Cape Verde Islands Caribbean Islands the wrong side of Atlantic undeveloped as Lanzarote was 25 years ago

International Flights:
Cape Verde's International Airport, Amílcar Cabral, is located on the island of Sal, with direct flights from numerous major European cities such as Paris, Lisbon, Amsterdam and Las Palmas, travelling to this 'corner of paradise' is becoming increasingly easier and convenient. Direct cross-Atlantic flights are also available from Boston, New York, Houston and Atlanta and the highly anticipated new international airport in Praia, the country's capital on Santiago Island, is expected to vastly increase Cape Verde's potential as a top holiday destination.

The three principle international air-carriers flying to and from Cape Verde are TACV (Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde), TAP Air Portugal and South African Airways.

Internal Flights:
Once in Cape Verde, travelling from one island to another is best done through internal flights. The country's national airline, TACV, offers daily flights to all of the inhabited islands apart from Brava and Santo Antao, which are only accessible by boat. Passengers also travelling internationally with TACV will qualify for an 'internal air-pass' entitling them to reduced fares on pre-booked internal flights.

For those travelling in groups between islands, private air charters are available through 'Cape Verde Express' air taxi service. Although usually a more expensive option, the in-transit views are unbeatable.

Sea:
The islands of Mindelo, Sao Vicente, Santo Antao, Santiago, Fogo and Brava are all linked through two well-established cargo-passenger ferry services. These services are frequent and reliable, but most travellers still favour the quicker, hassle-free option of internal flights, leaving the ferries to play a more major role in industry rather than tourism.

Road:
When travelling by road, there are several different options available. Firstly, for those wishing to truly explore, car hire is readily available on the islands of Santiago, Fogo, Sao Vicente and Sal. But be aware - only one-third or the country's roads are paved, so driving in remote areas can be somewhat of an 'adventure'! Vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road and an International Driving Licence is required.

The second option is to travel by taxi, known as 'Aluguer'. This is probably the most popular way of getting around and these vehicles vary in size and shape - from cars to pick-ups, vans to minibuses. It is common practice to negotiate the price of a journey before setting off.

Finally, public buses are a reliable, inexpensive way of getting around. The cleanliness of the buses is of a surprisingly high standard, particularly in larger towns.

Cape Verde Islands are The Caribbean Islands on the wrong side of the Atlantic and as undeveloped as Lanzarote was 25 years ago

Do you have a property to rent out ?

Do you have a property to rent out ?