The Many Faces of Cape Verde

Mindelo is a port city on São Vicente, an island in the volcanic archipelago of Cape Verde. It’s known for its music, nightlife and lively, Brazilian-influenced Carnival celebrations. Colorful colonial houses line the shores of Porto Grande harbor, which is set against a backdrop of rugged mountains. The Torre de Belém, by the harbor, is a scaled-down replica of a centuries-old tower in Lisbon.

São Nicolau is one of the Barlavento islands of Cape Verde. It is located between the islands of Santa Luzia and Sal. Its population is 12,424, with an area of 343 km². The main towns are Ribeira Brava and Tarrafal de São Nicolau.

Mindelo is a port city on São Vicente, an island in the volcanic archipelago of Cape Verde. It’s known for its music, nightlife and lively, Brazilian-influenced Carnival celebrations. Colorful colonial houses line the shores of Porto Grande harbor, which is set against a backdrop of rugged mountains. The Torre de Belém, by the harbor, is a scaled-down replica of a centuries-old tower in Lisbon.

The third largest island in the Cape Verde archipelago, Boa Vista offers visitors stunning white-sand beaches and emerald water. Dubbed “the sand dune island”, it is particularly well-known for its wild, desert landscapes that are windswept all year round. The sand dunes, oases and arid plains are generally explored aboard a 4WD vehicle to discover the lunar aspect of this small tract of land that is barely 30 kilometres in length. The ideal playground for surfers, Boa Vista is also popular with marine wildlife enthusiasts, as it offers excellent opportunities for snorkelling.

Praia is the capital city of Cape Verde, which is off the coast of West Africa. The city is on the southern coast of Santiago Island. The old town center, called the “Plateau” by locals, is on a raised area overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Around the bay, beaches include Quebra Canela and Praínha, both near the Praínha neighborhood. Shops and restaurants cluster in the Achada de Santo António quarter.

Maio is a small island in Cape Verde, a volcanic archipelago nation off the coast of West Africa. It’s known for the sandy beaches around its main town of Vila do Maio and north, near the village of Morrinho. Santana Bay attracts nesting sea turtles. In a forested area of the west coast, Calheta is a fishing village with many colorful houses. The nearby village of Morro is popular for its handicrafts.

Lying west of Praia, the volcanic island of Fogo is Cape Verde’s highest landmark. The foothills of Pico de Fogo are ideal for hiking, with an immense caldera surrounding the active crater. Trails start at the little town of Chã das Caldeiras and you can see recent lava flows and older ones sprouting with new growth. Along the rocky coastline you’ll come across picturesque Mosteiros and the historic town of São Filipe, where elegant colonial houses overlook the Atlantic.

Mindelo is a port city on São Vicente, an island in the volcanic archipelago of Cape Verde. It’s known for its music, nightlife and lively, Brazilian-influenced Carnival celebrations. Colorful colonial houses line the shores of Porto Grande harbor, which is set against a backdrop of rugged mountains. The Torre de Belém, by the harbor, is a scaled-down replica of a centuries-old tower in Lisbon.