Cape Verde Vacations
Overview
The archipelago of Cape Verde is made up of nine islands off the coast of West Africa. They gained independence from the Portuguese in 1975. The mix of Portuguese and African cultures on the islands is something many people find charming. The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country that is a little over 4,000 square kilometers in area with an estimated population of just over 500,000. The islands have little rainfall. Portuguese and Crioulo are the two main languages spoken in Cape Verde.
Activities & Attractions
One of the main draws of Cape Verde is the warm, white beaches that are suitable for sunbathing. Water sports like sailing, water skiing, and swimming are other popular activities in this country. The largest of the nine islands, Santiago, has ruins that existed when the Portuguese settled on the island in the 16th century. You can visit the Fort Real De San Felipe in Tarrafal. You can also see a colonial prison constructed around 100 years ago, where Salazar imprisoned those who spoke out against his authority.
The island of Sal is known for its salt pits that provided salt to the Portuguese empire. Mindelo, a town in Sao Vicente, has music festivals in August and a carnival. Fogo is mostly made up of mountains and has a live volcano. Santo Antao is the island spot with foliage rich hills and deep valleys that are ideal for people who love to walk and climb.
Lodging
Among the islands of Cape Verde you have dozens of choices when it comes to lodging options. You can choose to stay in hotels, bed and breakfast inns, guest houses, or rooms. Numerous hotels, holiday apartments, and villas are available that are usually located near the coast lines. You can also choose to travel with tours that arrange for stay in the country. Some of the popular hotels that you can check out in Cape Verde are: Quinta da Montanaha Hotel, Pestana Tropical Hotel, Perola Hotel, and Ventaclub Boavista.
Transportation
Small planes through the TACV Cabo Verde Airlines are an excellent way travel from one island to another quickly. You can also opt to take longer trips and travel by boat or ferry to the smaller islands. Ferry and boat rides between islands can take an hour or sometimes more depending on the climatic conditions. On individual islands, buses and taxis are plentiful but they typically wait until they have a full load of passengers before departing. You can also rent a vehicle or hire a driver with a vehicle to take you around the island.
