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Introduction
Consisting of 10 main islands and eight smaller islets off the west coast of Africa Cape Verde is an archipelago with a lot to offer tourists, whether they are looking for a relaxing beach holiday, great surfing or a hiking trip in volcanic and mountainous terrain. Sal, the main tourist island, has wonderful sandy beaches to rival any in the world and also fantastic surfing and diving spots. Those who prefer a trekking holiday will find lovely trails in the mountains on Santo Antao and around the big volcano on Fogo. With its warm climate all year round, wonderfully diverse landscapes, friendly locals and great food and music, Cape Verde really is an attractive destination.
Who goes there?
With year round warmth and cold ocean currents helping to keep the temperatures from soaring too high, Cape Verde has an attractive climate for tourists, and the majority of visitors are Western Europeans. The people who go to Cape Verde for the beach life tend to be families, while it is quite a young, adventure-seeking crowd that goes there for the diving, surfing or trekking.
Where in the world?
Cape Verde is located in the Atlantic Ocean some 500km (310 miles) to the west of the western-most tip of the African continent. Indeed, the name itself is taken from the name of that western-most tip, which can be found in Senegal.
Beach
There is no shortage of great beaches in Cape Verde. The long white beaches and turquoise seas running in either direction from Santa Maria, the main town on Sal, are stunning. The largest and one of the best beaches on the archipelago is Curralinho on Boa Vista. Sao Pedro beach on São Vicente is also lovely and a good place for windsurfing. Sal is regarded as a surfer's paradise on account of the breezes constantly coming in from the north.
Beyond the beach
Trekking is one of the great activities on Cape Verde. The most popular island among walkers is Santo Antao, because of its spectacular landscapes. The island has a vast mountain range offering great views and a wonderfully diverse flora, and in the island's interior there are green valleys and fertile forests, while the coast is rugged. There are several marked trails on the island, but it is also possible to hire a guide for your walking trip.
Family fun
The resorts on Sal have plenty of facilities for families and the beaches by Santa Maria are great for kids, with their white, fine sand. On some of the islands it is possible to do a bit of bird and turtle spotting without intruding too much on their habitats, and on São Vicente and Santiago it is possible to go horse riding.
Retail therapy
Cape Verde is not a fantastic retail destination, but there are some interesting things to buy in the shops and markets. Santa Maria on Sal is the best place for shopping. In the markets you can find paintings, carved wooden masks, necklaces, bracelets, batiks and also fresh produce. In Praia, the capital city on São Tiago, there is an interesting and lively African market called Sucupira just below the city plateau. On several islands, but mostly on Sal, there are a number of surf shops selling surfing gear.
A night on the town
Cape Verde has a vibrant music scene. Local music, an amalgamation of African, Brazilian and Portuguese elements, can be heard live (and enjoyed on the dancefloor) at the Funana Restaurant in Santa Maria on Sal. Otherwise the port town of Mindelo on São Vicente is the place with the archipelago's finest music venues, the most venerable being the Café Musica on Rua Lisboa. Mindelo also has several dance clubs where you can dance to the rhythms of the morna, the most popular folk music in Cape Verde.
Eating out
The Tipico Restaurant on the main square in Santa Maria is excellent, and its version of the local dish cachupa, a stew made with meats, vegetables, corn and different kinds of beans, is delicious. The best restaurant on São Tiago is Alex, in the Pestana Tropico Hotel in Praia, which serves Cape Verdian, Portuguese and international cuisine. Restaurant Sodade, 38 Rua Franz Fanoz in Mindelo on São Vicente is great for seafood.
Getting around
On the islands public transport services are by minibuses or trucks. Taxis in central areas are cheap. Between the islands of Santiago, São Vicente and Sal there are flights at least once daily. Flights to the other islands are less frequent. TACV Cabo Verde Airlines (tel: 00 238 260 8200/71) is the main operator. There are regular ferry services between the islands, but departures are sometimes unpredictable.
Exploring further afield
Fogo, which means ‘fire' in Portuguese, is a volcanic island to the south west of São Tiago, and its volcano, the Pico de Fogo, rises up 2,839m (9,314ft) above sea level. The cone is one of the finest in the world, and the summit offers fantastic views. There are good trails around the volcano, but it is a good idea to go on an organised tour, not least because the volcano is occasionally active (the last eruption happening in 1995). Ecotur, São Filipe (tel: 00 238 281 2255; website: www.ecotur.cv) is a good tour operator that also ensures that tourism benefits locals.
Splashing out
Because of its abundant sea life and dramatic volcanic seabed with caves, canyons, huge rock formations and also shipwrecks, diving is very popular in Cape Verde. You can learn to dive and become a certified diver in the sea just outside Santa Maria with Cabo Verde Diving (tel: 00 238 997 8824; website: www.caboverdediving.net).
Flying in
Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID), Sal
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