Why Cape Verde?
Here you find 1O reasons!
1 Long, sandy beaches and clear water at temperatur 24-27 Celsius degree
2 Windy beaches excellent for windurfing and kitesurfing, beaches with quite waters for swimming, wavy beaches good for practice body board and surfing
3 Isolated, wild beaches to enjoy silent, sky, ocean and wind
4 Fantastic diving places for sportdiving
5 Coral reefs and wracks for adventorous diving
6 Beutifull landscape offered by each island, excellent for long walks and hikking through mountains
7 Summer all year around
8 Traditionl music and rhythms like morna, funana, mazurka
9 Fresh seafood, and fruites
1O The Capeverdeans are welcoming, warm, natural and their culture is very cosmopolitan
Location
Cape Verde is an archipelago consisting of ten islands and eight islelts disposed in the shape of an ellipsis and they are divided into two groups, according to the position of the island in relation with the trade winds blowing from the Northes of the African Continent: Barlavento, consisting of the islands of Boa Vista, Sal, Santa Luzia, Santo Antao, Sao Nicolau and Sao Vicente, Sotavento located a bit South, consisting of the islands of Brava, Fogo, Maio and Santiago. The archipelago of Cape Verde is located in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean, at the cross-road of three continents, Africa, America and Europe, approiximately at 279 miles away from the coast of Senegal and 932 miles away from the south of Canary Islands.
Climate
The climate of the Archipelego i tropical and dry, with the standard temperatures remaining around 25 Celsius degree and changes that do not exceed 1O Celsius degree due to the ocean influence. There are two main seasons, the rainy season from Agust to October and the dry season from December to June. The rainseason doesn't mean tropical rain, in Sao Vicente for example there are 5 rainy days in a year! The leeward winds blow from January to March and it is the season for windsurfer and sailors.
Fauna and Flora
The natural vegetation is very different from island to island. Boa Vista, Maio and Sal are desert islands with very scarce vegetation, Santo Antao, especially the valleys are tropical jungles and dragon trees, Sao Vicente is a volcanic island with grandiose landscape. Migrant and endemic birds make upthe main animal life found in the archipelago. About 75 different rare species of birds still live in the country, namely in the islets that are protected like natural reserves. Turtles are also frequent visitors of the islands, five of seven identified species of marine turtles can be found in Cape Verde. There is still a small community of baboons inland the island of Santiago.
Sea-scape
The territorial waters of Cape Verde measure well over 6OO,OOO sq. Km, and the temperature of the water is between 21 and 25 Celsius degree. With the underwater coral platforms attract a great variaty of fauna, with permanent and migrant species.
History
In 146O, when the Genovese António Noli and the Portuguese Diogo Gomes, both navigators int the service of the Portuguese Crown, discovered the first five islands the archipalego was inhabited. In 1462 the navigator Diogo Alfonso discovered the other islands. The settlement of the islands began with free Europeans and slaves from the Coast of Africa. Santiago was the first island to be colonized. The expansion of the commercial routes and the flourishing of te slave trade, as well as their privileged geographical location, the islands of Cape Verde played an important role as a commercial slave post. Nevertheless, during the 17th and 18th centuries Cape Verde was frequently attacked by pirates. In fact, the famous pirate Francis Drake in the service of the British Crown honored Cape Verde with his renowned visits.
Later on, in the 19th century due to the excellent conditions of the Bay of Mindelo int became on of the busiest ports of the transatlantic trade, and Mindelo became a cosmopolitan city and you can feel this spirit today as well.
Cape Verde is independent till the 5th of July of 1975 and on the 13th of January of 1991 a multy-party system was introduced in the country. Since then Cape Verde has a stable parliamentary democracy system of goverment.
Demography
The population of Cape Verde is around half million people and 42% are less than 14 years. The number of Capeverdeans in the Diáspora is higher than the local resident population. 88% of the children are enrolled in the primary school and the rate of illiteracy is 21 %.
Cape Verde has no contagious or endemic tropical diseases and therefore there is no need of vaccination before entering the country.
Gastronomy
Cape Verde offers rich gastronomy with a great variety of seafood. Undoubtedly the choices of fish and shellfish are great, varying from Lobster to crabs and rock barnacle, limpets and the delicious starters from seafood. The basis of the traditional Capeverdean culinary is the corn that can be prepared in different ways and may be garnished with pork, beans, manioc, and sweet potato. Cachupa is the most famous and a national symbolical recipe of Cape Verde. One must also taste the powerfull national alcoholic drink named grog as well the traditional home made liquerus with all sorts of natural fruit or herb flavors.
Arts and Crafts
The Capeverdeand handicraft naturally reflects the daily life of the population not only through the material used to make it but also through the themes that are treated. Basket-waving, woven cloth and cotton weaved tapestry are areas very much privileged by the local artisans. It is also important to mention that the red clay is an essential material with which the artisans create typical figures of Capeverdeans and their routines. You can visit in Mindelo the Museu de Arte Tradicional, where you can find capeverdian handicraft. If you are interested in art visit in Mindelo the galleries of Joao Pinto or Kiki Lima. You can find modern art and excellent wine if you visit ZeroPointArt Gallery and Winehouse of the capeverdean painter Alexander de Silva.
Festivals
On of the most popular feast is Carnival. This has many similarities with the Brazilian Carnival, namely the parties, street parades and spontaneous groups of masquerade animating the street. Carnival is celebrated in all of the islands but the funniest and the most exuberant is in Mindelo. Mindelo has the most famous summer festival in summer, the Baia das Gatas Festival with capeverdean and international music.
Music and Nightlife
Undoubtedly, the type of music the most known in the county is morna, but there are other styles of dance music such as coladeira, funaná and the mazurca. But you can find places where international pop music, reggea or jazz is played. In music, as in all forms of expession of the Capeverdean culture, there is a clear combination of African and European roots. Mindelo is very famous place if you want enjoy local music. There are many clubs, bars, restaurants and pubs where you can listen live music.
Sports and Leisure
Cape Verde offers a wide range of attractions as far as nature is concerned. They can be divided into three categories, namely water and mountain activities and those related to nightlife and gastronomy. As far as water and mountain activities are concerned, the visitors will be able to enjoy fantastic white and fine sandy beaches, where they may lazily sunbath under the sun as well as swim in the warm and blue ocean.
If you like active holiday you can try line-fishing, deep-sea fishing, diving, sufing, sailing. You can
hikking in the mountains and touring in the deep valleys with or without a guide.
You may choose horsebackriding and cycling or playing tennis or golf.
It is easy to spend either calm or exciting holidays in Cape Verde, where both situations are easily found. Come, relax and enjoy...
