Cabo Verde

Overview

Cape Verde is an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 600 kilometers off the coast of West Africa, made up of ten main islands and numerous smaller islets, each with its own distinct character. Despite the name, most of the islands are dry and volcanic, with green, fertile areas being the exception rather than the rule. A Creole culture and language known as kriolu emerged from the blending of Portuguese colonial heritage and African roots, giving the islands a distinctive identity, made globally known through morna, a melancholic musical genre popularized by the singer Cesária Évora.

Cidade Velha, on the island of Santiago, is the oldest European-founded settlement in the archipelago and a UNESCO World Heritage site that preserves the memory of 15th-century colonial architecture and the former slave trade. At the center of Fogo island rises an active volcano, Pico do Fogo, surrounded by a dramatic, moon-like landscape that shelters a small wine-growing village within its crater. Mindelo, the cultural hub of São Vicente island, is known as the musical capital of Cape Verde, with colorful colonial buildings and a lively nightlife scene.

The white sand beaches and steady trade winds of Sal and Boa Vista have made the archipelago a favorite destination for surfing and kitesurfing, while sea turtles nest along the coastal waters each year, mainly between August and October. The deep gorges and lush terraced farmland of Santo Antão island offer excellent hiking terrain, standing in sharp contrast to the arid landscape found elsewhere in the archipelago. Local cuisine centers on fish and corn, with cachupa, a slow-cooked stew of meat and beans, as a signature dish, often enjoyed alongside live morna music in local restaurants.