Image by Franck Guiziou / Getty Images

Cabo Verde

Jutting up from the Atlantic, some 311 miles (500km) west of Senegal, Cabo Verde is a stunning island chain with a captivating blend of mountains, beaches and peaceful seaside villages. On Santo Antão, craggy peaks hide piercing green valleys of flowers and sugar cane, ideal for epic hikes.

São Vicente is home to the cultural capital of the islands, Mindelo, which throbs with bars and music clubs. On Sal and Maio, undulating windswept dunes merge with indigo-blue seas on unspoiled beaches of powdery white sand. Meanwhile, far-flung Fogo and Brava in the southwest offer their own enchantments, from surreal volcanic landscapes to sparkling bays framed by towering peaks. Throw in the constant beat of music that Cabo Verde is famed for and the renowned morabeza (Creole for hospitality) of its people and you’ll see why many have come – and never left.

Explore Cabo Verde

Pico do Fogo
Cabo Verde's highest peak (2829m/9382ft), the conical, cinder-clad Mt Fogo, rises dramatically out of the floor of an ancient crater known as Chã das…
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Dja'r Fogo
A must-stop for visitors interested in history, culture and coffee, Dja'r Fogo is run by a local artist who splits his time between Lisbon, Paris and Fogo…
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Tarrafal Concentration Camp
On the main highway about 1km before the centre of Tarrafal is the ominous former Tarrafal Concentration Camp. Here Portuguese authorities used to hold…
P
Pedra do Lume
A great attraction is this surreal, lunarlike crater of an ancient volcano, where seawater is transformed into shimmering salt beds. You can see the old…
M
Museu do Mar
Inside the Torre de Belém, Mindelo's most intriguing museum gives an overview of São Vicente's history, from the island's role in the triangular trade to…
M
Museu Municipal
Pop into this airy colonial mansion with two floors of exhibits, showcasing old photographs, traditional music instruments, sewing machines and sundry…
S
Sala-Museu Amilcar Cabral
This small museum and foundation is dedicated to preserving the memory of freedom fighter Amilcar Cabral (1924–73). Photographs and other memorabilia shed…
P
Praia de Estoril
A short stroll south of the Sal Rei town centre, this lovely beach has turquoise waters and white sands, making it a fine setting for a day out. A handful…
P
Parque Natural Serra da Malagueta
Parque Natural Serra da Malagueta encompasses the dramatic, tumbling ridges 15 minutes' drive back along the road to Praia. There are a number of…

Pico do Fogo
Cabo Verde's highest peak (2829m/9382ft), the conical, cinder-clad Mt Fogo, rises dramatically out of the floor of an ancient crater known as Chã das…
D
Dja'r Fogo
A must-stop for visitors interested in history, culture and coffee, Dja'r Fogo is run by a local artist who splits his time between Lisbon, Paris and Fogo…
T
Tarrafal Concentration Camp
On the main highway about 1km before the centre of Tarrafal is the ominous former Tarrafal Concentration Camp. Here Portuguese authorities used to hold…
P
Pedra do Lume
A great attraction is this surreal, lunarlike crater of an ancient volcano, where seawater is transformed into shimmering salt beds. You can see the old…
M
Museu do Mar
Inside the Torre de Belém, Mindelo's most intriguing museum gives an overview of São Vicente's history, from the island's role in the triangular trade to…
M
Museu Municipal
Pop into this airy colonial mansion with two floors of exhibits, showcasing old photographs, traditional music instruments, sewing machines and sundry…
S
Sala-Museu Amilcar Cabral
This small museum and foundation is dedicated to preserving the memory of freedom fighter Amilcar Cabral (1924–73). Photographs and other memorabilia shed…
P
Praia de Estoril
A short stroll south of the Sal Rei town centre, this lovely beach has turquoise waters and white sands, making it a fine setting for a day out. A handful…
P
Parque Natural Serra da Malagueta
Parque Natural Serra da Malagueta encompasses the dramatic, tumbling ridges 15 minutes' drive back along the road to Praia. There are a number of…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Cabo Verde.

See
Pico do Fogo
Cabo Verde's highest peak (2829m/9382ft), the conical, cinder-clad Mt Fogo, rises dramatically out of the floor of an ancient crater known as Chã das…
See
Dja'r Fogo
A must-stop for visitors interested in history, culture and coffee, Dja'r Fogo is run by a local artist who splits his time between Lisbon, Paris and Fogo…
See
Tarrafal Concentration Camp
On the main highway about 1km before the centre of Tarrafal is the ominous former Tarrafal Concentration Camp. Here Portuguese authorities used to hold…
See
Pedra do Lume
A great attraction is this surreal, lunarlike crater of an ancient volcano, where seawater is transformed into shimmering salt beds. You can see the old…
See
Museu do Mar
Inside the Torre de Belém, Mindelo's most intriguing museum gives an overview of São Vicente's history, from the island's role in the triangular trade to…
See
Museu Municipal
Pop into this airy colonial mansion with two floors of exhibits, showcasing old photographs, traditional music instruments, sewing machines and sundry…
See
Sala-Museu Amilcar Cabral
This small museum and foundation is dedicated to preserving the memory of freedom fighter Amilcar Cabral (1924–73). Photographs and other memorabilia shed…
See
Praia de Estoril
A short stroll south of the Sal Rei town centre, this lovely beach has turquoise waters and white sands, making it a fine setting for a day out. A handful…
See
Parque Natural Serra da Malagueta
Parque Natural Serra da Malagueta encompasses the dramatic, tumbling ridges 15 minutes' drive back along the road to Praia. There are a number of…

Guidebooks

Learn more about Cabo Verde

Ready to go? Get to the heart of Cabo Verde with one of Lonely Planet's in-depth, award-winning guidebooks.