The archipelago of Cape Verde is located in the Atlantic Ocean , about 500 kilometers off the African coast of Senegal. It is made up of the Leeward Islands (Maio, Sao Tiago, Fogo and Brava) and the Barlovento Islands (Santo Antao, Santa Luzia, Sao Vicente, Boa Vista, Sao Nicolau and Sal), as well as a few islets.
Cape Verde islands
In total, less than half a million people live in Cape Verde , who have Portuguese as their official language, although the majority of the population also speaks Kriolu, born of the interbreeding between some West African languages and Portuguese.
Its culture mixes both European and African elements in the midst of a rich flora and fauna, with exclusive species from this archipelago.
However, the Cape Verde islands do not stand out for their vegetation too much: the number of trees and plants is more limited than what is expected from a place like this. The explanation is found in the strong drylands that the archipelago constantly lives and in its volcanic origin. In fact, on the island of Fogo you can see a volcano that is still active.
Sao Tiago, the main island
The capital of Cape Verde is Praia, which also has the honor of having the most important port in the archipelago. Praia is located in the south of the island of Sao Tiago (in Sotavento), the largest in the republic and the first to be inhabited. There are also other towns such as Ribeira Grande , now known as Cidade Velha , where you can see some vestiges of the first traces of the Portuguese. To the north of Praia we find the town of Tarrafal , a small fishing village with a magnificent beach that combines the golden color of the land with the transparent turquoise of its waters.
Sao Tiago Island
On the island of Brava there is a town, Nova Sintra , considered the most beautiful in Cape Verde. On the island of Fogo it is essential to visit its impressive volcano.
Volcano on Fogo Island
The northern islands
The northern islands also have attractions to enjoy a magnificent stay. Among them, the island of Sao Vicente stands out , known as the island of music and where you can hear very different styles that reflect the diverse origins of the population. In Sal, it is worth visiting the impressive salt mines, which give the island its name, and practicing some water sports such as diving or surfing.
The island of Boa Vista also stands out for being an ideal place to practice water sports, since its white sand beaches seem out of another world. There, the wreckage of the Cabo Santa María ship , which was wrecked during a trip to Brazil, continues to surprise many tourists who come to the area.
Boat Cabo Santa Maria
Other data of interest
* Official name: Republic of Cape Verde
* Area: 4,033km²
* Coasts: 965km.
* Main ports: Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
* Capital: Praia
* Currency: Cape Verdean Escudo
* Official Language: Portuguese
* Name: Cape Verdean (a) OTX
