Travel tips Cape Verde

Cape Verde, officially the Republic of Cape Verde, is an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa. The country consists of an archipelago of 10 islands, 9 of which are inhabited. You have the Windward Islands (Boa Vista, Ilha Do Sal, São Vicente, Santa Antão, São Nicolau and Santa Luzia) and the Leeward Islands (Santiago, Brava, Fogo and Maio).

The most common way to travel to Cape Verde from the Netherlands is by plane. The country has international airports on the islands of Sal, Santiago, Boa Vista and São Vicente. Air travel to Cape Verde takes about 6 hours if you fly direct.

The islands of Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago, São Vicente and Fogo are the most popular islands to visit. Especially Sal is very well known among Dutch vacationers, this is because you can find beautiful white sandy beaches with crystal clear water. These are all our tips for Ilha do Sal in Cape Verde! 

Between the islands you can travel by plane and boat. Inter-island flights are offered by TICV (Transportes Interilhas de Cabo Verde) which connects the main islands. A cheaper alternative to travel between the islands is by boat, but the travel time can be a lot longer. For both options, we can recommend booking tickets in time, especially in high season.

Cape Verde has a tropical climate so the temperature is fairly constant throughout the year. Therefore, you can say that you can perfectly well go on vacation to the Cape Verde Islands every month of the year. Nevertheless, it is advisable to take into account the following factors:

• High season: the islands can be very busy from November through March;

• The rainy season: there are two periods, August to October and January to March;

• Wind: Cape Verde is known for its trade winds, especially in the winter months.

Cape Verde offers a variety of beautiful sights and activities. These are our best Cape Verde travel tips, sights and activities not to miss:

• The stretched sandy beaches on Sal, Boa Vista and São Vicente;

• Pico de Fogo: visit the volcanic island and climb Cape Verde's highest mountain;

• Mindelo: Explore the colorful streets of the bustling city on the island of São Vicente;

• Salinas of Pedra de Lume: explore the salt mines and float in one of the salt pans;

• Santa Maria: a charming fishing village with nice restaurants, bars and stores;

• Boat trips and water sports: the Cape Verde Islands lend themselves perfectly to activities at sea;

• Cidade Velha: one of the oldest European settlements in the tropics;

• Santo Antão: make an excursion to the green and mountainous island where you can hike beautifully.

Curious about the island of Sal? These are the best sights on Sal Island.