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Cape Verde

  • Patrice HAUSER / EASYPRESSE

    Sal Island, Cape Verde

Cape Verde in pictures - Sal Island

  • Sal Island

    Due to its international airport, Sal is the most well-known of the Cape Verdean islands. People rarely travel to Sal for its landscape; its flat terrain is arid and dry. The highest point of the island is Monte Grande (1332 ft). Although Sal's beaches have their own charm, there are no fine white sandy beaches. The island stretches 18 miles north to south and 7 miles from east to west. Today the island has the largest number of hotels but paradoxically, it was also the last to be populated. The first inhabitants arrived in the XIX century to work on the exploitation of salt in 1830. And, yes, "Sal" means salt. The salt mines were exploited until the 1940's, then the Italians settled and built the airport. The latter allowed the island to make progress. The island's beaches and waves attract windsurfeurs and those looking for a little time out from their busy lifestyles. Hotels of all categories have popped up in the area. You may, however, miss the lack of authentic local lifestyle. However, Sal remains a favorite holiday destination for its beaches and watersports.
    Discover Sal Island
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In brief +

Weekly budget
£1000
Flight budget
£700
Flight duration
6h 
Time difference
-3h / -2h
Visa
Yes
Vaccinations
No
Currency
Cape Verdean escudo
Language(s)
Portuguese

Cape Verde :

map Cape Verde

Destination overview

Well known thanks to the singer Cesaria Evora, Cape Verde is an archipelago of 10 islands off the Senegalese coast. Still a young republic, this old Portuguese colony obtained independence in 1975. Bathed in sunshine, Cape Verde has remained authentic in its music, and 'joie de vivre' which define the quality of the "Cape Verdean way" of life. Although each island has its own distinctive features, travellers will not be disappointed by the country's beaches which are all bordered with turquoise waters, and adorned with volcanic scenery and shingly, arid areas. The island of Sal is the most appreciated due to the superb beach of Santa Maria, one of the best surfing destinations in the world. Geology, hiking anddiving enthusiasts will also be more than content with what Cape Verde has to offer!

pros

  •  Not yet a tourist honey-pot, Cape Verde remains wild and completely authentic.
  •  The renowned kindness of the Cape Verdeans.
  •  An ever-present musical culture represented by artists such as Cesaria Evora.

cons

  •  For those of you looking for lots of entertainment and facilities, Cape Verde is not for you. As tourism is in its not yet widely spread, the country's infrastructure is still being developed.
  •  Internal flights are often overbooked and timetables uncertain. Do not be surprised if it takes longer to get to the next island than expected.
  •  Credit card payment is not a given everywhere in Cape Verde so do have some cash handy.

Cape Verde Travel guide

Cape Verde Holidays in Cape Verde, All you need to know!

Our Editorial team's advice

It would be a shame to spend too long a time in the seaside hotels of Sal at the expense of the other islands. An ideal itinerary for a fortnight would be: a few days' relaxation on Sal, followed by a stroll along the beach-island of Boa Vista, before heading to Santiago "the African", Fogo "the volcanic", Santo Antao "the green", and finally Mindelo in Sao Vicente for its lively atmosphere.
On Sal, hire a quad for an adventure trip in the dunes.
Be patient when out in Cape Verde as the locals can seem very relaxed about everything. Never forget that the country is slowly opening up to tourism and that there is no "tourist culture" yet.
Do not miss the Mindelo carnival, one of the major events of the year.

Cape Verde : Reasons to go

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Cape Verde : Places to visit

Cape Verde in pictures

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  • Sal Island, Cape Verde
  • Island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde
  • Island of Boa Vista, Cape Verde
  • Island of Santiago, Cape Verde
  • Ile de Sao Vicente, Cape Verde
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Cape Verde in pictures

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    Travel is my driving force in life, and although I have had the privilege of visiting 30 countries so far, my heart will always remain in India...

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