Cape Verde

• Boa Vista
  
• Mindelo, São Vicente Island
  
• Palmeira, Sal Island
• Porto Novo. Santo Antão Island
  
• Praia, Santiago Island
• Sao Filipe, Fogo Island

If you travel with an operator visiting polar regions, they will most likely schedule their Cape Verde voyage on the reposition between the Antarctic and the Arctic, usually in April. This does mean that departure dates are more limited, but on the plus side, there is predictably good weather at this time. It is possible to find departures from various operators between October and April, typically during the dry season.

There are numerous international airports in Cape Verde, easily reachable from Lisbon, Portugal. Most cruise operators require you to fly in from Lisbon to Praia. Often, the ticket price will include a night’s accommodation in Lisbon, and passengers will fly to the archipelago as a group, making the journey easier.

Several operators also offer trips to Cape Verde as part of a longer cruise that visits destinations such as the Canary Islands, St Helena, and West Africa. If you want to experience the best of Cape Verde, avoid the itineraries that finish a longer multi-country cruise there, as they tend to spend just one day in the archipelago itself.

Cape Verde is known for its consistent weather. With temperatures comfortably in the mid-to-late twenties, it’s great to visit any time of year. The wet season, which allows the farmers to produce coffee and tropical fruits, is typically between July and October. Most cruise departures are in the first half of the year.

Cape Verde faces challenges environmentally and socially, with a reliance on fossil fuels, high poverty rates, and the effects of the collapse of tourism post-pandemic. The Government has made solid commitments to confront these challenges, as laid out in Cabo Verde’s Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development. The Sustainable Tourism Development Plan highlights the key areas to focus on, such as coastal regions increasingly vulnerable to environmental change. When researching your chosen cruise operator, you can enquire about their corporate social responsibility, such as whether the company does any local outreach or helps with areas it visits. Given that cruise operators work with local tour operators every day while in the archipelago, it is safe to say that more money is going back into the local economy compared with other destinations where the ships are more self-sufficient. 

I hope that this guide has helped you feel more informed about the beautiful Cape Verde, an underrated but fascinating archipelago off the West coast of Africa. It is a small country but with a lot to offer visitors who step into the adventure with curiosity and an open mind.

Given that Cape Verde is low on most people’s travel radar (and therefore an even better reason to visit!), there are fewer operators to choose from than a more typical destination, Antarctica. Despite this, there are still sufficient numbers of expedition ships visiting that you will have some choice in the comfort level versus adventure you want. If possible, I would recommend choosing a smaller vessel (sub 130 passengers).

Visiting Cape Verde by expedition ship is surprisingly easy for people with reduced mobility. Most landings are made with the ship going alongside a pier rather than using zodiacs to tender ashore. Make sure to check directly with the expedition cruise operator, as they will know which landing sites are booked and should be able to tell you how many excursions will be accessible for you. I strongly recommend you enquire and book directly with operators rather than through agencies. The cruise operators have accurate details and know the company’s ethos and onboard atmosphere, and the helpful advisors on the phone are much more likely to have travelled onboard with said company. 

Waking up each morning in a new port or on a different Cape Verdean island is exciting. It highlights the advantages of travelling by expedition ship, with no ferries or internal flights to think about. The cruise operators will work with local guides and tour operators to provide daily activities. From personal experience, the local guides here are exceptional. Passionate and knowledgeable about their islands, they share engaging stories, welcome questions and work hard to provide a better life for their families.

There may be different excursion options to choose from each day; check upon booking if you must select pre-departure or once onboard. There are sometimes limited spaces, so book early to get your pick. However, you can’t go wrong with the choice of activities here. Whether you are enjoying a local food tasting or pushing yourself out of your comfort zone on a strenuous hike, each destination is unlike anywhere you’ve been before.

The islands vary a lot between them; some of my favourites are:

Fogo is named the ‘black pearl’ due to its volcanic sand. Visit Fogo volcano and São Filipe - a Portuguese colonial town. Local cheese and wine tastings are a must!

Boa Vista is steeped in maritime history, with some fascinating museums telling the stories of Sal Rei. It is also known for its golden beaches and shipwrecks.

Santo Antão is a contrast with its verdant forests and lush farming valleys.  A memorable day was a hike to Fontainhaus, which National Geographic classifies as a village with one of the best views in the world.

Some more adventurous operators offer sea kayaking as an activity option onboard. However, on any given day, you will likely have to decide between kayaking and a land-based excursion.