The Canary Islands, with their year-round sunshine, beautiful beaches and short flight times, have long been a favourite destination for British holidaymakers. The Spanish islands have enjoyed popularity since the tourism boom of the 1960s. Destinations such as Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria have attracted millions of tourists over the years.
In 2023 alone, approximately 14 million international visitors flocked to these islands. However, this influx has sparked protests from locals demanding more sustainable tourism practices. But there’s another destination that offers a similar experience to the Canary Islands, but without the throngs of tourists.
Cape Verde, an archipelago off the coast of Senegal, is being hailed as the ‘new Canaries’, and it’s not hard to see why. Cape Verde consists of ten islands (nine of which are inhabited): São Vicente, São Nicolau, Santo Antão, Santa Luzia, Maio, Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago, Fogo and Brava. Boa Vista and Sal are particularly popular with tourists, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The islands gained independence from Portugal in 1975, but they retain a blend of African and European culture – somewhat akin to how the Canary Islands differ from mainland Spain. Situated further south in the Atlantic than the Canaries, Cape Verde boasts warmer temperatures that seldom dip below 20C.
The temperatures peak in July, August and September, reaching around 30C, but it still maintains balmy highs of 25C in January. Cape Verde enjoys a refreshing sea breeze from the Atlantic. It does have two distinct seasons; the dry season is between November and June, while the rainy season falls between August and September. One of the islands’ most extraordinary spectacles takes place between July and October – the turtle nesting season – which means visitors need to be particularly careful on beaches.
Similar to the Canaries, Cape Verde boasts some incredible beaches that could even rival those in the Caribbean. Santa Maria in Sal features a golden stretch of sand with colourful fishing boats scattered along the shore. Boa Vista is home to the stunning Santa Monica beach, which extends for an impressive 9km. Praia de Chaves, also on Boa Vista, is backed by sand dunes and stretches on for 5.6km.
Thanks to their coastline and position in the Atlantic, the islands are popular with watersports enthusiasts. Keen walkers and nature lovers will appreciate their untouched natural beauty and the diverse landscapes the island offers. In fact, you won’t find bustling resorts in Cape Verde, or busy ‘strips’ filled with bars and restaurants. Instead, the country’s hospitality scene is mainly made up of small all-inclusive hotels where you can expect a peaceful experience.
Many are located right on the beach, so you can wake up to the sound of waves lapping on the shore.
Direct flights are available from to Cape Verde from several UK airports, with the journey taking approximately six hours.