Flights to Cape Verde

Cape Verde is a collection of islands off of Senegal on the western coast of Africa. Colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century, Cape Verde is drawing thousands of adventurous tourists each year. When planning your visit your first stop should be Cape Verde bureau in Liverpool, England where you can apply for your needed tourist visa.

There are ten islands in the Cape Verde chain. Travel between the islands is very assessable by either small plane or ferry. Each island has its own small landing area for planes and several docks for ferries. While many of the locals on each island speak English you will also hear Portuguese and Crioulo, a mixture of West African and Portuguese.

The island of Fogo is Cape Verde’s highest point. It’s named after the Portuguese word for fire and that is because on the island is Mt. Fogo, a volcano rising almost three thousand meters above sea level. Ferries dock at the small village of Sao Felipe and from there it is an easy hike to the top of the volcano. Well worn paths make this outing enjoyable for everyone.

Mindelo is the cultural center of the Cape Verde islands. Located on Sao Vicente, is a hip, funky town with quaint buildings from the 19th century when Mindelo was a coaling station. A large street party is held here yearly during the Mindelo Carnival.

The island of Sao Tiago, one of the southern Cape Verde islands, also has much to offer. You will want to visit Villa Velha, or Old Village, State Park. This beautiful park is home to a collection of natural structures that look like ruins of an ancient city. Visitors have given the ruins catchy and descriptive names like Cyclops City, Sphinx, and Camel.

Also located on Sao Tiago is Cidade Velha. This historic town has been designated a World heritage Site by the United Nations. A source of pride for Cape Verde, Cidade Velha is a wonderful town of winding streets and 18th century architecture.

All of the Cape Verde islands offer wonderful restaurants and cafes. Be sure and try some of the local dishes. Lagostada is a buttery lobster dish made with fresh, local lobster. Tosta Mista is the Cape Verde version of a ham and cheese sandwich and Cachupa is a popular bean dish. You can find these and many more tasty treats throughout the islands.

The national airport of Cape Verde is located in Espargos, on the island of Sal. The airport is serviced by all major airlines and many small, African carriers. Tours and transportation can be arranged at the airport when you arrive.

Cape Verde is currently a hidden gem and has not been exploited. Now is a great time to visit the islands of Africa.