Do you know Cape Verde? It is a group of islands that are in the Atlantic Ocean, almost 600 kilometers from the coast of Africa, beautiful and ideal for a tropical vacation, you just have to cheer up.
Is volcanic islands occupying an area of about four thousand square kilometers and are decorated with white and golden sand beaches, colorful fauna and flora and unforgettable landscapes. Let's see what does it offer to tourism.
Cape Verde, history of an island country
Cape Verde is reputed to be a country poor in natural resources, with few fertile lands, but that for some time now has achieved economic and political stability. It is a republic with a president and prime minister elected by a parliament.
It was a Portuguese colony: ten islands and five islets. The Portuguese kidnapped people here and turned them into slaves. It is a country with a tragic history and many of the Africans who settled in other parts of the world during the XNUMXth century have emigrated from here due to poverty and hunger.
It is inhabited by half a million people and Portuguese and Creole are spoken, mix of the first with African words. Enjoy a milder climate than the African continent, there is more fresh wind but somehow the waters are warmer. All year round the sun shines and the temperature is always maintained between 21 and 29 ºC.
A trip to Cape Verde
The capital of the country is Praia and it is the largest city at the same time. It is on the west coast of the island of Santiago, which contains at the same time the most important ferry port and one of the four international airports of Cape Verde. It is the island with the most life and activities and it is a good idea to enter the country through here.
Santiago has very green hills and jungles, and for wildlife lovers it offers many things to do and see. It is also the cultural heart of the country and its old town has very interesting colonial buildings, among them the Fort of Cidade Velha or Cidade da Ribeira Grande, World Heritage. Inside is the old 1693th century Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosario and the Convent of San Francisco completed in XNUMX.
Around the island there are many shipwrecks that tell us precisely about the marine trade routes that pass nearby and if you do diving or snorkeling You will be able to see humpback whales, tuna and other fish below in the waters. To the north is Tarrafal, a small bay with palm trees and little wind whose waters are great for swimming and where once a week there is a very colorful local market and mountains around which you can walk.
There is a ferry service between all the islands so after a few days in Santiago you have to take off. A good destination is the Sal Island, the sunniest island with golden beaches, turquoise waters and lots of salt. There are many valleys and very dry deserts and here and there sleeping volcanoes. It is picturesque and was for a long time the mining center of Cape Verde.
To Sal surfers come from all over the world because from November to June the best weather reigns to generate the best waves. It has an international airport so many of them don't even go through Santiago. The island has about 20 thousand inhabitants and 90% are less than 40 years old. It hardly rains, there are hardly any clouds, so there is sun, sun and more sun and miles of beaches. And as the city of Espargos, its capitalIt is small but functional, tourists stay in it and take advantage of its hotels, restaurants, Internet connection, shops, and health centers.
A few kilometers from Espargos is the city of Palmeira, with a lot of Portuguese flair. It is the destination chosen by the busses since hides fabulous reefs and sea caves a few kilometers away, the Olho Blue for example. And if you want to see an old mine or a volcano crater you just have to walk to Pedra lume, another city that today offers free salt curative baths.
Would you like resorts, luxury complexes and dedicated attention? So the destination on the Island of Sal is Santa Maria. This is where there is a large hotel complex of international standardss with activity and entertainment programs. The beaches are 200 meters wide, there are shops, restaurants, pastel colored houses, an old pier and wonderful natural landscapes.
Boa Vista Island is the third largest island in Cape Verde and it is beautiful. If Sal concentrates mass tourism Boa has not yet been fully discovered and that since 2007 it has an international airport. Spanish and Italian businessmen have built hotels so between the two islands a competition for guests will surely end up developing.
Boa Vista It has 55 kilometers of beaches, mountains and a picturesque capital, Sal Rei, with old buildings, handicraft shops, old churches and salt flats. And beware, that the santa monica beach which is south of Boa Vista is considered the most beautiful beach in Cape Verde. You have to go and enjoy, I think. There are crowded beaches and more secluded beaches to the east of the island, ideal to be quiet, walk, walk and enjoy.
La saint vincent island Although it does not have the capital, it houses the bulk of the country's population. Monte Verde dominates the entire island with its 750 meters high and from above you have a superb view of the mindelo city. Maybe this is a poor city, but if you like music and want to know the rhythms of Cape Verde, Mindelo is a good place because people literally go out to play music.
The city offers markets, shops, cafes and even a European neighborhood to go out to bars, but if you like the windsurf You have to head to the southwest of the island and stay in the city of San Pedro. Sandy beachAround here, it is also great for surfers and as the international airport is close, believe it or not, there are many athletes.
Santiago Island, Sal Island, Boa Vista Island and San Vicente are great islands but there are also the islands of Santo Antaor, very mountainous, San Nicolas, of crystal clear waters, Fogo, that of the volcanoes, May, the furthest, and Door lock, the most flowery. Each island has a definition that allows you to imagine it.
You can get to Cape Verde by plane and once there you can move by ferry between the islands or by domestic plane. The airline is partially state-owned and is called TACV. It uses ATR and Boeing aircraft and there are flights several times a week. Ferries are good for visiting islands where there is no airport like Isla Brava and Santo Antao, for example.
You will see from the photographs that Cape Verde is a country with beautiful landscapes so you just have to dare to go. Yes indeed, you have to process a visa that costs 40 euros. Are you concerned about security? Cape Verde it has no reputation for being a dangerous countryThere is no terrorism and it is a stable democracy, so if you are cautious, especially in big cities and at night you will not have problems. Santiago, Mindelo, Sao Vicente are the places to consider.
Any other tips? Beware of scorpions and if you vaccines Against typhoid fever, typhus, cholera, hepatitis and you give yourself the anti-tetanus you are well shielded. Malaria? It is not so popular, but it is advisable to carry repellent to avoid malaria and dengue. And of course, be careful with what you eat and drink, on pain of not leaving the bathroom. Cheer up is the question because the reward is assured.