Cabo Verde's Absolute Essentials

Cabo Verde’s diverse geography is defined by the active stratovolcano of Pico do Fogo, rising 2,829 meters, and the shifting sand dunes of the Viana Desert. This selection spans the white sandy beaches of Sal and Boa Vista to the quieter, eastern shores of Maio Island. Key landmarks include the historic ruins of the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck and the colonial-style Igreja de Santa Isabel in Sal Rei, offering a glimpse into the archipelago's Portuguese and African heritage.

Boa Vista Island

Boa Vista, sometimes incorrectly spelled Boavista, is a desert-like island that belongs to the Cape Verde Islands.

Sal Island

Sal is an island in Cape Verde. Sal is a tourist destination with white sandy beaches and over 350 days of sunshine a year.

Ilhéu de Sal Rei

Ilhéu de Sal Rei is an uninhabited islet near the coast of Boa Vista Island, Cape Verde.

Viana Desert

The Deserto de Viana is a sand desert in the northwestern part of the island of Boa Vista, Cape Verde.

Mount Fogo

Pico do Fogo is an active stratovolcano located on the island of Fogo, Cape Verde, rising to 2,829 metres above sea level.

Pico do Fogo

Pico do Fogo is an active stratovolcano located on the island of Fogo, Cape Verde, rising to 2,829 metres above sea level.

Santa Maria

The rusting remains of the Spanish cargo ship Cabo Santa Maria, which ran aground in 1968, sit on the northern coast of Boa Vista Island.

Capela Santo António

A small, traditional chapel located in Povoação Velha, the oldest settlement on Boa Vista Island.

Santa Isabel

A 19th-century Catholic church in Sal Rei featuring a sand-colored facade and symmetrical architecture typical of the Portuguese colonial period.

Maio Island

Maio is the easternmost of the Sotavento islands of Cape Verde. Maio is located south of the island of Boa Vista and east of Santiago.

Nelson Mandela International Airport

Nelson Mandela International Airport, also known as Praia International Airport, is the airport of Santiago Island in Cape Verde.