Cape Verde Holidays: Sal, Boa Vista, Santo Antão & Best Time to Visit

A By Anna · Updated 20 October 2026 · 4 min read

Airports

Sal Amílcar Cabral (SID), Boa Vista Aristides Pereira (BVC), Praia (RAI), São Vicente (VXE)

Flight time

about 6h direct from London to Sal or Boa Vista

Best time to go

November-June for dry, sunny weather; October-April for winter sun

Currency

Cape Verdean escudo (CVE); euros widely accepted

Cape Verde is the closest guaranteed winter sun to the UK that does not involve a long-haul flight or a big time change. These ten volcanic islands sit in the Atlantic off Senegal, and the flat eastern islands of Sal and Boa Vista have long, empty white beaches, warm water and steady trade winds that make them a kitesurfing hotspot. The mountainous western islands are a different world, with green valleys, terraced slopes and some of the best hiking in the Atlantic.

The islands are one hour behind GMT, so one hour behind the UK in winter and two in summer. Plugs are the European two-pin type, cars drive on the right and Portuguese and the Kriolu creole are spoken, with English common in the resorts. This Africa guide covers which island to choose, when to go and what a trip costs.

Where to go in Cape Verde

Sal

The most developed island and the easiest to reach. Santa Maria, in the south, has a long white beach, a pier where fishermen land their catch, and most of the big all-inclusive hotels. Kitesurfers head for Kite Beach, and day trips visit the Pedra de Lume salt crater, where you can float in the brine, and the Buracona natural pool.

Boa Vista

Larger, quieter and wilder, with huge beaches such as Praia de Chaves and Santa Monica, and the Viana desert of shifting dunes. Loggerhead turtles nest here from roughly June to October, and humpback whales pass between about February and May.

São Vicente

Mindelo is Cape Verde's cultural capital, a colourful port town with a lively music scene and a famous February carnival. It is the birthplace of morna singer Cesária Évora, and live music in the bars is a highlight of any visit.

Santo Antão

Reached by ferry from Mindelo in about an hour, Santo Antão is the hikers' island: deep green valleys, cliffside paths and villages such as Ponta do Sol and Paúl. The trail from Cruzinha to Ponta do Sol along the coast is one of the classics.

Santiago and Fogo

Santiago is the largest island, home to the capital Praia and Cidade Velha, a UNESCO-listed former colonial settlement and the oldest European town in the tropics. Fogo is dominated by its active volcano, Pico do Fogo, at about 2,800m, which you can climb with a guide, and there is wine grown in the crater.

Best time to visit Cape Verde

Getting to Cape Verde from the UK

Flights to Sal and Boa Vista take about six hours. TUI usually flies direct from a wide range of UK airports including Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands and Glasgow, mostly as package holidays, and other airlines have added routes in recent years. For the other islands, connect via Lisbon with TAP or via Sal on the inter-island network.

Entry requirements

British passport holders can usually visit Cape Verde without a visa for up to 30 days, but you must pre-register on the government's EASE website and pay the airport security tax (TSA) at least five days before you arrive; package operators sometimes include this, so check your booking. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from arrival. Rules change, so check GOV.UK foreign travel advice before booking.

Getting around

Taxis and shared minibuses (aluguers) cover Sal and Boa Vista, and quad bike or 4x4 tours are popular for exploring the dunes. Between islands, Bestfly runs domestic flights and CV Interilhas runs ferries, but schedules change and delays are common, so leave slack in an island-hopping plan. On Santo Antão, aluguers and hired drivers are the usual way to reach trailheads.

Money and costs

The escudo is pegged to the euro at about 110 CVE to €1, and euros are widely accepted in Sal and Boa Vista, though change is often given in escudos. Cards work in larger hotels and restaurants, and ATMs are found in the main towns. Most UK visitors book all-inclusive packages; independently, allow around 6,000-11,000 CVE (roughly £45-80) per person per day plus accommodation, with groceries and imported goods pricier than you might expect.

We research every guide carefully, but prices, opening times and timetables change. Check them shortly before you travel. Links to our booking partners are affiliate links.