Tourism In Cape Verde

Cape Verde’s perfect subtropical climate has made it a year-round destination of choice for increasing numbers of tourists looking for a holiday with a difference. Average temperatures range from 24°C to 29°C, with less than 1mm of rainfall during the months of April to July. Cape Verde’s position, surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic, alleviates the aridity making the climate extremely comfortable and the warm summer breeze swathes visitors in the country’s sense of magic and relaxation. Warm temperatures and light rainfall have resulted in a terrain that, in places, is almost lunar, but these are book-ended by remarkable green valleys and stunning coastal flatlands.

Another factor in increasing tourism to Cape Verde has been the introduction of an ‘Open Skies’ policy and direct flights from Europe, America and Africa, with a regular inter-island service. The Cape Verdean flag-carrier, TACV Capo Verde Airlines, operates direct flights from London Stanstead, Lisbon, Amsterdam and Paris, while Astraeus Airlines offers a direct flight from both Manchester and Gatwick. There are two international airports on the islands of Sal and Santiago, with two more – on Boa Vista and São Vicente – nearing completion. With a flight time of just over 5 hours from most northern cities, tropical paradise is closer than you think.

The Cape Verde Government has learnt sensibly from the lessons of other countries where property and tourism have destroyed much of the appeal that led visitors to them in the first place. It has calculated plans to increase tourism but only in a way that is sustainable and never disturbs the islands’ pure and distinctive natural beauty.