palha Carga.
• Visit the picturesque colonial houses.

 

• 3/ SAO NICOLAU

  
Sao Nicolau is a sweet and endearing island, but difficult to access. It is a mountainous region where you can walk and hike. It is also possible to swim on the Baia Debaixo da Rocha. 
What are the different activities to do?

• Discover Ribeira Brava.
• Hiking on Monte Gordo.
• Swimming on the beach of Baia Debaixo da Rocha.

 

• 4/ SAL

 
 Sal is a very attractive tourist place with its lunar landscapes and turquoise water. This island has 8 km of golden beaches of white sand rocked by an arid nature. It owes its name to the exploitation and marketing of salt which will lead to its development until the middle of the 20th century. If you are looking for thrills on the waves and idleness, this island is for you. Sal beaches are the best in the area. In addition, there are many restaurants to try Cape Verde specialties (fish, seafood and tropical fruits). Osprey, herons and other waders can be seen regularly in the area.
What are the different activities to do? 

• Visit Pedra Lume with its salt mines.
• Water sports: catamaran, scuba diving, funboard, flyboard, surfing and windsurfing on the island of Sal.
• Moment relaxation with a massage or mud wrap.
• Discover Santa Maria fishing village with colorful colonial-style houses and golden sandy beaches.
• Visit the first port of Palmeira Island with its lobster farms and its economic activity focused on salt.
• Visit the botanical garden Botanical Garden and Zoo di Terra where there are 120 Cape Verdean plant species, including palm trees, cacti and tropical flowers.

 

• 5/ BOA VISTA

 
 Boa Vista is a paradise island with its sand dunes and sandy beaches and crystal clear water. It is the island closest to the African continent, which attracts a lot of tourists. White sandy beaches, swimming, diving, surfing, hobbies and hikes, it is a dream destination or everything is made to entertain you..
What are the different activities to do?

• Visit the village of Sal-Rei with its colonial dwellings.
• Swimming on the beaches of Praia da Cruz and Chaves.
• Discover Curral Velho and swim on the beach of Santa Monica.
• Discover the wreck of Cabo Santa Maria north of Boa Vista.
• Discover the village of Rabil (ancient capital of the island) where you can visit the parochial church of São Roque, built in 1801.
  Observation of loggerhead turtles by starlight. Towards the month of August and December, the eggs hatch and the little turtles rush towards the sea.
• Excursion by quad.

Destination south of the island.

• 6/ SANTIAGO

 
 Santiago is the most populated island of Cape Verde, which includes the capital and largest city of the country Praia. It is a fantastic cultural city where African history is omnipresent. There are many cultural events in Praia. For example, you can listen to Creole music at the Krio Jazz Festival in April. Or visit the Ethnographic Museum “Museu Etnográfico” on Julho Street, where the life of the Cape Verdean people can be seen. Cape Verde is a very believing country. Indeed, there are many places of worship in the country. You can visit the church Nossa Senhora de Graça and the chapel Capela de S.Antonio. Do not forget to go to the lighthouse of the tip Temerosa to have a magnificent view of the country.
What are the different activities to do?

• Visit of the historical center of the city of Praia
• Discover the cities of Cidade Velha and Pico de Antonia. Cidade Velha distinguishes itself as the first city built by the Portuguese when they arrived on the island in the 15th century.
• Walking and discovery at the Botanical Garden Grandvaux Barbosa.
• Discover the city of Tarrafal.
• Visit to the Ethnographic Museum “Museu Etnográfico”: street 5 de Julho – Opening hours: 10 am to noon and 3 pm to 7 pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and from 10 am to 1 pm Tuesday and Sunday.
• Visit the Palace of Culture (Palácio da Cultura) where there are many cultural events.
• Purchase and souvenir at the Sucupira market.
• Decipher the words engraved on the Rocha Escrita, in Ribeira de Prata, north of the island of Santiago.

 

• 7/ FOGO

 
For lovers of hiking, head to the island of the great volcano “Fogo“, which is the black pearl of the Archipelago. With its mountains, volcanoes and sandy beaches of black, you will have plenty to do and discover alone or with friends. Climb the Pico de Fogo, an active volcano at 2,829m.
What are the different activities to do?

• Discover Sao Filipe and its ancient Portuguese houses.
• Discovery of Cha das Caldeiras.
• Hiking on Mount Fogo, which is the only active volcano in the archipelago.

 

• 8/ MAIO

 
If you are looking for rest and a sunny place, go to Maio. You can spend your days relaxing in the sun by taking advantage of the sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. If you like sea turtles, Maio is the perfect place to admire the loggerhead turtle.
What are the different activities to do?

• Visit to Porto Ingles.
• Practice of scuba diving.
• Tanning and swimming at the beach of Morro.
• Visit of the spots of Casa Velha and Ponta Preta.

 

• 9/ BRAVA

Brava is the smallest volcanic and turquoise island in the archipelago. It is an authentic place where there is no vegetation, which stands out for its steep landscapes .. It is an ideal place to recharge and to walk, because there are not many tourists. Very difficult to access, you have to take a boat to get there.
What are the different activities to do?

• Walk in peace.
• Visit the town of NovaSintra. 

Other information :

• To enter Cape Verde you need a visa, with a valid passport of 6 months. The tariffs of the deposit turn around 40 or 50 €.
• No vaccine is therefore mandatory, as the country presents no health risks. On the other hand if your plane passes through Dakar, you should do the yellow fever vaccine.
• The Cap-Verdienne gastronomy is a fusion of Portuguese and African gastronomy. You can taste the national dish, which is the cachupa (corn and bean stew with sausages).

• By cons, local drink is the grogue, it is an alcoholic beverage distilled from sugar cane. It is more than 40 degrees.
• In December, prices are more attractive.

 

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