Cape Verde Holidays

An Archipelago oasis with stunning beaches, delish eateries and bangin bars that are all practically begging you to come and stay on your jollies.

Destination highlights

10 islands to choose from
A tropical climate to die for
Bundles of white-sand beaches
The third-largest nesting site for loggerhead turtles

What are the best beaches to visit on your Cape Verde holidays?

With 10 beautiful islands to choose from, Cape Verde holidays have a stretch of coast to suit every occasion, from kid-friendly bucket-and-spade spots to scenic backdrops for those last-minute couples' holidays with your special someone.

Santa Maria Beach - this is probs one of the most popular beaches in Cape Verde, home to a hub of water sports even in the winter months, and over 3km of powder-soft sands framed by buzzing bars.
Prainha Beach - perfect for a family outing, we're talking local vendors for snacks and drinks, calm waters for paddling and plenty of space to chuck your towels down.
Ponta Preta Beach - the best place to head if you like things to be a lil quieter, it's the perfect nook to escape the business of Sal, with soft, uncrowded sands.
Tarrafal Beach - wanna feel like you’ve stepped straight into a postcard? Then this is your bag. Head to Santiago where you'll find a gorgeous blend of golden sands and green countryside perfect for a snorkel.
Praia de Santa Monica - these are the kinda bragging rights you wanna aim for, not often you can say you've topped your tan up on the most beautiful beach in Cape Verde - it's packing gorge white sands and calm waters perfect for a swim or an Insta-spam.
Praia de Chaves - on the island of Boa Vista, this stunning beach is a paradise waiting to be stepped on, the lush sand is the perf place to plonk your towel down and get your tan on - it can get pretty windy here sometimes, so windsurfing and kitesurfing are a must!

What are the top hotels to choose for your holidays to Cape Verde?

From loud-and-proud beachfront resorts to charming apartment complexes, narrowing down the best hotels in Cape Verde is no easy task - but we tried!

Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort - a boujee five-star stay is on the cards with all you can need for a jam-packed family jolly, we're talking water sports, a pool, kid's clubs and tasty dining spots.
Vila Do Farol - the swanky swimming pool at this hotel is dying to be photographed, but maybe even more so is the gorge Santa Maria beach complete with beach bar that the hotel is sat along.
Morabeza - another four-star corker along Santa Maria beach, with a tonne of sports activities on offer, three swimming pools, tennis courts, bars and restaurants galore, you name it, it's probably here.
Agua Hotels Sal Vila Verde - this ones got the family in mind with glistening swimming pools, a playground for the little ones, buffet-style or a la carte dining options and even a handy dandy shuttle service to Ponta Preta beach and the town of Santa Maria - how's that for swanky.
Hotel LIVVO Budha Beach - a top-tier stay in the sun with a boutique feel from the small number of rooms to the experimental fusion dining all the way to the live music at sunset, sports and leisure activities and swimming pools to die for.

Your Cape Verde Holidays 2024 Travel Guide

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Things to do in Cape Verde for Families

One thing we know for sure about a family jolly to Cape Verde is that you're never gonna be short of things to do from the gorge beaches scattered across the different islands, to the delish food you're gonna be bagging all the way to the thrilling water-sports and cute animal sightings. What better place to start than at the Viveiro Garden Centre & Animal Sanctuary on the island of Sal where you can get immersed in the islands stunning flora while you feed the rescue animals, guinea pigs, donkeys and even a monkey are waiting to snag some fruit from ya.

If you find yourself on your holidays to Cape verde between July and October then you'll be able to head to Ervatao Beachv on the island of Boa Vista and spot the Loggerhead turtles in their nesting place, they are best viewed when the sun has set, but there are a tonne of guided tours that can make sure you and the fam don't miss this natural phenomenon in all it's glory.

👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏾 Things to do in Cape Verde for Couples

The Sahara blows it's way over to Boa Vista, so it'd be rude not to book yourself onto a star gazing excursion with your SO on your Cape Verde holidays. We're thinking top-notch romantic vibes with an uninterrupted view of the sky (unless there's clouds, but let's not think about that), a delish dinner at the base camp, and plenty of milky way sightings that your naked eye will latch onto and that's on zero desert light pollution.

If you like stretching your sea legs then you'll deffo wanna book yourself onto an all-inclusive adults only catamaran trip starting out in Sal and crusiing along the Western coast of the island while you knock back some tasty cocktails, feel the surf spray on your skin and groove to the music. You'll drop anchor for swimming and snorkelling too, fun in the sun has never applied more.

🥾 Things to do in Cape Verde for Adventurers

What better way to test your metal than with a tour Shark's Bay, that is if you aren't scared of the finned animals from the deep. This is the home of the lemon sharks, naturally shy by natuyre, you might only catch a glimpse of a fin poking above the surface, but that alone would be enough to get out hearts racing - in fact we'll stick to the beach and watch. By all means though, you go right ahead and wade out to the shallows with your guide to join them as they swim through their habitat.

The beaches across the islands all play host to a variety of different waters, and with a lot of them catching breezes, it makes them the perfect spot to rip some waves on a surfboard. It's one of the most popular water sports for a reason and what better time than now to try your hand at it, or dust of your skills you've let sit unused since your last surfy jolly. There are lessons on the popular beaches to make sure you're ready to take to the water, with all the techniques available to have you gliding along in no time.

🌋 Things to do in Cape Verde for Nature Lovers

Strap your hiking boots on and prepare for a trek into the slopes of the Serra da Malagueta mountain range - it's the perfect place for all types of nature lovers no matter your skill level, you can make the trek through forests and farms where you might spy some local wildlife from flora to animals. The trail includes the islands second-highest peak so it truly does cover all the bases for a perfect hike on your Cape Verde holidays.

If you're more about getting onto the water and less about the walking then you might wanna consider some whale watching. This is best enjoyed between March and May when pods of blue whales congregate off the coast of cape Verde to mate. You'll set sail from Boa Vista to the Whales fave hangout - like youths hanging round the local off license - where you might catch some breach the surface as you slowly approach and if you do, then make sure your camera is ready and your prepared to get soaked!

Popular Cape Verde hotels

Stunning Cape Verde resorts

Weather in Cape Verde

JAN

22^°C

FEB

22^°C

MAR

24^°C

APR

25^°C

MAY

25^°C

JUN

27^°C

JUL

28^°C

AUG

28^°C

SEP

27^°C

OCT

25^°C

NOV

23^°C

DEC

23^°C

This island paradise wears its sunny heart on its sleeve all year round, serving up a delightful cocktail of beach-perfect days and starlit nights throughout your whole Cape Verde holidays.

Let's chat about Cape Verde's weather in summer. Can you picture it? Temperatures lovingly lingering between 23 and 31°C, with a side order of crystal-clear blue skies. It's like someone spilt sunshine all over the place. The perfect setting for a splash in the sea or a snooze under a swaying palm tree.

But don't pack away your flip-flops just yet! Winter here is a bit of a secret superstar. The mercury dips a lil, but not a lot with temps sitting between the low to mid-20s Celsius, just enough to give you that perfect sun-kissed glow. It's the season of long beach walks and alfresco dinners without breaking a sweat.

In spring and autumn, Cape Verde's weather strikes a harmonious balance. It's like someone set the weather dial to 'lovely' and then lost the key.

FAQs

It takes about 6 hours to fly from the UK/Ireland to Cape Verde - not as long as you were thinking? Good, so time to sink a few inflight tipples!

The local currency in Cape Verde is the Cape Verdean Escudo.

The time in Cape Verde is one hour behind the UK/Ireland - you're flying 6 hours only for jet lag not to be an excuse to take an extra day off work when you get home. Devastating.

The official language spoken in Cape Verde is Portuguese.

Spot the turtles

Sal Island is home to Project Biodiversity - a conservation which aims to protect the loggerhead turtles in their natural nesting sites, so it's a great opportunity to bring the kids along and learn all there is to know about these fascinating sea turtles on your holidays to Cape Verde!

Visit the salt mines

The Pedra de Lume salt mines are pretty to look at with their shades of pink and white along the mountains, but if you take a dip in one of the salt ponds then you can admire the view whilst reaping the medicinal benefits of the water, how's that for a two-for-one.

Head to the Blue Eye

Buracona, also known as the Blue Eye, is a natural turquoise-coloured pool in Sal, formed by volcanic lava which creates a hole in the ocean and fills with water. You can take a swim in the pool on calmer days, or wander along the wooden walkway and admire the view.

Grab your snorkel

The surrounding oceans provide plenty of opportunities to snorkel on your Cape Verde holidays, but the village of Murdeira in particular is a great spot to explore what’s beneath the water’s surface.

Take a ride along the sand dunes

Boa Vista’s sweeping sand dunes are a sight to behold, and if you really want to immerse yourself in the experience, then you can hop on a quad bike for a Tomb-Raider level sand shredder in the desert.

Hike to Monte Verde

Monte Verde is the highest peak in São Vincente, get mentally prepared for aching calves and sweaty backs, but we believe in you, get your walking boots strapped on and soak up the gorge panoramic views at the top for a true Cape verde holidays memory maker.

What are the best events in Cape Verde?
It's not just about island hopping and beach bumming at this holiday hotspot, oh no, there's plenty of events and festivals taking place throughout the Archipelagos that are gonna have you feeling like a local and living like one too. Check out some of the events we wanna shout about below:
- Sao Vicente Carnival (February) - it's a party so iconic that half the world has got its own spin on it, even Cape Verde, Carnivale is a colourful, boisterous celebration featuring music, parades and eye-candy costumes.
- Kriol Jazz Festival (April) - a celebration of all things jazz and Creole that attracts artists from the world over for a day of music and joy - not one to be missed guys, especially if you're a music lover
- Gamboa Festival (May) - Santiago Island is bouncing when this music festival rolls into Praia with a host of local and international artists spanning multiple genres.
- Sao Joao Festival (June) - a more traditional festival with music, dancing, bonfires and a tonne of delish food, a Cape Verde holiday can only get better when this is on the agenda.
- Santa Isabel (July) - a celebration of the patron saint of Boa Vista, this event is brought to life with concerts, processions, crafts stalls, plenty of food and drink pop-ups and even a beauty pageant!
- Sao Vicente Baia das Gatas Festival (August) - this festival takes place over the August full moon and is beckoned along by artists and bands to thrum the great rock around the planet... kinda a big deal if you're all about astrology and partying.
- Santa Maria Festival (September) - a music festival to level up your holidays to Cape Verde with live music and a side of nibbles and tipples from the stalls that spring up along Santa Maria.
- National Culture Day (October) - something that'll get you feeling like a local, this celebration honours Cape Verdeam culture in all its facets and form with events, exhibitions and performances that scream Cape Verde.
- Mindelact (November) - calling all theatre lovers, this ones definitely for you! An international festival featuring performances from local and international theatre groups - keep it on your radar if you love live shows and the thrill of the stage.
- Christmas and NYE Celebrations (December) - the festive season is a time to be together, and where else but on a holiday to Cape Verde? You can expect decorations, and religious services, and when the clock strikes midnight on NYE, then let the fireworks crack and the parties get into their groove.
Where’s the best nightlife in Cape Verde?
Cape Verde is quite a laidback place, so most of its nightlife is centred around traditional dancing and live music. As the sun starts to set, you’ll hear plenty of local venues playing Morna music - traditional Cape Verdean music with guitars, violins, piano and native lyrics. There are, however, still plenty of clubs that will play more modern pop music for you to dance the night away on your Cape Verde holidays:
- Pirata Nightclub, Santa Maria - a pirate themed nightclub? who wouldda guessed from the name? This spot is one of the main nightclubs in Santa Maria with booming beats and themed nights.
- Morabeza Beach Club, Sal Rei - if you're after a beach party to plaster on your Insta-story, then this is your place, it's got stun views and even more stun food to sink your teeth into while you enjoy the live music.
- Mansa Floating Hub, Mindelo - one of the more unique spots on this list, this bar and club floats in Mindelo Bay where you can dance to pulse pumping DJ sets and enjoy live music.
- Quintal da Musica, Praia - a drink menu that will not quit, plenty of shows and live performances and the vibrant tones of traditional Camp Verdean music that'll have you shaking, rattling and rolling.
- Tam Tam Bar, Santa Maria - if you're looking for something laid back where you can enjoy some local music and tasty tipples while you have a natter with your pals under the Camp Verdean sun.
What's the food like in Cape Verde?
Seafood features heavily on the menu in Cape Verde, and thanks to its island status with plenty of surrounding water, it’s always as fresh as it comes. But, why stop there? There's so much tasty food to sample and add to the palate, in fact, we're such big advocates for trying new, local food that we've made you a lil list of things to try while you're on your holidays to Cape Verde:
- Cachupa - a slow-cooked stew made with vegetables, beans and either meat or fish.
- Pastel - a fried parcel filled with shredded tuna, chicken or beans and seasoned with paprika
- Ressois, which is essentially a Cape Verdean croquette, with mashed potato, shredded fish (usually mackerel), garlic and onions stuffed into a thin dough and rolled in breadcrumbs, before being deep-fried for a deliciously crispy coating.
- Cuscuz, which is across between a cake and a cornbread, often served with breakfast foods or topped with butter
- Queijo de cabra com doce de papaia - this one might sound confusing, but it’s essentially just goat’s cheese topped with papaya jam for a lil' sweet treat.
- Grogue - if you're feeling brave and fancy a tradish tipple, then try this Cape Verdean sugar cane rum.
What is food on your Cape Verde holidays without somewhere to settle down and tuck into it though? Like these recommendations for instance:
- Odjo d'Agua Hotel Restaurant, Santa Maria -if you're looking for local Cape Verdean flavour (like that Chacupa we mentioned), then don't look anywhere but here for freshness so good you'll be coming back for seconds.
- El Mirador, Sal Rei - you come for the food and stay for the banging views of the ocean, seems fitting it offers ocean views and ocean food, we're talking only the freshest locally sourced seafood from grilled lobster to octopus salad.
- Taverna, Mindelo - we thought we'd chuck a lil' Italian offering into the mix, sometimes you crave your home comforts, so let this spot whisk you away to pizza and pasta central all made with fresh ingredients and a whole lotta love.
- Kebra Cabana, Praia - a beachfront location is just what the doctor ordered for dinner time, and this spot serves up local and international dishes in peaceful ambience by the crashing waves.
- Le Privé, Santa Maria - fancy something a bit more gourmet? Then keep this one on your radar for an upscale blend of local ingredients and international flavour dished up in a cozy ambience that'll have you floating away while you fill yer boots.

Places to visit

Cidade Velha
If you're a bit of a history buff and you're all about exploring places of time gone by, then make sure you get this at the top of your Cape Ver-do list. It's all about soaking up the sights, like the old churches, the markets, the cobbled streets, the fortress, all of it harkening back to Portugal's past when they discovered and settled on the islands. Over time the capital of Cape Verde was practically forced to move elsewhere, leaving this gorge town to the passing of time. It has since been rebuilt in an attempt to capture its once great essence and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Basically, when it comes to history with a view, this is your place, think of all the snaps of you on the fortress walls with the sea in the background, the cobbled streets making it onto your phone background... the possibilities are endless if you make a stop off here on your holidays to Cape Verde.
Fogo Island
Have you ever fancied climbing to the summit of an active volcano? A bit of thrillseeking with a dash of getting some of the ole fresh air in the lungs and a drizzle of getting them legs working overtime on this Cape Verde holiday. It's giving nature stroll with a vacay twist, a nature stroll that we reckon is ten times better with a guided tour to keep you feeling safe while you get up close and personal with some hot hot lava. Better yet, most excursions to this gorge island which holds the highest peak in Cape Verde atop it's back, is that private transfer is usually included, so one less thing to stress about, and hey, think about the killer views on the way up and at the top, that ought to settle any nerves you might have.
The Shipwreck of the M/S Cabo Santa Maria
This is one of those rare touristy spectacles that you really have to see before its gone, there's something morbidly fascinating about shipwrecks, which is probably why so many of them that end up on shorelines become sightseeing hot spots, and the Cabo Santa Maria is definitely no exception. After becoming stranded on a sandbar off the coast of Boa Vista, this ship has slowly deteriorated over the last 50 years, almost fully being claimed by the waves. So, what better time than the present to get yourself booked on a swanky excursion to go and marvel at this relic before it's gone, it might not be everyones cup of tea, but we reckon it's a pretty cool way to spend a day on your Cape Verde holidays.

Please check with your healthcare provider for all up to date vaccination advice before booking your holiday.

Yes, a tourist tax of €2 per person, per night for up to 10 nights (to a maximum of €20 for each guest) is payable for all visitors staying in hotels, apartments, villas, and bed & breakfast establishments in Cape Verde.

Cape Verde Holidays

Destination highlights

What are the best beaches to visit on your Cape Verde holidays?

What are the top hotels to choose for your holidays to Cape Verde?

Your Cape Verde Holidays 2024 Travel Guide

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Things to do in Cape Verde for Families

👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏾 Things to do in Cape Verde for Couples

🥾 Things to do in Cape Verde for Adventurers

🌋 Things to do in Cape Verde for Nature Lovers

Popular Cape Verde hotels

Stunning Cape Verde resorts

Weather in Cape Verde

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

View destination on a map

FAQs

How long does it take to fly to Cape Verde?

What currency do they use in Cape Verde?

What's the time difference between the UK/Ireland and Cape Verde?

What language do they speak in Cape Verde?

Spot the turtles

Visit the salt mines

Head to the Blue Eye

Grab your snorkel

Take a ride along the sand dunes

Hike to Monte Verde

What are the best events in Cape Verde?

Where’s the best nightlife in Cape Verde?

What's the food like in Cape Verde?

Places to visit

Cidade Velha

Fogo Island

The Shipwreck of the M/S Cabo Santa Maria

Key facts about Cape Verde

Flight time

6 hrs

Time Difference

-1 hr

Currency

Cape Verdean Escudo

Language

Portuguese

Do I need any vaccinations to visit Cape Verde?

Do I need to pay tax on my holiday to Cape Verde?