Murray Stewart

Aisling Irwin

Colum Wilson

The new, thoroughly updated eighth edition of Bradt’s Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) remains the most detailed and extensive English-language guidebook available to this alluring Atlantic archipelago, described by some as ‘Africa light’. Stable and peaceful, quietly isolated by its mid-Atlantic location, malaria-free, and with year-round sun, Cabo Verde’s appeal to independent travellers is a natural one – with its unique island geography making it somewhat of an adventure to navigate beyond the more conventional single-island visit of the increasing numbers of package tourists. The archipelago is diverse, particularly in terms of its tourist infrastructure. Sal and Boavista, the oldest of these volcanic islands, boast white-sand beaches that rival those anywhere in the world, and are complemented by dream windsurfing and kitesurfing opportunities, courtesy of strong breezes and powerful Atlantic waves. Consequently, these two islands attract 95% of Cape Verde’s visitors, leaving the other seven inhabited islands undeveloped – and awaiting discovery. Hikers, music-fans and those curious to experience something more authentically Cabo Verdean are drawn to these seven islands. Lace up your walking boots to trek amid the jaw-dropping mountainous landscapes of Fogo or Santo Antão. Or chill, taking time out in tiny Brava or mellow Maio. Or let your internal culture-vulture revel in the fusion of African, Portuguese and Brazilian influences that courses through the cities of Praia and Mindelo, with their constant backdrop of seductive music (or February’s raucous carnival!) – the aural thread that ties together these islands scattered across the mid-Atlantic. Although Sal and Boa Vista’s all-inclusives dominate the tourist market, they are increasingly joined by small, independently owned eco-lodges across all islands, complemented by an upswing in the quality and accessibility of traditional pensão and homestays. Throw in coffee and wine, and an authentic culture of organic food, and you have a recipe for well-catered relaxation. So whether you are a winter sunseeker craving beach-based downtime or an ecotourist looking for nesting loggerhead turtles and birds found nowhere else, an Africa afficionado or a digital nomad enticed by new long-stay visas, Bradt’s Cape Verde provides the perfect guide to getting the most out of these unexpectedly rewarding islands.

Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)

After an astonishing career as explorer and missionary, Dr David Livingstone disappeared back into his beloved Africa for one last time in search of the source of the Nile. He believed that the river sprang from four mysterious fountains which had been known to the ancient Greeks. Livingstone faced his task with unparalleled bravery but he was frail and eventually he died on the shores of a swampy lake. Over a century later, Colum Wilson and Aisling Irwin, husband and wife, retraced his last journey on foot, canoe and bicycle. They found vivid evidence of his continuing legacy to East Africa - and haunting echoes of his spirit.

A Journey to the Four Fountains

In Quest of Livingstone

The Cape Verde Islands are a destination with a difference, a distinctive blend of European and African cultures whose unique hospitality is encapsulated in the Creole word morabeza. These magical islands are soaring in popularity, with property construction, flights and international arrivals rocketing. British and Irish second-home investors are discovering the potential of these beautiful, burgeoning islands and this fifth edition provides practical details on purchasing property, exploring the spectacular landscape and travelling between islands. From the long stretches of shimmering, sandy beaches of Boavista to the lush green peaks and valleys of Santo Antão, Cape Verde has something for everybody.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde is a destination on the up: construction is rocketing, international flight numbers are soaring, and visitor arrivals are rising year on year. As the country prospers, Cape Verde’s diaspora (of whom 400,000 live in America) is joining the foreign tourists to return for holidays, to retire to the islands, or even to set up new lives there. The fourth edition of this genuinely independent guide features a new section on buying property. It provides updated information on Cape Verde’s rapidly expanding tourist facilities, a revised natural history section, and helps visitors delve deep into the heart of the country’s spectacular landscape, colorful music and unusual people.

Cape Verde Islands

This new 7th edition of Bradt's Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) has been fully revised and updated and remains the most comprehensive English-language guidebook available to the islands of this alluring Atlantic archipelago, described by some as 'Africa light'. The guide includes well-researched history and cultural sections, with a particularly strong section on music, and brings an honest approach to reporting the fragile balance between tourist development and protecting the environment. This new edition reflects the many changes since the previous one, including the introduction of charter flights from the UK to Sal and the first casino-hotel on Sal, as well as providing full information on how to make the most of the less developed islands away from the main tourist hotspots. Stable and peaceful, quietly isolated by its mid-Atlantic location, Cape Verde continues to grow economically and to develop its tourist infrastructure at a leisurely pace. With few natural resources, the islands are heavily dependent on imports, foreign remittances and still to some extent on foreign aid. The reduction in the latter has heightened the focus on the importance of tourism as an economic driver and visitor numbers continue to rise. Year-round sunshine makes Cape Verde a particularly appealing destination. The archipelago is diverse, particularly in terms of its tourist infrastructure. Sal and Boavista, the oldest of these volcanic islands are flat with white-sand beaches that rival anything in the world. Consequently, they attract 95% of Cape Verde's visitors, leaving the other seven inhabited islands undeveloped. Hikers and those curious to discover something authentic are drawn to them, spending their time walking amongst the jaw-dropping mountainous landscapes of Fogo or Santo Antão, taking some true time-out in tiny Brava or mellow Maio or enjoying the cultural fusion of African, Portuguese and Brazilian influences in the cities of Praia and Mindelo. The adventurous will find adrenalin rushing as they profit from windsurfing and kitesurfing opportunities, fuelled by strong breezes and Atlantic waves, while for culture, Mindelo is the attraction with a constant backdrop of seductive music, the thread which ties together the islands scattered across the mid-Atlantic.

Diverse and fascinating, the Cape Verde islands offer idyllic beaches but also the unique culture and traditions of their soulful inhabitants. Bradt's Cape Verde remains the preeminent guide.

Siân Pritchard-Jones

Bob Gibbons

Adrift in the Atlantic Ocean, one of the attractions of the Cape Verde Islands is the watersports; surfing, windsurfing, diving, and fishing. Travelers are also lured to the islands by the promise of scenic hikes around the dramatic terrain of these volcanic outcrops, including the climb up the Pico de Fogo volcanic cone. Many off-the-beaten-track highlights are provided to help explorers discover the hidden treasures of this magical archipelago, from beautiful bays with whaling history and beaches teeming with turtles to botanical gardens and cobbled paths leading to summits high above sea level. Features include:

Colum Wilson

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