Marc is just back from Cabo Verde where he researched and wrote the upcoming Pocket Cabo Verde (out October 2024). Here he answers your most frequently asked questions about the stunning archipelago.
An archipelago of ten islands off the coast of Senegal, the former Portuguese colony of Cabo Verde is an intriguing country that packs in an incredible amount of diversity.
No two islands are the same, each offering wildly different experiences and vibes. Most head to this corner of the Atlantic for winter beach days, but there’s so much more to Cabo Verde, from desert stargazing to volcano climbing, raucous hybrid culture to serene hiking. Here we answer some of the key questions first timers have before they set out to discover their Cabo Verde.
For Europeans, Cabo Verde is most popular as a winter sun destination with daytime January temperatures around 25°C (77°F). The hottest months are August and September when there are highs of over 30°C (86°F). If the sea breeze drops at this time, conditions can be sweltering. However, the reason many come to Boa Vista in the hotter months is to witness the nighttime spectacle of turtles laying their eggs on the beaches.
After Rio and Funchal, Mindelo has arguably the Atlantic’s best carnival, with a raunchy, Brazilian samba procession winding through the city’s streets (late January/early February). It’s a great time to be in town.
How much time you spend in Cabo Verde really depends on how you want to approach your stay in the archipelago. If you are looking to take in three or four islands, give yourself at least three weeks and plenty of leeway to allow for canceled flights and ferries. If all you want is a beach holiday with a few excursions, then a week or 10 days will suffice. It takes around a week to see everything on all the islands – that equates to almost two months to "do" the whole country.
The simple answer to this question is no! Locals will gaze in horror at your two-week, six-island itinerary involving midnight ferries and dogleg flight connections via Praia. Simply put, interisland connections are woeful, with ferries canceled or delayed by days more often than not and flights between islands a jolly game of chance. That said, there are exceptions: for instance, the ferry between Mindelo on São Vicente and Porto Novo on Santo Antão is pretty reliable, and flights linking Mindelo and the capital Praia usually take off sooner or later.
On the individual islands themselves, taxis and shared taxis called aluguers are the most common modes of transport. Hiring a car is also worthwhile on Santiago and possibly Santo Antão, but nowhere else. To see out-of-the-way attractions, you are going to need the services of a guide with a 4WD usually a tough old
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French fashion house Jacquemus has partnered with luxury hospitality leader Four Seasons to create a summer experience at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas. This close encounter between one of Europe’s leading fashion brands and the legendary Ocean Club will immerse guests in the Jacquemus world of “pop luxury” befitting of a destination that has been a playground for the international jet set since the 1960s.
The Caribbean is the perfect vacation destination for those looking for warm weather, endless beaches, and exciting activities on and off the water. From nightlife and water sports to great food and historical attractions, the Caribbean has something for everyone.
In May 1994, the Eurotunnel – linking England and France under the English Channel – was opened in a ceremony led by French President François Mitterrand and Queen Elizabeth II. In the 30 years since then, the network, which shares its tunnel with the Eurostar service, has carried nearly 10 million passengers per year between England and mainland Europe.
JetBlue will open its first-ever crew base outside of the continental United States in Puerto Rico, further cementing the airline’s expansion plans on the island.
Jungle-cloaked islands, rich kastom (traditional) cultures, blockbuster scuba diving and a remarkably accessible active volcano are just a small part of the allure of Vanuatu, an 80-plus island archipelago made for adventure.
TUI Turtle Aid programme is introducing a global, turtle-friendly certification scheme which will be pioneered by 30 beachfront businesses across four holiday destinations in Cape Verde, Kenya, Turkey and Greece.
Colombia is the leading destination for birdwatching in the world. That’s a fact. With a total of 1,558 species recorded and 12,007 checklists submitted during the Global Big Day, the Country of Beauty outperformed countries such as Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, and India, positioning itself at the top of the global count. Since the inception of Global Big Day in 2015, Colombia has ranked first in the standings since 2017, except for the year 2021. This event is organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which invites people from around the world to observe and record birds for a day. Its goal is to gather important data on the distribution and abundance of birds on its eBird platform, which is crucial for conservation and scientific research.
There’s a lot to feast your eyes on in Manila—and if you’re planning your first trip there you might be struggling to narrow down exactly what to do and see during your trip.
Long sandy beaches backed with red cliffs. Freshly caught lobster, oysters and clams. Toe-tapping music at lively kitchen parties or local pubs. And plenty of outdoor adventures, from cycling to kayaking to hiking. In the Gulf of St Lawrence, on Canada’s eastern shores, Prince Edward Island (PEI) may be the country’s smallest province, but there’s plenty to see and do.
I'm a New Yorker who recently visited Dallas for the first time. Over the years, I've been to quite a few New York steakhouses and am pretty familiar with what to expect from the experience.