Must See

Brava

The smallest of Cape Verde's inhabited islands, it's mountainous and scenic and offers some great hiking. The western side of the island also has some excellent beaches.

Sal

Flat desert island, home to the international airport and popular with European package-tourists. It has several good dive schools and windsurfing is also possible. Visitors can also see the famous salt pits of Sal, after which the island is named, which produced salt for much of the former Portuguese empire. The settlement at Espargos offers accommodation in a pensao (lodging house) and restaurants. Boats run from Sal to Praia around twice a week.

Santo Antao

The greenest island in the archipelago. It has a spectacular, hilly and lush interior, offering splendid hiking. The main trail is up Ribeira Grande Mountain, where the walk to the top and back will take most of a day (a guide is recommended). A ferry connects Santo Antao with Mindelo; however, the seas can be rough.

Santiago (Sao Tiago)

The largest of the country's nine inhabited islands. The principal city is the lively and pleasant capital, Praia, perched on a rocky plateau known as Plato. Praia has a fun nightlife, with other attractions including the Cidade Velha (the first Portuguese settlement on Cape Verde) and the remains of an old Portuguese fort (Fort Real de San Felipe). At the northern end of the island is the fishing village of Tarrafal, which is known for its fine beaches. Its old colonial prison held dissidents during the rule of the Portuguese dictator, Salazar, in the first two-thirds of the 20th century.

Sao Vicente

Cape Verde's second most important island and home to its liveliest city, Mindelo, which bustles with the through-flow of ships in the harbour. The traditional Baia das Gatas Festival, which usually falls in August, has become internationally renowned for the standard of its music, whilst São Vicente's Carnival is the liveliest in Cape Verde.