Alice Murphy
Published November 21, 2025 11:55am
Updated November 21, 2025 12:36pm
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The landscape is spectacularly diverse (Picture: imageBROKER/Shutterstock)
With soaring volcanic peaks, turquoise seas, and magical cloud villages, there’s nowhere on Earth quite like Cape Verde.
This West African archipelago, adrift off the coast of Senegal, has a wealth of natural wonders that make for an offbeat island escape.
A former Portuguese colony of 10 islands, no two are the same, each offering wildly different vibes and experiences, from desert stargazing to swimming with lemon sharks.
There are golden beaches, colourful towns and verdant valleys kissed by year-round sunshine.
And if none of that was enough to convince you, a new direct flight from the UK might do the trick.
EasyJet has just confirmed a new route to Sal, the most popular island in Cape Verde, due to its beautiful beaches, well-established tourist services, and connections to international airports.
EasyJet is rolling out a new route direct to Sal (Picture: imageBROKER/Shutterstock)
From May 1, 2026, the budget airline will run flights from Bristol, its third direct UK route alongside Manchester and London Gatwick.
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While most travellers head to this intriguing corner of the world for reliable winter sun, there’s reason to visit at any time of year.
It is part of a wider expansion that will see easyJet roll out 16 new routes from eight UK airports next summer, including Bari in Italy, Seville in Spain, and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.
Here we answer some FAQs about Cape Verde to help you plan and budget a trip for 2026.
The best things to do on Sal
Sal’s sublime beaches are its top attraction, according to Lonely Planet, The Times and The Telegraph.
The island has several sprawling resorts along its coast, perfect if all you want to do is fly and flop.
Cape Verde is cluster of 10 islands off the coast of Senegal (Picture: Metro / Datawrapper)
Big-name chains such as Hilton and Meliá are well established here, but you could stay in an independent hotel to support the local economy.
Away from the beach, the most popular activity is bobbing around in the surreal salt lakes of Pedra do Lume, Cape Verde’s answer to the Dead Sea.
You can also see baby lemon sharks at Shark Bay, or visit the Terra Boa mirage, where an optical illusion paints an ocean in the desert.
If you want to fit a lot into a short trip, Actour Cabo Verde, a locally-owned tour company, organises treks and packages that get excellent reviews.
Isabelle, a traveller who went to Cape Verde in November, said she had an ‘authentic and unforgettable’ experience far off the beaten track hiking, swimming with turtles and fishing for a barbecue dinner.
‘The whole team is fabulous and will remain forever in our hearts. Thank you very much for this trip, which was much more than just a stay: a real human adventure,’ she wrote.
Lemon sharks swim in the waters of Shark Bay (Picture: Getty Images)
Cape Verde’s currency, the escudo, hints at its colonial past. Once ruled by the Portuguese, it only achieved independence in 1975.
Unusually for a colony, it was uninhabited when Antonio de Noli turned up in 1456, but enslaved West Africans were brought over to work the cotton and sugar cane plantations.
There is no history museum on Sal, but the Museu dos Naufragos on nearby Boa Vista, which displays relics of shipwrecks and artefacts from the days of the slave trade, gets good reviews on TripAdvisor.
Elsewhere, travellers recommend visiting the beautiful Tarrafal beach on Santiago, and going to Fogo to climb Pico do Fogo, an active volcano that last erupted in 2014.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPJ42sBDf0y/?igsh=MXF5aXdqN3FrNHF5Ng==
Another island worth your time is São Vincente, known as the cultural heart of Cape Verde.
The capital, Mindelo, has lively jazz bars and the annual Cape Verde Carnival, a raunchy Brazilian-inspired extravaganza held on Pancake Tuesday.
How long does the flight take?
Around six hours, flying direct from the UK.
EasyJet has not released prices for the Bristol-Sal flight, but return fares from Gatwick start from just under £400.
Is it easy to get around Cape Verde?
In short, no.
While ferries operate between most of the islands (all but one, Santa Luzia, are inhabited), Lonely Planet’s Marc DiDuca says the seas are rough and the timetables are unreliable.
He says that internal flights are a faster and more cost-effective way to get around, with the added advantage of bird’s-eye views of the islands below.
A market in Santa Maria, a coastal town on Sal (Picture: Universal Images Group Editorial)
There are four international airports (Sal, Santiago, Sao Vicente, and Boa Vista), and local airports on all the populated islands except Brava and Santo Antao, which can be reached by water.
To explore each island, you can hire a rental car, but be warned: the roads are treacherous.
Any guidebook worth its salt says taxis or aluguers – shared taxis or minibuses – are advisable for all but the most confident drivers.
When’s the best time to visit Cape Verde?
Cape Verde is most popular as a winter sun destination, with daytime temperatures of around 24°C in December and 25°C in January.
The hottest months are August and September, when the mercury tips above 30°C.
Cape Verde is most popular as an affordable winter sun destination (Picture: Universal Images Group Editorial)
Carnival comes to Mindelo in late January/early February, making it a great time to visit.
What do travellers say about Cape Verde?
Cape Verde gets mixed reviews across the ‘gram, TikTok and travel blogs.
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Power outages are reportedly common, and if you’re staying outside the international resorts, don’t expect top-quality showers or plumbing.
Some say the waves are too wild to swim in at certain times of year.
One thing everyone seems to agree on is how lovely the people are.
Travel bloggers Phil and Michaela of the Hungry Travellers summed it up well: ‘Smile at a local and even the most preoccupied, straight face will light up with a beautiful smile in return.’
Cape Verde: everything to know at a glance
Best time to go: December to February.
How long to go for: Two weeks if you want to explore three to four islands.
Average dinner for two: £23, according to Lonely Planet.
Average local beer: £2.40.
Average basic room for two: from £104, according to Booking.com based on staying in early December.
Currency: The currency is the Cape Verdean Escudo, but according to several travel blogs, almost everywhere accepts the Euro.
However, many warn that the exchange rate is not favourable, and while credit cards are widely accepted, they come with a 3% surcharge (Visa included).
Operators that run packages: On The Beach, TUI, easyJet Holidays.
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