Cape Verde
Sal and Boa Vista's Atlantic beaches, year-round 25°C climate and Creole heritage
Best Deal of Cape Verde
Overview
Things To Do
Deals
Travel Guide
Cape Verde is one of the Atlantic's most rewarding holiday destinations, located 570km off the West African coast just under six hours from the UK. This volcanic archipelago of ten islands (nine inhabited) blends Saharan-style desert landscapes, dramatic volcanic peaks, Caribbean-quality beaches and a unique Creole-Portuguese culture into a uniquely affordable year-round winter sun destination. The main tourist islands of Sal and Boa Vista offer 8km Blue Flag beaches, kitesurfing on world-class trade winds and loggerhead turtle nesting. Beyond the resort islands, visitors can hike the active 2,829m Pico do Fogo volcano, explore the colonial-era harbour town of Mindelo on São Vicente and walk the rugged coffee-growing valleys of Santo Antão. With year-round 25°C climate, calm Atlantic water, English-speaking resort staff and direct UK flights, Cape Verde is ideal for couples holidays, winter sun escapes, family holidays and all-inclusive beach breaks. Johnson Holidays offers ATOL-protected Cape Verde holidays and Atlantic island package holidays from multiple UK airports.
✨ Why Visit Cape Verde
- Year-round 25°C climate — Cape Verde averages 22°C in January and 27°C in August, with no real off-season and consistently calm sea conditions on Sal and Boa Vista.
- 8km Blue Flag beaches — Santa Maria Beach on Sal and Praia de Chaves on Boa Vista are among the Atlantic's longest unbroken sandy bays.
- Direct UK flights from over 8 airports — TUI Airways, easyJet and Jet2 fly direct to Sal (SID) and Boa Vista (BVC), 5hr 45min from London Gatwick.
- The world's third-largest loggerhead turtle nesting population — protected nesting sites at Sal and Boa Vista with guided night tours from June to October.
- World-class kitesurfing and windsurfing — the constant trade winds at Kite Beach (Sal) deliver 16–25-knot conditions from November to May.
- Cape Verdean Creole culture — the unique Portuguese-African heritage, morna and coladeira music, and the legacy of Cesária Évora (the "Barefoot Diva").
? What Makes Cape Verde Special
Unlike the Canary Islands, Cape Verde delivers genuinely Atlantic-tropical climate (no winter chill, no autumn rains) with year-round 25°C temperatures and calm Atlantic water suitable for swimming every month. Unlike the Caribbean, Cape Verde sits just 5hr 45min from the UK — the closest "tropical" beach destination Europeans can reach without long-haul travel. And unlike most short-haul beach destinations, Cape Verde pairs reliable winter-sun beaches with genuinely distinctive volcanic geography — the active 2,829m Pico do Fogo on Fogo Island, the Saharan dunes of Boa Vista's Viana Desert and the dramatic coffee-growing valleys of Santo Antão deliver active-adventure depth that no Mediterranean destination can match. The combination of year-round climate, direct UK flights, all-inclusive resort depth and active volcanic landscapes makes Cape Verde the Atlantic's most rounded winter sun destination.
? Key Areas to Explore
- Sal Island — The most-developed tourist island, with the headline Santa Maria Beach, Kite Beach, the Pedra de Lume salt crater pools and most UK direct flights into SID.
- Santa Maria (Sal) — The main resort town on Sal's southern tip, with the 8km Blue Flag beach, the central pier and the densest concentration of UK-aimed AI hotels.
- Boa Vista Island — The quieter family island, with the Viana Desert dunes, 55km of beaches and the loggerhead turtle protected zones.
- Sal Rei (Boa Vista) — The main town and resort hub on Boa Vista, with the harbour, Praia de Estoril and the daily local market.
- São Vicente Island — Cape Verde's cultural island, with the colourful Creole port town of Mindelo and the annual Mindelo Carnival.
- Santo Antão Island — The rugged mountainous "garden island" with coffee plantations, the Cova de Paúl crater valley and serious hiking.
- Fogo Island — The volcanic island with the active 2,829m Pico do Fogo (last erupted 2014) and the unique Chã das Caldeiras crater village wine.
- Santiago Island — The largest island, home to the capital Praia and the UNESCO-listed Cidade Velha (the first European colonial settlement in the tropics, 1462).
- São Nicolau Island — Quieter island for serious hikers, with Monte Gordo Natural Park.
- Maio Island — The most undeveloped tourist island, with 24km of empty white-sand beaches.
A ten-island Atlantic archipelago that pairs year-round 25°C beach holidays with active volcanoes, Saharan dunes and Creole-Portuguese culture — broken down by category below.
?️ Nature & Outdoor Activities
- Quad-bike across the Viana Desert dunes (Boa Vista)
- Hike Pico do Fogo active volcano (2,829m, Fogo Island)
- Watch loggerhead turtle nesting (June to October, Sal and Boa Vista)
- Trek Santo Antão's Cova de Paúl crater valley
- Float in the Pedra de Lume salt crater (Sal Island)
?️ Beaches
- Santa Maria Beach (Sal) — 8km Blue Flag headline white-sand bay
- Praia de Chaves (Boa Vista) — 5km wild beach with shipwreck dunes
- Praia de Santa Mónica (Boa Vista) — 22km undeveloped pristine Atlantic shore
- Kite Beach (Sal) — world-class kitesurfing trade-wind beach
- Praia do Tarrafal (Santiago) — Caribbean-style sheltered cove with palm trees
?️ Food & Drink
- Order cachupa (Cape Verde's national slow-cooked corn-and-bean stew) at Cretcheu in Santa Maria
- Try fresh-grilled lapas (limpets) or buzio cousido (slipper-lobster) at any Santa Maria seafront chiringuito
- Sample Fogo crater-grown wine at Manuel di Montrond's adega on Fogo Island
- Order pastel com diabo dentro ("pastry with the devil inside" — spicy tuna pastry) at Mindelo's daily market
- Sip grogue (Cape Verdean sugarcane rum) — try the artisanal grogue from Santo Antão's Ribeira Grande valley
? Nightlife & Entertainment
- Live morna and coladeira music at Calema Restaurant (Santa Maria, Sal)
- Mindelo Carnival in February (São Vicente, Cape Verde's largest annual festival)
- Beach-bar evenings at Ocean Café and Caleta Beach Bar (Santa Maria)
- Cesária Évora Square live-music concerts (Mindelo, summer evenings)
- Sundowner sessions at Cape Verde Yacht Club (Sal Rei harbour, Boa Vista)
? Instagram-Worthy Spots
- The shipwrecked Cabo Santa Maria on Boa Vista's Atlantic-pounded north coast
- The Pedra de Lume salt crater's pink-tinted Dead-Sea-style pools
- The active Pico do Fogo volcano with the 2014 lava flow at Chã das Caldeiras
- The colourful Creole houses of Mindelo, São Vicente at golden hour
- Kite Beach kitesurfers against the windward Atlantic horizon
Best Value Deals
? All-Inclusive Holidays
Cape Verde runs one of the Atlantic's strongest UK all-inclusive markets, with the deepest AI inventory clustered on Sal and Boa Vista. Riu Palace Boavista, Riu Touareg (Boa Vista, adults-only ultra-AI), Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort, Meliá Llana Beach Resort & Spa (Sal, adults-only) and TUI Blue Cabo Verde lead the UK family rankings. Riu Funana, Iberostar Selection Boa Vista and Robinson Cabo Verde add the upper-tier options. Shoulder-season weeks with UK flights typically open from £649pp in May or October, climbing to £1,599pp at February half-term and Christmas-New Year — among the strongest Atlantic value at the price.
???? Family Holidays
Cape Verde is one of Europe's strongest direct-flight winter-sun family destinations. The calm Atlantic water at Santa Maria Beach (Sal) and Praia de Chaves (Boa Vista) is gradually shelving with lifeguards at most resort beaches. Sal's main attractions — the Pedra de Lume salt pools, the SAL Boat Tour and quad-bike tours through the Viana Desert — fill non-beach days. Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort, Riu Palace Boavista and TUI Blue Cabo Verde lead the family AI inventory. Pair with seasonal turtle-nesting tours (June to October) for a varied family week.
? Luxury Holidays
Cape Verde's luxury inventory is smaller but growing rapidly. Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort (opened 2020, the islands' newest five-star with private bungalows and a Hilton-grade spa), Meliá Llana Beach Resort & Spa (Sal, adults-only ultra-AI Forbes recognition), Iberostar Selection Boa Vista and Riu Palace Boavista (premium 5-star AI) anchor the upper-tier scene. Tortuga Beach Resort & Spa (Sal) adds boutique villa-style accommodation. The headline luxury experience is private kitesurfing or sailing charters from Sal's marina.
⏰ Last-Minute Deals
Cape Verde carries solid late-availability stock outside the February half-term, October half-term and Christmas-New Year peaks. The strongest discounts surface in mid-May to early June and from mid-September into late October — discounts of 20–30% inside three weeks of departure are realistic on Riu, TUI Blue, Iberostar and Hilton properties. Unlike most winter-sun destinations, Cape Verde runs at year-round 22–28°C, meaning the AI market stays open every month with consistent demand. The November to March UK winter-sun window is the busiest; book hotels 3–4 months ahead for Christmas-New Year peaks.
Why book with us:
? Low deposits from £49pp
? Flexible payment plans with balance due 6 weeks before travel
?️ ATOL Protected — your money and flights are safeguarded
✅ Free amendment window on selected packages
? UK-based customer support, 8am–11pm every day
? Best Time to Visit Cape Verde
Cape Verde is one of the world's most year-round-able destinations. November to March is the peak UK winter-sun window, with daytime highs of 23–27°C, sea temperatures of 22–24°C and the kitesurf trade winds at their most consistent (16–25 knots). June to October sits at 27–30°C with warmer 25–27°C sea temperatures and the loggerhead turtle nesting season (June to September). April and May are the value-strong shoulder months at 24–26°C, with the lowest hotel rates of the year. There is no real off-season — Sal and Boa Vista run on full AI capacity all 12 months. August to October can deliver brief Atlantic squalls (the African rainy season) but rarely affects beach days for more than a few hours.
? Where to Stay
- Families: Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort, Riu Palace Boavista, TUI Blue Cabo Verde, Riu Funana
- Couples: Meliá Llana Beach Resort & Spa (Sal, adults-only), Riu Touareg (Boa Vista, adults-only)
- Luxury travellers: Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort, Meliá Llana Beach Resort & Spa, Iberostar Selection Boa Vista, Riu Palace Boavista
- Kitesurfers & active travellers: Sao Pedro Thalassa Park Hotel, Hotel Morabeza (Santa Maria, near Kite Beach)
- Island-hopping travellers: Hotel Pedracin Village (Santo Antão), Hotel Casa Café Mindelo (São Vicente), Pousada Casa Linda (Fogo)
? Getting Around
A taxi or pre-booked hotel transfer is the easiest way to move around within Sal and Boa Vista. The 15km transfer from Sal Airport (SID) to Santa Maria takes 20 minutes by taxi (€20); the 5km transfer from Boa Vista Airport (BVC) to Sal Rei takes 10 minutes (€15). Within Santa Maria and Sal Rei, the resort towns are walkable end to end. Hertz and local operators rent cars from €40 a day at SID and BVC, though most travellers stick to resort-based excursions. Inter-island travel is via TICV (Cabo Verde Airlines) flights connecting Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago, São Vicente, Fogo and São Nicolau for €100–180 single; advance booking essential. CV Interilhas ferries connect São Vicente to Santo Antão (Mindelo to Porto Novo, 1 hour, €15) and Santiago to Fogo (4 hours, €25). Boa Vista to Sal is a 15-minute domestic flight.
? Travel Tips
- Cape Verde runs Cape Verde Time — one hour behind the UK in winter, two hours behind in summer (CVT/GMT-1).
- The currency is the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE), pegged to the euro at 110.265 CVE to €1; the euro is widely accepted in resort areas at the rate of 1:100.
- VAT (IVA) at 15% applies, included in displayed prices.
- Plug type is European Type C/F at 220V — bring a universal European adapter.
- Tap water is not safe to drink — always use bottled water (cheap and widely available).
- All visitors must pay the Airport Security Tax (TSA) of €30.69 (3,400 CVE) before travel — pay online at the official Cabo Verde Airport Security Tax website 5 days before flying; receipt printed and presented at check-in.
- The Cape Verde Tourist Card or Cape Verde Visa requirement was abolished for UK travellers in 2019 — UK passport holders no longer need a visa for stays up to 30 days.
- English is widely spoken in tourist resort areas; Portuguese is the official language, and Creole (Crioulo) the daily spoken language.
- Cape Verde uses CVE on land but most resorts and excursions price in euros for tourists.
- Tipping is appreciated — round up the bill or add 10% in restaurants; €2–3 per day for housekeeping at AI hotels.
- The Cape Verde trade winds blow consistently from November to May — pack a light windbreaker.
- The northern coastlines of Sal and Boa Vista (Atlantic-pounded) have unpredictable swimming conditions; stick to the sheltered southern resort beaches.
- The Mindelo Carnival (February) is the country's biggest annual cultural event; book hotels 6 months ahead.
- The 2014 Pico do Fogo eruption destroyed villages at Chã das Caldeiras — the volcano remains active and monitored; only climb with a registered guide.
Map Of Cape Verde
Top Experiences
Day at Santa Maria Beach
The 8km Blue Flag white-sand bay is Cape Verde's headline beach, with calm Atlantic water at 24°C year-round; sunbeds from €10 a set, watersports kiosks throughout.
Quad-bike across Boa Vista's dunes
The Viana Desert covers 8km² of Saharan-style sand dunes blown across from Africa; €45pp for 3-hour guided quad-bike tours through the dunes and shipwrecks.
Watch loggerhead turtles nest
Cape Verde holds the world's third-largest loggerhead turtle nesting population; €40pp guided night tours with Turtle SOS during nesting season.
Hike Pico do Fogo volcano
The 2,829m active volcano last erupted in 2014 — Cape Verde's highest peak; €60pp guided 6-hour ascent from the crater village of Chã das Caldeiras.
Wander Mindelo's Creole harbour town
The colourful colonial-era port town is Cape Verde's cultural capital, home to morna singer Cesária Évora; free to wander, with the daily fish market the highlight.
Kitesurf at Kite Beach
The trade-wind-driven Kite Beach delivers some of the Atlantic's most consistent winds (16–25 knots November to May); kitesurf lessons €80pp, equipment hire €40 a day.
Top Hotels In Cape Verde
Travel Information
Everything You Need To Know Before You Jet Off To Cape Verde.
Other Hotels In Cape Verde
Browse Our Wider Selection Of Hotels