Escape to ‘literal paradise’ this winter on ‘heavenly’ island that’s 27°C in December

The weather present successful the UK is grim to accidental the least, with Storm Bert’s arrival seeing rain, wind, and below freezing temperatures this weekend.

So if you’re looking for an flight that’s antithetic from the accustomed wintertime suntourist traps (sorry, Canary Islands) Cape Verde could beryllium the cleanable destination.

The Cape Verde islands, besides known arsenic Cabo Verde, is an archipelago and land state of West Africa successful the cardinal Atlantic Ocean. 

There are 10 islands; São Vicente, São Nicolau, Santo Antão, Santa Luzia, Maio, Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago, Fogo, and Brava.

Boa Vista and Sal are possibly the 2 you’ll astir commonly spot connected TikTok oregon Instagram, arsenic tourists drawback pictures and videos of the dazzling beaches.

Speaking of societal media users, those who’ve visited Cape Verde, specified arsenic @raretares assertion it’s ‘literal paradise’, portion @kaynamerica connected TikTok described it arsenic ‘heavenly’.

With lukewarm temperatures, a fascinating history, and plentifulness of beaches to visit, Cape Verde volition marque for a fabulous, sun-drenched getaway.

Here’s what you request to cognize astir the archipelago…

How to get to Cape Verde

Cape Verde is located 2,875 miles distant from the UK successful the Atlantic Ocean and nonstop flights instrumentality astir six hours to get there.

Previously, TUI was the lone hose that offers nonstop flights to Cape Verde, with flights to and from London Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham. However, Easyjet is besides acceptable to motorboat a way (the carrier’s longest yet) making your travel easier than ever.

At the clip of writing, TUI is offering a five-night all-inclusive vacation to Boa Vista successful April, for £649 per person. This includes nonstop flights from Manchester Airport to Boa Vista. You’ll enactment astatine Hotel Riu Touareg which has a 4/5 standing connected Tripadvisor.

However, instrumentality fares from London to Praia successful December connected Skyscanner commencement from £319 (albeit with a halt connected the way).

Flights to Tenerife thin to beryllium a batch cheaper, which explains wherefore truthful galore Brits question determination instead; it’s the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands and attracts upwards of 5 cardinal tourists annually, per Statista.

So portion Cape Verde whitethorn outgo a small more, it’s a large prime if you’d alternatively debar the crowds and spell disconnected the beaten track.

The champion clip to sojourn Cape Verde

With its dry, tropical clime with debased rainfall and sunshine year-round, determination isn’t truly a atrocious clip to sojourn Cape Verde. 

But if you did privation thing a small much specific, past according to the pros implicit at TUI, the champion clip to sojourn Cape Verde is ‘between November and June’, arsenic this is during the adust play erstwhile the upwind is lukewarm and sunny. 

The Met Office warns anyone who isn’t keen connected rainfall to debar going betwixt August and October, arsenic the rainfall during these months tin beryllium unpredictable.

What is the upwind successful Cape Verde like?

As we’ve already heard, Cape Verde is fabulously sunny, but what’s it similar temperature-wise?

Well, successful January temperatures scope an mean precocious of 25°c, with the upwind getting steadily warmer done February and March, reaching highs of 25.8°c successful April.

The upwind continues to get warmer until September erstwhile it reaches an mean regular precocious of 30°c.

After this it begins to get a small little again, cooling to an mean regular precocious of 26.4°c by December, according to the Met Office.

So, for Brits looking for a blistery getaway successful the adjacent mates of weeks, Cape Verde could beryllium a fabulous alternative.

Things to bash successful Cape Verde

Naturally, determination are plentifulness of fabulous beaches to sunbathe upon crossed Cape Verde, with Santa Maria, Sal and Santa Monica beach, Boa Vista, being named among the best.

When it comes to swimming though, you’ll request to instrumentality heed of section advice, arsenic oversea conditions tin go unsafe depending connected the weather.

The beaches are besides a fantastic spot to caput if you’re a instrumentality of wildlife, arsenic betwixt July and October, respective antithetic taxon of turtle get astatine Cape Verde to nest and laic their eggs.

Respectful guides volition beryllium capable to instrumentality you to communal nesting sites to springiness you a glimpse astatine the magnificent creatures.

And for a bucket database indispensable — horseback riding by the sea. Picture yourself trotting on aureate sands, the turquoise h2o misting your face. Sounds dreamy, right?

Other activities see diving, surfing, fishing, and vessel trips, arsenic good arsenic a sojourn to Cape Verde’s precise ain mentation of the Dead Sea. 

Pedra de Lume is simply a surreal-looking brackish crater of an aged extinct volcano connected the land of Sal, and tourists are capable to sojourn and interval successful the brackish h2o there.

But if the h2o isn’t for you and you’d similar to bash thing a small much historic, you’ll privation to research Santiago. Here you’ll find the aged superior of Cape Verde, Cidade Velha, with cobbled streets, accepted chromatic houses, and a convent.

Throughout the twelvemonth determination are besides a fig of ample festivals and celebrations successful Cape Verde, including the São Vicente Carnival, which is held connected Shrove Tuesday.

Where to stay successful Cape Verde

Which land you enactment connected volition beryllium connected the benignant of vacation you’re after, truthful it’s worthy doing your probe earlier you book, and definite islands mightiness beryllium pricier than others arsenic they’re much touristy.

On booking.com edifice prices commencement from little than £30 a nighttime for 2 adults successful Santiago this December, the astir fashionable Cape Verde destination connected the website.

Now is decidedly the clip to go!

This nonfiction was archetypal published connected January 7, 2024.

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