Top 9 Things to Do in Cape Verde

Cape Verde is famous for its warm tropical climate, volcanic islands, great musicians and delicious cuisine. Nine of the ten islands of the archipelago are inhabited, but each has a secluded corner of nature.

Who travels to Cape Verde and why

The best beach holiday awaits travelers on the island of Sal — there is a beautiful sandy Santa Maria Beach. In addition to swimming, you can go snorkeling, diving and snorkeling here. On the island of Boa Vista, it is better to relax and swim on Praia de Chaves and Santa Monica.

From November to March, lovers of exciting paragliding flights come to Cape Verde. Most of the Sal and Boa Vista coastlines offer excellent kitesurfing conditions at this time of the year.

Active tourists are offered hiking to volcanoes, hiking to a salt crater, getting to know the nature of the country in national reserves and riding on sand dunes on ATVs.

Animal lovers from July to September enjoy the interaction with loggerhead turtles on the island of Boa Vista. This is the third most important nesting site where reptiles come to lay their eggs.

natural attractions

Praia de Chavez in Boa Vista

Cape Verde is the third largest country in the world, with loggerhead turtles infesting its coastline. Especially many clutches and nesting sites of these amphibians are located in Boa Vista. By the turtle nesting season (from June to October), tourists from all over the world try to come here.

The Mayo and Sal Islands are the best for admiring the amazing reptiles. In addition, here you can watch migratory whales, which annually accompany their cubs in these waters.

Salt crater Pedra de Lume

One of the main tourist spots on Sal Island is the Pedra de Lume salt pans. In 1833, in this place, the natural mineral itself was extracted from the bowels of the earth. Multi-coloured containers, old warehouses and wooden frames of transport devices are still visible here and there.

Since the water in salt baths is 27 times saltier than in the ocean, you can swim in it without fear of sinking. Visitors are allowed to swim and this is a unique experience for them. Salt baths are a real SPA in the open air with a picturesque landscape opening up to the eye.

Blue Eye Buracona

This is a natural pool, which was formed directly in the rocks. Only having been there, one can understand why the Buracons were nicknamed «The Blue Eye».

In calm weather, daredevils can go down to swim in deep waters. But during a storm, this is not recommended. But you can admire how the waves crash against the rocks, which are the natural walls of the makeshift pool.

Santo Antao

The green valley stretches for several kilometers and leads tourists along the famous zigzag road straight into the bowels of the real tropics. Mangoes, bananas, coconut palms grow in the groves of Santo Antao, and sugar plantations are planted.

The uniqueness of this place lies also in the fact that it descends directly from the volcano, the top of which literally soars among the clouds. And the valley ends where the ocean begins. The height difference of Santo Antao is more than one kilometer.

Volcano Fogo

One of the symbols of Cape Verde is an active volcano on the island of Fogo. Its mouth is located at an altitude of 2829 meters above sea level. On a clear day, from the nearby islands of Santiago and Brava, you can see the mountain «restless».

Volcanic landscapes impress not only climbers, but also ordinary tourists. Ancient lava flows have survived unchanged to this day.

parks

Monte Gordo National Park in San Nicolau

Monte Gordo Landscape National Park, located in San Nicolau, is a real relic. This is one of the few places in Cape Verde where the original vegetation has been preserved. The ecosystem is diverse and rich, with eucalyptus and cypress groves. There are about 32 plant species in this park and 26 of them are endangered.

Monte Gordo is an ideal place for leisurely walks and contemplation of natural attractions. The area of ​​the park is more than 9 square kilometers.

«Botanical Garden» Viveiro

Tourists have not yet had time to take a fancy to this small oasis. The locals call it the Botanical Garden, because it compares favorably with those lunar landscapes that the island of Sal is rich in. Almost all plants found in Cape Verde grow in the reserve, many of them are listed in the Red Book.

You can walk around this amazing place for a small fee to get to know the different types of animals that inhabit its territory, including friendly donkeys, goats, rabbits and peacocks.

City attractions

Cidadi Velha

The historic center of Cidade Velha on the island of Santiago is the first city in Cape Verde to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was here that the ancestors of the current Cape Verdians were born. The 500-year-old city boasts an imposing fortress and other sights that have barely survived to this day.

Praia de Santa Maria (Sal Island)

The beach of Santa Maria on the island of Sal is not in vain often depicted on postcards. The snow-white sandy shore stretched for several kilometers in length. Tourists come here to sunbathe, swim in the sea and enjoy the local cuisine.

Directly on the beach there are cafes and restaurants where you can taste drinks and dishes that are proud of in Cape Verde. The main delicacies are shrimp and lobsters.