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Embrace the glorious beaches

Most Cape Verde holidays are based on the desert island of Sal, where miles of idyllic virgin coastline fringe the barren interior. Seaside village Santa Maria is the main draw, especially for those booking all-inclusive Cape Verde breaks.

Sal’s rival for all-inclusive Cape Verde trips is Boa Vista, to the south. Here, the same powdery dunes, turquoise seas and pancake-flat terrain come with fewer sun-loungers and jewellery hawkers. But Sal is hands-down the best island in Cape Verde for diving. There are no reefs, but the lava caves, wrecks, tropical critters and whale sharks more than make up for it.

Enjoy hijinks and history

Cape Verde’s party isle has to be São Vicente. Its main town, Mindelo, is where Morna, the archipelago’s indigenous music style, is best experienced. Also present is an English edge: afternoon teas and a lone golf course are the legacies of a 1870s British coal station.

The island of Santiago is home to Cape Verde’s modern-day capital, Praia, plus its predecessor – the UNESCO-protected ex-slave-trade port of Cidade Velha. Further north, the leafy interior makes a great setting for walking holidays.

Get active – on land or sea

The hiking is also excellent on Santo Antão, where ribeira (stream) paths connect jagged, ridgetops with verdant valleys and banana plantations. On Fogo, meanwhile, the chief challenge is summiting its active volcano. Unassuming São Nicolau is another worthwhile stop on the trekking circuit, as is bijou Brava and its flower-filled heartland.

But walking is far from the only activity on offer in this island paradise. There’s also caving in volcanic tubes on Fogo, bird watching on Santiago and blue marlin fishing off São Vicente and São Nicolau. Kite surfers and windsurfers flock to Sal and Boa Vista for their 20-knot gusts, while superior swells also entice surfers into booking cheap Cape Verde breaks.

When to go

Sal receives 350 annual days of sun, with the other islands not far behind. Most stay warmer than the Canaries during winter – April’s weather is especially good – and offer peak summer temperatures that are more bearable than Greece, Turkey or Spain.

Winds blow steadily all year, though, particularly in winter. That makes the weather in December great for surfing, but less suited to lying on the beach. October’s weather is particularly good for walkers, with the wet season having left the western islands beautifully lush.

Seeking cheap Cape Verde holidays? Hotel prices drop lowest from April to June, with last-minute deals also available in July and August despite the still-great weather.

Events for your diary

São Vicente Carnaval: Like its Brazilian counterparts, Cape Verde’s Carnaval season sees flamboyant floats and feasts take place around the island 40 days before Easter. The versions on São Vicente tend to be especially memorable.

Santiago Gamboa Festival: Held in mid-May, the Gamboa Festival attracts musicians from around the world. Combined with the warm May weather, its beach setting induces a blissed-out vibe.