Cape Verde is diverse, rich in culture and with stunning scenery, but that description doesn’t do it justice. From the volcanic landscape to the delectable cuisine you won’t find at home, this small family of islands plays host to a wealth of activities and attractions to satisfy all the senses. There’s a strong Portuguese influence, and you’ll hear the language across the islands, as well as Verdean Creole.
You would be forgiven for thinking you’re in the Caribbean when island hopping around Cape Verde; the crystal blue waters and stretching beaches mimic the fair shores of the West Indies, and the culture and cuisine are as diverse and encapsulating. Those seeking warmer climes will be delighted to discover the weather remains wondrously warm and dry throughout the year, with just a few inches of rainfall in September.
Whether you’re a guest of Santiago, Boa Vista, Sal or one of the 7 other islands of Cape Verde, you are sure to find the perfect Cape Verde holiday. Plus, with our deals on flights and hotels, a holiday to Cape Verde might be a much cheaper holiday than you expected.
Santa Maria (Cape Verde)
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Cape Verde deserves a visit purely for its unparalleled beaches, however, if you’re looking for a little more culture on your 2018 / 2019 holiday, Cape Verde does not disappoint. Flights to Cape Verde will deliver you into a world completely removed from your office desk. Beaches, all-inclusive hotels, hospitality. For 7 nights, 14 nights or as long as you want, experience Cape Verde with loveholidays.
Cape Verde holidays could take you to Fogo Island, which is an adventurer's dream, with memorable views atop Mount Fogo – however, make sure you pack provisions as the hike is a solid 4 hours. Culture junkies will be excited to find that Santiago’s capital, Praia, is home to a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is sure to be a once in a lifetime experience.
Boa Vista's capital, Sal Rei, is a quaint town with a beautiful beach and a tranquil atmosphere. Sal, a small island, with white sand and peaceful setting, boasts the stunning resort town of Santa Maria, which should be a go-to pick when considering a Cape Verde holiday. A beach-lovers paradise! The Morabeza Hotel in Santa Maria, Sal has been welcoming guests for 40 years and is one of the most well-known hotels in Cape Verde.
If exploration and adventure work up an appetite, Cape Verde island hoppers won’t go hungry with the incredible offering of Verdean food and fun on the islands. Thanks to the location and fine water of the Cape Verde islands, many eateries offer a sumptuous selection of seafood, as well as an interesting mix of South American and Portuguese cuisine.
Exotic fruit is offered across the Verdean islands - you’ll never have tasted anything quite like the delight of fresh papaya and mango straight from the tree! Many of the all-inclusive hotels in Cape Verde have a wide range of cuisines available if you really want to try the local goods, ask your concierge or chef!
Around the Cape Verde islands, you’ll also want to make sure your holiday takes in Mindelo for an evening stroll along the Praca Nova for its cafes, live music bars and scrumptious restaurants. This place to check out is a port city located on Sao Vincente and offers up some great seafood restaurants as a result.
Family holidays in the Cape Verde Islands are a wonderful experience. With a range of Cape Verde all inclusive hotels, you can keep the whole family entertained. Whether you choose Boa Vista for its chilled out atmosphere or Praia for its bustling place at the heart of the Cape Verde islands, there are lots to offer for family holidays. Two top resorts on the island of Sal include the Melia Dunas Resort in Santa Maria on the island of Sal and Sol Dunas, also located just outside of Santa Maria.
Long, golden sandy beaches will not only wow the whole family but give hours and hours of fun and adventure. All inclusive hotel pools and organised games and activities at the Dunas hotels will delight the little ones while mum and dad enjoy a cocktail or a well-earned nap! And the whole family will enjoy learning about and experiencing the island culture together. There are loads of natural fun to explore on the islands, with horse riding, volcano hikes, meeting turtles and mesmerising hillside views out to sea making for lifelong memories and holiday stories to tell friends and relatives back home.
Family holidays in the Cape Verde islands also offer the opportunity to mingle with Portuguese and Italian families among other visitors, as well as meeting local people and sharing their unique culture. You’ll also find the all-inclusive hotels on the Cape Verde islands to be very family-friendly and with an abundance of child-proof activities. All in all, the islands are perfectly suited to family holidays, and you’ll find the experience memorable and long-lasting.
For such little islands, action and adventure holidays in the Cape Verde Islands are awash with variety, thrills and spills. Whether you’re a water dweller or more one for dry land, there’s a fantastic range of water sports, coastal challenges and dramatic scenery to make the most of during your cheap holiday to Cape Verde.
Windsurfing is a natural pursuit on the islands, as the sails benefit from the Atlantic breezes– the island of Sal being a particular hotspot for perfect wind conditions and guided courses if you’re really intent on making waves! Kitesurfing is also a must-try for adrenaline on the sea, with help and support whether you’re a complete novice or a king of the kite.
Fishing and diving are also superb experiences on the isles, with organised trips and charters available to your tastes. Back on land, you can explore the islands on a quad bike tour, stop off for a game of beach football or volleyball, and enjoy some absolutely magnificent hiking trails in the mountain mist and volcanic splendour the islands have to offer. Action and adventure are plentiful all across the Cape Verde Islands – your holiday will be non-stop (if you want it to be!).
Cheap holidays to Cape Verde are a beach-seekers dream in 2018 / 2019, with silky sands and dreamy waters on almost every stretch of coastline. There is a cluster of beautiful beaches around the nation’s capital, Praia, in Santiago, including the expansive sands of Ponta Negra, the rugged cliffs of Prainha Beach, or the relaxed cove of Quebra Canela.
Away from the capital, your choices of the beach will depend on whether you’re just planning to chill out, or whether action and adrenaline are the order of the day. With this range of destinations to choose from, Cape Verde holidays can be shaped to your taste.
The magnificent and peaceful island of Sal is a small island ringed with pearly white beaches and quiet spots to enjoy the fantastic Cape Verde waters. The exotic island of Sal offers windsurfing, kitesurfing and snorkelling for the adventure addicts, or simply incredible sands and beach bars close to Santa Maria for the more laid back persuasion! You could also hop across to the stunning Boa Vista for traditional food and music as well as the natural beauty of the marine turtles.
Beach holidays in the Cape Verde Islands have that perfect combination of fun, relaxation and nature in one of the most idealistic settings in the world.
The islands do not disappoint when it comes to nightlife either. Santa Maria on Sal, Mindelo on São Vicente, Praia on Santiago and Sal Rei and Esplanada on Boa Vista are the hotspots when it comes to evening entertainment - particularly in the festive season when these cities come to life.
Live music, entertainment and even discos and nightclubs are all waiting to be enjoyed in the main cities, and even the quieter areas have bars and restaurants where you can hit the tiles, should the mood strike. For such a small area, you’ll be amazed at the variety and passion for nightlife on your Cape Verde Islands holiday in 2018 or 2019.
In Sal, there’s a fantastic range of bars and clubs including the well-known Disco Pirata for dancing the Atlantic night away. Plenty of the nightspots also have local bands playing their unique beats, and if you’re visiting in September you’ll love the Beach Festival of Santa Maria for its contemporary Zouk vibes. For the real night owls, there’s the Disco Galaxy, Cave or Astro clubs for chilling, dancing and chatting.
No mention of Cape Verdean nightlife would be complete without Praia and its unofficial status of the capital of the islands’ nightlife scene. Whether you’re visiting for the huge Festival Praia da Gamboa in May or for the many great bars and clubs you’ll never be left wanting for nightlife in Praia. The Cape Verde Islands are where African nightlife meets Portuguese and South American styles, and the result is a truly different experience that makes nightlife holidays on the Cape Verde islands totally unforgettable.
If families will love it here, the Cape Verde islands are simply a couples’ paradise. Whether you’re looking to explore the islands’ vast natural treasures such as turtles, volcanoes or coastal walks, or whether it’s more feet up experience that’s on the cards, the islands make for the perfect couples’ retreat.
Beachside resorts such as the Hotel Morabeza, Iberostar Club Boa Vista Hotel, Odjo d’Agua Hotel or Dunas de Sal offer parties by the pool, reflected by the sea, reading while reclining and all the other perks you would expect from quality resorts. If you’re looking for that bit more freedom on your Cape Verde experience, try the Orquidea Guest House for a bed and breakfast package that will give you the flexibility to try some of the archipelago’s finest eateries and nightlife spots.
You can also step back in time and indulge yourself in the Colonial Guest House for a traditionally-run treat. There are choices aplenty for couples on the Cape Verde Islands – you’ll be amazed at the variety of accommodation and activities and friendliness of the locals, and you’ll love your experience.
All destinations in Cape Verde have a rich cultural heritage, with influences from Africa and Europe and South America contributing to a lively, diverse and fascinating environment. Praia is the cultural hub, with stage performances, musical performances and historical artefacts aplenty to be found at the Cape Verdean Cultural Centre. The islands are abuzz with local musicians such as the unique accordion and iron bar sounds funana and its African flair, and the cafés and nightspots offer plentiful opportunity to sample it.
European tastes are reflected in the morna style of music, which is a Portuguese-inspired ballad. The islands also have a budding scene of literature and arts, with the pride and varied ethnicity of the local people contributing in a big way to the experience you’ll take from your holiday. Whatever your personal taste, the Cape Verde Islands make for a unique setting to experience these cultural twists, and the combination of these and the natural beauty you’re immersed in will leave lifelong memories for you to treasure long after your holiday.
Check out some of the most popular destinations in the Cape Verde Islands