Real Estate and Properties in Cape Verde

About two years ago travel journalists predicted that the Cape Verde islands could be the next big tourist destination hotspot. And they were not far from the truth. Ever since Cape Verde was featured on BBC Holiday Destinations, the archipelago is being discovered by UK and Ireland tourists. And they are not only coming for a one-time vacation, they are buying property and land too.

Once only known by Portuguese and Italian investors, Cape Verde is an emerging market with massive investment potential. With such assets as stunning sceneries, beautiful white sandy beaches, year long sun and great location (only 3 hours from Lisbon or 5.5 hour direct flights from the UK - no jetlag) the islands are a true tropical paradise just next door.

There are wonderful investment opportunities in Cape Verde, from property to land investments, but the rapidly growing demand in Europe (especially in the UK and Ireland) for the purchase of investment and holiday property and land in Cape Verde are bound to turn the market around into a sellers market. The time for action is now. If you are interested in properties and developments for sale abroad you should really check the Cape Verdean market.

Maio Island

The town of Maio, the capital of the island, is also known by the name of Vila do Porto Inglês (Town of the English Port) due to the presence of English vessels in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Fairly arid until its recent forestation, the island now offers the greatest expanse of greenery in the archipelago. Maio island is encircled by beaches of fine pearly sand that provides a delicious contrast with the crystalline warm blue sea.

A trip to the island offers a quiet refuge ideal for relaxation. Lovers of diving and fishing can also enjoy the rich sea life. Another favourite tourist attraction is a peculiar form of rodeo involving the capture of a wild donkey.

Brava Island

Brava is the smallest of the inhabited islands of the archipelago of Cape Verde. Being a rare combination of three qualities, colourful, small and beautiful, Brava is also known as the island of flowers. The climate’s freshness and humidity encourages the growth of an unusual abundant vegetation.

Vila de Nova Sintra, the island’s capital, is rich in dream houses and beautiful gardens filled with flowers. The famous Fonte Vinagre, a thermal spa of acidic mineral water with medicinal effects lies nearby the town.

Fajã d’Agua is the name of the sheltered bay which harbours boats in stormy weather. The marine blue of the sea contrasts deeply with the surrounding luxuriously green vegetation, making it an amazing scenery. The bay also provides unrivalled conditions for fishing sports, and is an essential site to be seen.

The island’s abundant beauty makes it a pleasure to wander through its terrain, in search of hidden locations which shelter tiny, but very welcoming populations.

Cape Verde, a top holiday destination

Cape Verde strengthens its position as a top new tourist destination by participating in numerous tourism fairs across Europe. According to news site A Semana online:

In addition to Lisbon and Madrid, Cape Verde will also be represented at the Milan Tourism Fair, the Berlin Tourism Fair, the Deauville Top Resa and the London World Tourism Market.

CI also highlights the importance of the opening of Praia International Airport, which has facilitated access to tourist “products” from the islands of Santiago, Fogo, Brava and Maio, including eco-tourism, religious and rural tourism, business travelling, etc.

In another article A Semana let us know of the plans to increase the number of flights from Lisbon to Sal by portuguese airline TAP.

This growth accompanies the dynamic of the Cape Verde’s transformation process and includes new airports, new ports of entry for tourists into the country. The concentration of entries that began with Sal is becoming diluted, and in a few years we’ll have various points of entry for investments and tourists in Cape Verde.

Also on the news, the new cape Verdean airline, Halcyon Air, will begin to operate in March.

The company will operate daily flights between the archipelago’s three largest islands – Santiago, Sal and Sao Vicente – and will run four weekly flights to Boavista Island and two flights per week between Sal and Fogo islands.

Fogo Island

Originally named São Filipe, Fogo Island (Fire in portuguese) was renamed because of its volcano, which is famous for being one of the most perfectly shaped cones in the world.



The city of São Filipe is the island's capital. Visitors can enjoy the elegant mansions built in the Portuguese colonial style that contrast deeply with the modest surrounding houses.



The island is famous for its production of the famous "café di Fogo" (Fogo's coffee), considered one of the best in the world. Along with the coffee there is also a vine production, in the heart of the volcanic crater. One must-have souvenir is the local wine called manecon, witch is highly appreciated that is produced without any chemicals in its composition.



The volcano is in fact the main tourist attraction on the island taking just over 4 hours to climb to the top. Reaching a height of about 3000 meters, it offers one of the most spectacular views and scenery of the whole of the Cape Verde Islands.

Santo Antão Island

The northernmost island of the archipelago is renowned for its jagged mountain peaks and deep valleys.

When arriving at the island by boat, you will first be met by the arid scenery of the Porto Novo city, but once the journey begins towards Ribeira Grande the lanscape changes radically, opening into the luxurious vegetation of the valleys.

Important sites to visit are the valley of Paúl - one of the most beautiful in the island -, and the town which lies stretched out against the sea, next to the airport, Ponta de Sol, that has amazing examples of colonial architecture.

Santo Antão is also renowned as the island of grog, a characteristic Cape Verdian brandy which is still made today by traditional methods of grinding the sugar cane.

The best way to discover Santo Antão definitely close to the nature, in outdoor activities. It is nowadays a very popular destination for trekking, hiking and mountain bike (MTB).

Sal Island

Home to the first Cape Verdian international airport, the scenery when landing on the island is breathtaking. The landscape is arid and almost moon like. But don't be mistaken, Sal is a tourism destination by excellence. Its turquoise sea and golden sands combine to form a contrast with the sterile and arid nature.

Being the most developed island where tourism is concerned, Sal has one of the best beaches in the world. The town of Santa Maria is the site of the beach of the same name - 8 km of golden sands with warm sea temperatures all year round, making it into a paradise for water sports lovers, whether is windsurfing, fishing or snorkeling that takes your fancy. A significant portion of visitors already come here for water sports. Scuba Diving is becoming a big attraction because of the oceans prolific sea life.

The beaches are its main asset, but any visitor should also pay a visit to Salinas de Pedra de Lume, a huge salt pit located in the crater of an inactive vulcano.

São Vicente Island

With a surface area of about 227 km2, this island is endowed with very distinctive features and is the place to go to enjoy the night life, Cape Verde style. Mindelo is the island's capital and its famous for its beautiful clear water bay.

Monte Cara is the main landmark of the city and of the island as a whole.

Must see sites: Fortim do Rei (the King's Fort), Baia das Gatas (Bay of cats), beach of Calhau among others.

Santiago island

Home to the capital city in Cape Verde, Praia, it has 991 square kilometers of area and is home to half the nation's population. It belongs to the Sotavento group of islands. Santiago, as most Cape Verdian islands, is volcanic in origin and very mountainous.

The City of Praia has doubled its size in the last years, growing in importance, not only within Cape Verde but also in a regional and international context. The accommodation facilities have been keeping up with this tendency, and Praia has doubled its accommodation capacity in the last years. More touristic developments are in course.

The main touristic points in the island are the Cidade Velha, the old city, and Tarrafal, where you can enjoy the most fabulous beaches.

About Cape Verde

Cape Verde is located in the western Africa, and consists in in a group of ten islands, where nine are inhabited. They country is divided into two groups of islands. The Barlavento group consists of the following islands: Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal and Boavista. The Sotavento group, more to the South, consists of this islands: Maio, Santiago, Fogo and Brava. Cabo Verde has a population of about half a milion people living in the country.

The official language is Portuguese but Creole (a mixture of Portuguese and West African words) is spoken more often. The currency is the Escudo Caboverdiano.

The commerce is open all week days from 8:00h to 19:00h (lunch break from 12:30h to 15:00h) and on Saturdays from 9:00h. to 13:00h. Some supermarkets work Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

Crime rates are low, but still be aware of your belongings. The emergency number is 132.

There are 2 major airports in Cape Verde, one in Sal, and another one in Santiago. Between the islands transportation is possible by plane or boat, being that almost all islands have airports.

Cape Verde’s climate is temperate all year round, with a warm, dry summer.

Welcome

Welcome to "Cape Verde - Land of Morabeza". This blog purpose is to divulge and promote Cape Verde, a country rich in culture and breathtaking landscapes. Here I'll show you beautiful sceneries and landscapes, take you on a voyage through Cape Verdian culture - art, music, events, etc. -, and give you also some tips and useful information when traveling to the islands. Enjoy your stay!