Traveling to Cape Verde ought to be a top priority if you are seeking a place that blends culture, nightlife, and gorgeous beaches. The ideal choice for this trip! Sure, before going to this African country, get acquainted with its rich history that blends Portuguese and African influences, through rarely-existing natural scenery, to interesting offers of its online bookies gathered at bookmaker-expert.com/country/cape-verde/ (one of the few African nations with legal online casinos is exactly Cape Verde).
Cape Verde is a delight to visit in the Atlantic Ocean even during the rainy seasons, which are between mid-August and October when the vegetation is revitalizing. Allow the stunning beauty and the civilization that bubbles up from the streets to mesmerize you.
Boa Vista
You must halt on the isle of Boa Vista if Cape Verde is your final destination! Boa Vista is the ideal place to experience both the native culture and the beaches. Sal Rei, the capital of Boa Vista, typically receives few visitors who prefer to remain in the nearby beach resorts. Sal-Rei also features a distinctive church and districts with local businesses. You can engage in activities like whale viewing and desert exploration on the island. There are trips to see the nesting turtles, and between June and October, it is frequently possible to witness the magical moment when turtles deposit their eggs on the coast!
The Cape Verdean island known as ‘the island of the dunes’ is one of the most treasure-filled. As tourism grows, Boa Vista draws an increasing number of travelers looking for sunshine and idyllic beaches. In fact, the island is home to some of the most stunning beaches in the entire archipelago, including the famous Santa Monica beach, a long stretch of white sand that is ideal for leisure. Boa Vista is far from the island’s sole idealized shoreline, however, the Viana desert, one of Cape Verde’s seven natural marvels, is situated in the north of the island. The inhabitants here refer to it as ‘the crumb of the Sahara’, a little desert with brilliantly clear dunes that serve as a popular quad bike playground. Finally, in order to learn more about the local way of life, we make sure to stop in at Sal Rei, the capital, as well as several of the quaint smaller towns that are dispersed over the island.
Santa Monica Beach (Praia de Santa Mónica in Portuguese), which is a portion of Boa Vista, is regarded as the island’s most stunning beach. One can only be in awe of the magnificence of the location with its 18 kilometers of white sand across a turquoise blue sea. The beach is enormous and, as the cherry on top, it is still incredibly wild because it is hidden between sand dunes. Being by yourself is not tough on this vast sandbar. There is no better location for lazy people to stretch out a towel and tan at their leisure, but be careful to avoid getting sunburned!
Mindelo
Mindelo is a place where fun and culture coexist. The island of São Vicente is one of the biggest settlements in Cape Verde. It is one of the biggest cities and mixes the lovely Laginha beach with nightlife, bars, restaurants, and live music.
The cultural center in Mindelo is a great place to go if you want to learn about the local way of life. The center sells local goods and features a bookstore. Additionally, a recreation of the Tower of Belém (Torre de Belém) may be found in Mindelo close to the discoverer’s statue.
With close to 72,000 residents, Mindelo is the most vibrant city in Cape Verde and a prominent center of the island’s culture. It is also renowned for being the birthplace of both music and art. One of the most stunning bays on the planet is where it is reported to open. There are more clubs, discos, and restaurants there than in Praia, making it the best spot to go to the party if you want to experience Cape Verde through music. Avoid missing the Mindelo Carnival if you travel to Cape Verde at the beginning of February.
What activities are there in Cape Verde’s São Vicente besides cultural explorations? Take a hike (literally, we do not mean the slang for “go away”)! The landscape is picturesque, being both rough and lush. Explore Monte Verde, the island’s highest peak, and take in the breathtaking views. Visit the emblematic face of So Vicente, Monte Cara, a volcanic peak that resembles a laying face for which the singer Cesária Évora gave the name to one of her songs, as you pass by the fishermen’s homes on your route.
Sal
Probably one of the most well-liked places to holiday in Cape Verde is the island of Sal. The island offers a good amount of activities including diving, windsurfing, and surfing among other sports thanks to its crystal-clear, paradisiacal waters! The island of Sal is the place to go if you want to unwind on a white sandy beach. Several bars, resorts, and sunny days!
Sal is well-known for its broad, sandy beaches, the most stunning among which is the 8 km long Santa Maria beach, together with the island of Boa Vista. The island, which also stands to gain the most from the growth of tourism, is in fact the perfect getaway for fans of laziness and water activities, including kitesurfing.
The salt craters of Pedra de Lume, which are situated in the depression of an extinct crater, or the magnificent natural pools of Buracona, with their mesmerizing azure blue color, are two excursions that should not be missed in addition to its paradisiacal beaches. The lovely town of Santa Maria, whose narrow alleys are dotted with modest traditional eateries and craft shops, is well worthwhile visiting while staying in Sal.
Fire Volcano
The island of Fogo must be visited before Cape Verde. One of the most stunning volcanic sceneries you will ever see is on Ilha do Fogo! You can explore this area and take a long hike to the Fogo volcano thanks to the Fogo Natural Park. All visitors now have to make a trek to the island’s highest peak. São Filipe, the island’s biggest city, contains a historical district with a neighborhood store and a tiny museum that is definitely worth visiting!
At 2,829 meters above sea level, Pico do Fogo is the highest point in Cape Verde and the only volcano in the nation that is still active. What to do in Cape Verde if you do not want to climb Fogo? The volcano provides a magnificent view of the Chã das Caldeiras caldera. The last eruption occurred in 2014, and the volcano has been active for between 22 and 24 million years. The climb through slag with a 1,200-meter steep drop is definitely worth the detour because the lunar landscape is nearly entirely unique.
São Nicolau
The island of São Nicolau is overlooked in lieu of its neighbor, São Vicente, and is yet unknown to tourists. Because of this, the island has been capable of preserving its genuine personality and an almost unspoiled ecosystem. Agriculture provides the majority of the island’s population’s income. While much of the island is still used for terraced crops including fruits, vegetables, sugar cane, and manioc, the eastern section is still desert. The island has extremely productive land despite its bleak exterior. There are some beaches with black sand because the area is volcanic in origin.
However, the friendliness of the locals is what first draws visitors to São Nicolau. It is quite hospitable and one of the few locations in the archipelago in which you can quickly learn about traditional Cape Verdean music and customs. The island is also a hidden gem for hikers, who can explore its most stunning natural areas while walking, such as the Fajã valley or the park at Monte Gordo, the island’s highest point.
Tarrafal Beach
One of the islands’ most gorgeous beaches must be visited while you are on vacation in Cape Verde. On the island of Santiago, tucked between lush mountains and sleepy towns, is the Tarrafal beach. Perfect for unwinding and making safe dives. You may expect to take the most stunning photos of your visit to Cape Verde thanks to the magnificence of the blue ocean.
Santiago, the largest island in Cape Verde, is regarded as the heart of the group of islands. Praia, the nation’s capital and the place where the bulk of the people live, is admired for the authentic experience it provides tourists. But Santiago also boasts a beautiful environment and a diverse range of surroundings, including black sand beaches, towering peaks, vast desert stretches, and traditional communities, which promise a voyage full of culture and adventure.
As soon as you step off the airport here, you are surrounded by people from a variety of cultures, including those from Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Travelers frequently lament their lack of interest in Praia, the capital of the Cape Verde Islands. However, there is one attraction in Cape Verde that simply must be seen: the Praia market. You can explore the country’s popular culture and get a taste of its culinary traditions by strolling around the stands of fish, meat, fruit, and vegetables that the locals have just picked.
Enjoy a variety of flavors and aromas while listening to shopkeepers conversing with their customers for guaranteed genuine appeal. The rocky plateau known as ‘Platô’ encircles Praia’s core. The two beaches of the city, Praia Mar and Quebra Canela, are located on each side of this Platô. Take a stroll through Praia to see the Archaeological Museum before heading ten kilometers to the west to see Cidade Velha, the first city the Portuguese erected during the Middle Ages.
Santo Antão
Santo Antão, the second-largest island in the Cape Verde archipelago, is frequently included in trekking and adventure excursions because of the numerous hiking paths that crisscross its valleys and slopes. The island, which is volcanic in origin, is unique in that it offers a variety of landscapes to offer visitors: from a dry and desert terrain in the south to verdant valleys appropriate for cultivation in the north.
Hikers will find the island’s must-see locations throughout the defined paths on this paradise island, from the verdant Paúl Valley to the tropical lowlands in the Ribeira Grande area. Meeting the inhabitants and learning about the island’s rural potential, which includes its many acres of sugar cane, tropical plants, and sweet potatoes, are additional benefits of visiting Santo Antão. And one must try the local rum, which is said to be the best in the nation, before departing!
Follow itravelnet.com