Cape Verde is made up of 9 closely knit tropical islands in the Atlantic Ocean, 400 miles off the coast of Senegal, West Africa. The islands include: Boavista, Sal, Sao Vicente, Santiago, Fogo, Maio, Santo Antao, Sao Nicolau and Brava. Each of the islands has it’s own unique character.
Politics / Religion / Economics
Cape Verde is a socially and politically stable country.
In 1975, after more than 400 years of union, the Cape Verdean people were given their independence from Portugal. All political parties are keen to attract foreign private investment, particularly in tourism.
About 96% of Cape Verdeans are Catholic.
The exchange rate of the Cape Verdean Escudo is fixed to the Euro.
Language
Although Portuguese is the official language of Cape Verde, ‘Creole’ or ‘Crioulo’ (a blend of Portuguese and West African words) is spoken by just about everyone on the islands. French and English is the second language of most people.
Climate
Due to the location the Cape Verde Islands are an ideal all year round destination with a predicatble climate. The archipelago benefits from a dry, moderate climate. Rainfall is regular and distributed unevenly around the islands. Any rainfall usually occurse between August and October.
The climate as a whole on the islands is classed as dry tropical with an average temperature ranging between 22C to 28C with water temperatures between 22C and 27C. There are 2 seasons, a dry season between November and July and a comparatively moderate humid season between August and October. Daily sunshine averages 6 to 7 hours between August and October and 10 to 12 hours for the rest of the year. Wind speed averages 13 knots between November and July, dropping to 9 knots in the summer and rainfall averages to around 10 inches. Any rainfall usually occurse between August and October mostly falling over the higher ground. There is a significant contrast in climate between the mountainous regions which are cooler and wetter, to the warm, dry climate on the coast.
Boavista Island
Boavista offers excellent conditions for all water sports including windsurfing, diving, surfing, big game fishing, sea canoeing, sailing and cycling. Hiking is also popular here. The Island has extensive unspoiled white-sanded beaches and blue oceans. The peaceful port town of Sal Rei is the capital of the island. At present, there is limited accommodation on Boavista, therefore it is advisable to book well in advance.
Marine Life
Marine life is more tropical than would be found at the same latitude of mainland Africa, on the coast of Senegal. This is because the archipelago is sufficiently far from the mainland to escape the cold ‘winter upwellings’, whereby the turning of the globe causes water from deep in the ocean to surface at the coast. This would otherwise decrease the temperature if the 21 C waters to about 10 C.
Turtles
Marine turtles are some of the most important species on the islands. Cape Verde is an important staging post for them along their long migratory corridor between America and Africa. Cape Verde is probably one of the most significant beeding sites for them in this part of Africa. The turtles breed all year round, particularly in the summer,and all the islands harbour them, the most important being Sao Vicente followed by the slat islands including Boavista.
The water is abundant in undiscovered species, making it an exciting place for biologists to explore.
Fishing
Cape Verde offers a variety of opportunities for fishing. There are companies operating in Boa Vista, that offer high-sea fishing for blue marlin, wahoo, yellow-fin tuna, shark, white marlin, sailfish and spearfish. It is sometimes possible to join local fishermen on their trips. Often they go out a few hundred meter, drop anchor, and fish for goldfish, garoupa, and squirrel fish. Some go night-fishing for morays. The locals use harpoons to catch lobster, octopus and parrot fish.
Diving
Diving is becoming one of the major sporting activities of the Cape Verde Islands. Much of Cape Verde presents an underwater world of massive rock formations, caves, canyons, ledges and sharp wall dropoffs. Divers will see a selection of big flamboyant tropical fish such as the spectacularly coloured West African angelfish, tuna fish and parrot fish. There are green turtles, yellow-fin tuna, moray eels, marlin, dolphins and groupers. Further from shore are sharks and seventeen species of dolphin. In Cape Verde one can observe big fish and large schools of fish relatively close to shore. During the warmer weather it is not uncommon to see metre-long trumpet fish, massive loggerhead or green turtles sometimes a metre across, mantra rays up to three meters, the largest balloon fish you will find anywhere and schools of dolphins.
Heading from Sal towards the northern coast of Boavista you sometimes see hundreds of big yellow-fin tuna breaking the surface and rocketing skyward like missiles. In March and April humpback and grey whales often appear of shore.
There are large schools of barracuda, strawberry-coloured coney grouper and clouds of beautiful reef fish such as the yellow-tailed snapper. Some eels have heads the size of footballs.
Established diving schools are available on Boavista. It is possible to pre-reserve the dives prior to travel. Instruction and the hire of equipment are available in all locations.
Divers must be aware that there is not a decompression chamber on the Caper Verde Islands.
Windsurfing / Kite Surfing / Surfing / Boarding
Cape Verde is a popular destination for windsurfers from Europe and Hawaii, and regularly hosts championships. The water is warm and the swell from the open Atlantic, during winter, can be big. It is similar to the Canaries and the Azores in the kind of swell it picks up – but it is warmer. Northeast trade winds blow over Cape Verde consistently from October to June, and from February to June northeast winds often reach very high speeds.
Boavista is one of the two main islands for water sports. The presence of the island of Sal Rei opposite the bay directly in front of the Manduna Apartment makes for near perfect conditions for a wide range of abilities and the island is getting international recognition for its windsurfing. The bay is sufficiently protected for beginners – and, though huge, it is shallow – never more than one and a half meters deep. There is no coral to damage the feet and virtually no current.
The waves vary in size and suit most levels of expertise. The biggest waves are greater than those on Sal. All can be reached by windsurfers from Estoril beach. Other windsurfing activities include slaloming up and down the bay and racing around the island of Sal Rei.
Boavista has an established centre offering the sport. The Boavista Wind Club is well equipped and provides a wide range of boards and sails to hire. Alternatively you may take your own equipment subject to airline regulations. Boavista is also rapidly becoming a mecca for surfers, body boarders and kite surfers.
Mountain Biking and Cycling
It is possible to hire both leisure cycles and mountain bikes in Sal Rei, Boavista. It is important to be aware that the cobbled roads are not always well maintained and it can therefore be an uneven ride. It is possible to take your own bikes with you subject to airline regulations.
Island Tour
It is possible to see much of the island either by self drive or with services of a local aluguer. The main sites of interest include the many extensive white beaches like Estoril beach, Chave beach and Curralinho beach. Head inland from Chave beach and you may find evidence of the former production of ceramic tiles and bricks. A small craft centre is developing on the island.