About Cape Verde

Cape Verde

Cape Verde is a group of 10 largely undiscovered tropical islands located off the West coast of Africa and to the South of the Canary Islands. Once a Portuguese colony it became an independent republic in 1975.

On the same latitude as Barbados and with beautiful beaches and year round high temperatures Cape Verde is experiencing rapid growth in tourism encouraged by a government also committed to protect it's heritage and ecology.

Cape Verde is set to become increasingly popular owing to the start and future expansion of many direct flights and an open skies policy. As a result Cape Verde has become a top destination for property investment and is expected to deliver excellent capital growth and rental prospects.

Area Profile

The islands are divided into two groups, the Barlavento or windward islands which includes the islands of Sal, Boa Vista, Sao Vicente, Santo Antao and Sao Nicolau and the Sotavento or leeward islands including Santiago, Maio, Fogo and Brava.

Sal

Sal, the flattest island, derives its name from the inactive salt mines on the island. It measures approximately 30km by 12km. It is the most developed of the islands for tourism. It has Amilcar Cabral International Airport now receiving direct flights from Gatwick, Manchester and some other countries.

The extensive white sandy beaches and clear blue waters provide fabulous conditions for windsurfing, kite surfing, surfing, sailing, fishing (including big game fishing), snorkelling, diving and boat excursions.

There are many windsurfing and diving centres where equipment can be hired and lessons or courses arranged. International surfing competitions take place on Ponta Preta beach due to the ideal conditions and this year the PWA (Professional Windsurfing Association) held the first stage of the 2007 World Cup wave-sailing championship on Sal.

There are caves, interesting marine life and ship wrecks for divers to explore. Big game, trolling, drifting and bottom fishing trips are available daily, in groups or individually. The most commonly caught fish are wahoo, yellow-fin tuna, dolphin fish, sail fish, blue marlin, amberjack and sharks. Land fishing is also very popular.

While on Sal it is worth visiting the Pedro Lume salt mine which is located inside the crater of a long extinct volcano. The mine produced salt for the Portuguese Empire. The salinity level of the water there is similar to the Dead Sea and visitors can experience floating in it.

Other activities available include jet skiing, buggy and quad bike excursions and day trips or longer by aeroplane to other islands such as Boa Vista, Santiago, Fogo and Sao Vicente. These can be booked through Barracuda Tours www.barracudatours.com

Several golf courses are planned over the next few years and these will boost further the appeal of this island.

The island has several excellent hotels, bars and restaurants mainly located to the south of the island near Santa Maria.

Boa Vista

Boa Vista is similar, but larger than Sal. It has some of the best beaches to be found on Cape Verde, or indeed in the world. The port Sal Rei is the quaint capital of the island.

Boa Vista is some years behind Sal in terms of its infrastructure and the development of tourism but offers great potential. The airport is being upgraded and should be taking international flights by the end of 2007. Astraeus have expressed the intention to commence flights this year. Currently it is necessary to take a connecting flight from Sal or Santiago.

Boa Vista has all the ingredients to become a water-sports haven. Golf courses are also planned for the island.

Santiago

Santiago is the largest of Cape Verde's islands and is approximately 55km by 29km and is the home to Praia the nation's capital, and around half of Cape Verde's population. There is an international airport at Praia although currently no direct flights from the U.K.

The island is mountainous and although it lacks the beaches of some other islands, it has some stunning scenery.

Santiago has plenty to offer in terms of sightseeing with its interesting historical sights from Portuguese colonial times. Diving, fishing and biking are also available.

Praia offers numerous bars and restaurants and a lively nightlife.

Sao Vicente

Sao Vicente is probably the most cosmopolitan island. It has a thriving cultural side and is home to many artists and musicians. Despite its volcanic origins it is quite flat.

Mindelo is the capital and a port, with numerous bars and restaurants. From the Bay you can see Bird Island and Monte Cara or Face Mountain, which resembles a human profile carved out of the mountain. Monte Verde is the highest peak at 774 metres.

The beach of Sao Pedro is renowned for its beauty and is a popular windsurfing venue.

Climate

Cape Verde has a year round "dry tropical" climate. The year round daytime temperatures are between 23-30 degrees, and are quite stable, not getting too hot or too cold and humidity is usually low. The sea temperature is 21-26 degrees ( 3 degrees warmer than the canaries). There is an average of nearly 9 hours of sunshine per day and there is little rainfall. Although there is a fairly constant and usually pleasant breeze, there is no history of hurricanes, unlike Caribbean islands and Canaries very few insects!

Language, History & Culture

The main language is Portuguese and the local dialect is "Creolo".

Cape Verde's islands were uninhabited until discovered in 1465 and became part of the Portuguese empire. In July 1975 the islands become fully independent.

The people of Cape Verde are of Portuguese and African descent and this is reflected in its culture. It is known for its distinctive brands of both music and dance. Cape Verde hosts the Baias des Gates music festival which brings thousands of visitors to the Islands.

There is a broad range of food available in the hotels and restaurants but fish is a particular forte with tuna, wahoo, groupa, squid and octopus widely available. The local dish is called 'Cachupa', of Portuguese influence, a form of stew made with meat and fish.

Most wines are either from the island of Fogo or imported from Portugal.

Getting There

Cape Verde is around 5 ½ hours frm the UK and 6 hours from Ireland. There are direct flights to Sal from Gatwick, Manchester, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Paris, Munich, Frankfurt, Oporto and Madrid. Direct flights are expected shortly from the UK to Boa Vista.

Direct flights from the UK are with Astraeus airlines. For details and bookings see http://www.flystar.com. Alternatively bookings can be made through Teleticket (www.teletickettravel.com)

Currency

The currency on Cape Verde is the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE). The exchange rate is fixed to the Euro at CVE 110.265 = 1 Euro. Most bars, restaurants and shops accept payment in Euros.

Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most hotels and currency can be changed at banks and some hotels.

Visas

A Tourist visa is required to visit Cape Verde. They have a duration of 90 days, but may be extended before the 90 day period has elapsed. It is important to check that your passport remains valid for at least the 90 day period. They can be obtained on arrival but it is preferable to apply prior to departure. UK and EIRE citizens may apply to the Cape Verde Bureau in Liverpool (Tel: 0151 255 1314) and an application form and instructions can be obtained from their website www.capeverdebureau.com. The current fee is £55.00.

Politics and Economics

Cape Verde has a stable multi-party democracy. All political parties are keen to attract foreign investment and to promote and encourage responsible tourism. Various fiscal polices have been implemented to further this goal and a number of initiatives are being taken to improve the infrastructure. A strong tourism industry is a main part of the governments strategy for sustainable economic development.

Over the last few years annual inflation has been below 1.4% while GDP has grown by more than 6% per annum.

Other Information

No mandatory inoculations are required for Cape Verde.

There are private health clinics, dentistry clinics and pharmacies in Cape Verde.

There is a mobile telephone network which has roaming agreements with most continental European operators.

Cape Verde is just one hour behind GMT.