Cape Verde (Africa)

It’s not just open ocean that separates Cape Verde from the rest of West Africa. Cool currents, for example, keep temperatures moderate, and a stable political and economic system help support West Africa’s highest standard of living. The population, who represent varying degrees of African and Portuguese heritage, will seem exuberantly warm if you fly in straight from, say, Britain, but refreshingly low-key if you arrive from Lagos or Dakar.

Though tiny in area, the islands contain a remarkable profusion of landscapes, from Maio’s barren flats to the verdant valleys of Santo Antão. And Fogo, a single volcanic peak whose slopes are streaked with rivers of frozen lava. The beaches of Sal and Boa Vista increasingly attract package-tour crowds, but Cape Verde remains a destination for the connoisseur – the intrepid hiker, the die-hard windsurfer, the deep-sea angler, the morno devotee.

Cape Verde Key Facts:

Population:
498,672

Capital City:
Praia (124,661)

Currency:
Cape Verdean Escudo, Euro

Languages:
Portuguese

Climate:
Cape Verde’s climate is pleasantly tropical with year round average temperatures between 26° and 30° C, uninterrupted sunshine from November to May and a rainy season between the months of June and October, when sudden but spectacular rainstorms can punctuate the hot sun. [Click Here for more Cape Verde Climate Details]

Time Difference:
GMT-1 (No Daylight Saving time)