Cape Verde advise ....

noodlespink2

Hi
Im travelling to Cape Verde in June with my husband and 2 young children and wondering if anyone can recommend any excursions etc or have any general advise when visiting

Voyager2002

Check very carefully which island you will be on. There seems to be very little to see or do on Boa Vista and Sal, and flights from there to the main islands cost about a hundred pounds each way (per person). And there is no scheduled ferry service either!

I planned a trip earlier this year, but getting from the tourist airports to the places that would interest me would have made it a very expensive holiday, so I am making other plans.

blue_haddock

I have stayed on sal previously and know a bit about boa vista - as voyager states there is very little to do on these islands apart from lying around your all inclusive hotel complex. It is very windy there so the sea is not ideal for swimming unless you are confident in water. There are not many shops and not many bars/restaurants outside the hotel complexes.

I was ok there as i like to get away from everything when i was there (i didnt stay in the main hotel complexes) but if you want a place with plenty to see and do Cape Verde isnt for you.

romeospadre

blue_haddock wrote: »

I have stayed on sal previously and know a bit about boa vista - as voyager states there is very little to do on these islands apart from lying around your all inclusive hotel complex. It is very windy there so the sea is not ideal for swimming unless you are confident in water. There are not many shops and not many bars/restaurants outside the hotel complexes.

I was ok there as i like to get away from everything when i was there (i didnt stay in the main hotel complexes) but if you want a place with plenty to see and do Cape Verde isnt for you.

Where did you stay pal? What island do you recommend?
Best timeof the year to go?

Thanks

blue_haddock

I was there in early october, i've no idea what it is like at other times but i think its fairly similar all year round - pretty warm but quite windy.

markwilkinson

Did you have a good holiday OP?

I didn't respond to your post as you said you had already booked it and I didn't want to make you feel you might have made a mistake. I havnt heard anything positive about Cape Verde, having said that, we would never go anywhere on an AI basis, but that seems to be the only way. Heard there isn't a huge amount to do and it's pretty windy. Was talking to someone at work who has just returned from honeymoon there, so I asked what she thought about it. She had a great time but her husband doesn't like the sun too much, they spent a lot of time indoors....

Would be interested to hear what you made of it!

mldthundercat

Hi guys,

I went to Cape Verde last year, in June, all inclusive for a week with Thomson. We stayed at Santa Maria, we kinda knew there wouldn't be much to do, so if you are after lots of adventure, it's definitely not for you! But if you are looking for a chilled out week this is ideal, it is a bit breezy on the beach, but having just returned from Cancun last week, it is equally as windy there!

One of the excursions I do remember was a jeep safari, they take you to all the best spots on the island, the jeep wasn't over crowded and the guide was very informative.

Cape Verde is being heavily built up in many areas, so my advise would be to visit now before it's ruined by strips of hotels along the beach.

I believe the hotel was one of the all inclusive Riu's, again not the best in the world, but I wouldn't say no to going back, most Riu's are the same around the world, unless you go for one of the palace hotels.

Any more info required let me know.

Voyager2002

mldthundercat wrote: »

I went to Cape Verde last year, in June, all inclusive for a week with Thomson. We stayed at Santa Maria, we kinda knew there wouldn't be much to do, so if you are after lots of adventure, it's definitely not for you! But if you are looking for a chilled out week this is ideal,

The irony is that the main centres of population on Cape Verde are world heritage sites, famous for outstanding architecture, history and even beauty. The music and dance of Cape Verde are among the very best that Africa has to offer! Yet none of this is present on the islands served by charter flights, and so most tourists miss out completely.

Here is a radio programme about the musical life of Mindelo, giving a sense of what it is like to visit the less touristy islands:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mrx6v