The islands of the archipelago of Cabo Verde are windy, hilly and dry – almost lunar – but there’s beauty in them that parched hills. And some of the islands are actually lush. There’s good diving and hiking, lively nightlife and plenty of quiet corners to hide away in. Meet our friendly people, try our food, watch the sunset and make Cabo Verde islands the paradise of whatever you want it to be.

NIGHTLIFE
When the sun goes down, a whole different side of Cabo Verde comes to life. Many hotels have large reception areas featuring live entertainment.

Local Cabo-verdean musicians are very professional and are usually performing at “Theme Nights.” These are popular in Cabo Verde: on any given night, you can catch parties with themes such as Cabo-verdean night, the island’s relaxing music or the traditional thrilling limbo night! They invite audience participation, so be ready to party down!

The menu allows you to choose from casual seaside dining to truly classical European cuisine in an elegant setting. For those who have families and need to have the kids feel as if they’re at home with the foods they’re used to, popular fast-food chains such as McDonald’s aren’t available yet but similar foods can be arranged.

Consider the sea breezes as an appetizing touch to outdoor dining under starry nights; The delight of a different ambiance offered with each dining experience is an additional pleasure to be found in Cabo Verde. International menus include Chinese, Dutch, Italian, French and Portuguese cuisine.

Local Cabo Verdean favorites are available at special restaurants with seafood fresh from the Atlantic waters, prepared in many ways as there are cuisine to choose from.

Ask any local which disco is “the” happening place at the moment and you’ll find all of the excitement right there.

DIVING
Diving is becoming one of the major sporting activities of the Cabo Verde Islands. Much of Cabo Verde presents an underwater world of massive rock formations, caves, canyons, ledges and sharp wall drop-offs. All of these are home to fish, eel, and lobster in many areas.
If you wish to learn how to dive, take a Scuba Diving Course so as not to miss out on the beauty, not to mention excitement, of Cabo Verde’s underwater world. Divers can enjoy the many diving sites Cabo Verde has to offer; go wall diving, reef diving, or explore wrecks sunk off the coast.

If you prefer to remain close to the surface and snorkel, you may enjoy not only the beauty of the coral formations, but also the wreck sites with a visibility, at some sites, of 100 feet.

The fauna of the archipelago is extremely rich due to its underwater platforms and to the water’s pureness and temperatures. Some of the permanent species includes the golden bream, the wahoo, the bonito, the moray eel and the black grouper; as for migratory species, they comprise the tuna fish, the dolphin, the whale, the sperm whale and the killer whale.

Shellfish stands out for its quantity and variety: the lobster, several species of crab and mollusks with stunning shells, together with magnificent coral, will undoubtedly delight every collector. The sea turtle is also common in the archipelago, using the most isolated beaches to spawn.

The warm and clear waters of Cabo Verde presents thus excellent requirements for scuba or skin diving, for the discovery of a wonderful underwater fauna of multicolor schools, shipwrecks and mysterious caves.

BIRD WATCHING
Bird watching is an activity that can be enjoyed on any of the islands as a main vacation option or purely as pleasant pastime during your visit.

The islands all have their own unique variety of bird life, with special bird breeds associated with certain islands. Some breeds can be very common to all islands, while others need a lot of time and special island visits to find. An example of such a bird is the ‘ngon-ngon’ from Fogo.

The birds are now so rare they have been placed on the International Red List of endangered species, as only a few hundred remain. These nocturnal birds are seen along the craters of the Pico de Fogo. This trip is not for the faint hearted due to the rock climbing and walking entailed, but the results for bird watching enthusiasts will be well worth it.

Other birds which can be found around the islands include the very common ‘Pandion haliaetus’, the Osprey or the very rare ‘Gallinula chloropus’, the Moorhen.

Bird watching can play a major role in other vacation options such as sailing and trekking. These can all be arranged as a whole vacation option, incorporating a variety of different activities.

FISHING
In the temperate waters around Cabo Verde, a variety of Atlantic game fish can be caught year-round. The experienced captain and his/her first mate will help the vacationing fishing enthusiast bring in any fish, even if they have little previous experience. Many restaurants will even cook and serve your catch of the day!

Most styles of fishing are available on Cabo Verde Islands. Some organizations are more experienced than others. The waters contain a considerable number and variety of fish.

In addition, beach casting style fishing from the reefs can be successful from many points of the island.

There are many different types of fish around the islands. Below is a list of the most popular species:
Albacora – Yellowfin tuna.
Bidiao carnaval – Guinean parrot fish.
Esmoregal – Greater amberjack.
Serrano – Comber
Pargo – Common seabream.
Bica de Rocha – Atlantic emperor.
Charroco – Scorpionfish.
Corvina – Barred hogfish.
Salnoete – Striped red mullet.
Moreia dourada – Goldentail moray.
Moreia pintada – Honeycomb moray.

SURFING
The island of Sal is the first stop for surfers. A constant breeze allows beginners in the sport to try their skills close to the beach, whilst the seasonally strong winds are the attraction for world champions, some of whom travel to the Cabo Verde islands to train.

Winter brings the greatest swells, coming from the North. Summer creates more consistent surf with southerly winds. In the winter, the wind sometimes makes surfing difficult during late morning periods, as this is when the trade winds pick up.

Although when the wind is very strong, and there are waves, Sal becomes a wave sailing paradise. The Trilogy windsurfing competition is held in Punta Preta on Sal, probably being the best known location for it in the world.

TREKKING
Trekking is one of the most popular activities on the Cabo Verde Islands, and is available on nearly all islands.

Each of the islands offer a variety of unique locations and trekking difficulties, although all the islands offer breathtaking views and opportunities for bird watching and geological studies along the way.

Santo Antao is possibly the most popular trekking destination offering a delightful journey on foot. Along the sleepy rocky coastline through green valleys and terraced plantations, wilderness and volcanic landscape. Heights exceeding 1500m of flowering peaks offer a magnificent sight.

An expedition not to be missed on a trekking vacation is an adventure up the Pico de Fogo, which is one of the steepest and most spectacular volcanic cones in the world.

SUN AND BEACH
Long white sandy beaches are found on the islands of Boavista, Sal and Maio. They are considered some of the best beaches in the world and the main forces are the sea, swimming related activities, the climate and the water-related sports such as diving, windsurfing and offshore blue-water fishing.

Cabo Verde is like music. When music and love enter the heart, never again do they leave. Like music, it is given and shared freely with any visitors who arrive on the islands. From sun and beach of Sal, Maio and Boavista to eco-tourism of Fogo and Brava and rural tourism of Santiago, SAntao and SNicolau, Cabo Verde islands offer a variety of options for travelers seeking new experiences and discoveries.

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