Visiting Fogo in Cape Verde

Most of the tourist developments in Cape Verde are on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista, and it would be easy to spend your whole holiday on these beautiful islands, but several of the other islands are well worth a look, and offer unique travel experiences. One such island is Fogo which is the fourth largest island in the archipelago; it is remarkable for having the only active volcano, and its name is the Portuguese word for fire.

Fogo has the highest peak in Cape Verde, and the volcano has seen several small eruptions since 1785 although the last eruption took place in 1995, with the last major eruption being in 1680. These smaller eruptions have all taken place within the crater, and have created smaller craters in the floor of the original crater which is 10 km long and 7 km wide.

Not surprisingly the soil around the crater is extremely fertile, and coffee is grown on the slopes, while grapevines are actually growing inside the crater and produce Fogo wine. The scenery on the island is quite dramatic and almost lunar as it consists of black sand and rocks.

The main town on the island is called Sao Filipe, and it's easy to see the Portuguese influence amongst the cobbled streets and pastel coloured houses, many of which are decorated with tiles and woods from Portugal. It's worthwhile taking a hike up the volcano, as there's even a restaurant at the top and the views are breathtaking. Fogo is also remarkable for being one of the few Cape Verdean islands to receive any significant amounts of rainfall, although it's still a very dry island.

Escaping the Winter in Cape Verde

The nights are drawing in, the weather forecasters are making dire predictions of another severe winter and the prospect of getting away somewhere hot for a week or so is becoming increasingly appealing.

While traditional holiday hotspots such as Egypt and the Canaries are always a good option, there is another choice which is still only a five-hour flight away. Cape Verde is an archipelago of 10 islands that offer a Caribbean environment within a short haul flight of Europe.

The tourism industry is still very young, but there has been substantial investment by the government into infrastructure, including international airports on the islands of Boa Vista and Sal, as well as all the usual amenities travellers expect. It's an excellent holiday destination, and all the islands have a unique personality. One of the most popular is Boa Vista, and with its fabulous beaches which extend for miles it is easy to see why.

The main town of Boa Vista is Sal Rei, whose buildings betray its colonial past. However one of the nicest things to do on this island is visit Santa Monica beach, which is 11 miles of glorious white sand on the sheltered south of the island – its waters are ideal for swimming.

Boa Vista is ideal for a week or two of relaxation in the tropical sunshine, and it's not difficult to see why so many new resorts and developments are springing up. During the boom Cape Verde was rapidly growing into one of the world’s top tourist destinations, and now it is on the re-burn.

The Rising Popularity of Cape Verde Holidays

Cape Verde is rapidly increasing in popularity, and is beginning to feature in many top 10 destination lists, and it's little wonder. This island is just a few hours flight away from the UK, and has good international connections with many European cities. It's ideal for a short break and there is no jetlag. The archipelago enjoys good year-round weather, and is becoming known as a winter holiday destination.

One of the most popular islands is Boa Vista, and it is also one of the warmest as it is closest to the African mainland and receives hot winds from the Sahara. The capital city of Sal Rei is laid-back. There are a number of good restaurants and cafes just off the main square, but it really comes to life in the evenings with live music being played in many bars.

Away from the main city, the white beaches are absolutely beautiful, and the Estoril dunes are well worth a visit especially on a quad bike tour.

There are also a few volcanic formations and date palms peppering an otherwise barren landscape.

Boa Vista is the third most important nesting site for loggerhead turtles in the world. This endangered species visit the island between May and September to lay their eggs on the beach. Research is being done to track their migratory routes by logging and tagging the turtles.

Obviously the main attraction of this island has to be the beaches. The island is a perfect spot for windsurfers, as the water is just 1 to 2 m deep with terrific swell and no currents.

Sal and Boa Vista Top Choices Among Overseas Property Buyers

The islands of Sal and Boa Vista are proving to be particularly popular with overseas buyers, especially Sal, as it has the reputation of being a very cosmopolitan island which is home to around 15 different nationalities. It has the advantage of having the main airport nearby, and of course the gorgeous beaches and many bars and restaurants are a huge attraction.

Sal also has a great relaxed atmosphere, and the infrastructure here is constantly being upgraded to improve utilities and roads. While some people are buying property here as an investment to rent out, others are seeing it as an attractive place for a holiday home, as it certainly a great alternative to the Canaries or other more traditional European hotspots, and is a relatively short flight away. Not surprisingly, beachfront properties are proving to be the most popular.

Cape Verde is attracting more and more attention, as a recent report from TheMoveChannel.com showed it had entered the top 10 destinations of overseas enquiries, and is now more highly rated than Barbados, Cyprus and Malta.

Although this may come as a surprise to many people, those who have visited the archipelago will find it easy to see why, as it still represents excellent value, has reliable weather and its rapidly improving infrastructure can easily support substantial increases in tourism numbers.

During the first six months of the year Cape Verde received 219,000 tourists, which is an increase of 47,000 tourists and growth of 27.5% compared to the same period in 2010. Most of these tourists came from the UK, but the archipelago is also popular with visitors from France, Italy, Germany and Portugal.