Cape Verde

If you’re looking for an alternative to the Canary Islands for some winter sun, these little-known islands are just a six-hour flight away and have year-round warm weather

Now that the clocks have gone back and autumn is in full swing, many of us will be back to craving some sunshine. While we often associate winter sun breaks with long flights and far-flung destinations, there is a new destination that’s becoming increasingly popular – and it’s just a six-hour flight from London.

Often dubbed ‘the new Canary Islands’ because of their year-round sunshine, Cape Verde is becoming a popular spot in December and January for those looking for an alternative to Spanish resorts.

It’s recently become a more accessible destination for Brits, with easyJet launching flights to the archipelago in March of this year. It marked the budget airline’s first route into Sub-Saharan Africa and one of its longest flights to date.

The islands, which sit off the west coast of Africa, welcomed an estimated 1.2 million visitors in 2024, however, this number is a fraction of the tourist numbers of the Canaries. Tenerife alone had approximately seven million visitors in the same year, meaning Cape Verde has less of a touristy vibe.

The main draw to the islands is arguably the pleasant weather. While January is the coldest month in Cape Verde, it still regularly hits 27C during the day, with six to eight hours of sunshine and little chance of rain. By comparison, Tenerife sits around the 17 to 22C mark during this time, gets around six hours of sun, but can be cloudy and have short showers.

If you fly on easyJet, you’ll arrive in Sal, an island with a volcanic desert landscape. Most visitors stay in Santa Maria in the south of the island, known for its long sandy beaches with turquoise seas. The town has a relaxed vibe, with palm tree-lined streets. When the sun goes down, there’s lively nightlife that includes live music and beach bars.

Visitors can enjoy activities such as windsurfing, take a boat out to spot sharks, or visit the defunct Pedra Lume salt mine, which sits in an extinct volcano. They can tour the historic mines before taking a revitalising mud bath and floating in the saline pools that are said to leave their skin feeling amazing.

Of course, you don’t need to stay on Sal for your entire trip. A three-hour ferry ride away is Boa Vista, which has a handful of resorts. This less-visited island has spectacular white sand beaches where you may spot turtles coming into shore.

Head out on a quad bike tour and enjoy the desert landscapes, or sail away on a catamaran to enjoy the best beaches. In the north of the island, you can also visit the shipwrecked MS Cabo Santa Maria, which has sat in the waters since 1968 and offers an interesting spot for photos.

EasyJet holidays’ CCO Paul Bixby said “Cape Verde is a fantastic destination, providing year-round sunshine and white sandy beaches. That’s why we’re thrilled to be offering our brilliant package holidays, whether it’s a family looking for a resort to enjoy with kids, or a couple looking for adults-only luxury, we have a great range of fantastic resorts across the island of Sal.”

When it comes to hotels, there are plenty of options from basic and comfortable to all-inclusive resorts. The Meliá Llana Beach Resort & Spa, which is adults-only and offers all-inclusive packages, has excellent reviews. One guest said: “The resort itself is beautiful, a true oasis of tranquillity and style.” The hotel also offers swim-up rooms for those who love to lounge by the pool.

A family-friendly option is the Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort, which is in a prime location on the lively Ponta Sino, which is a popular kitesurfing spot. One visitor said in a review: “A lovely stay at Hilton Sal Cabo Verde and would certainly return again. Great location and friendly staff. Extremely clean and good choice of food. Rooms are a great size with comfy beds.”

EasyJet currently has flights available from London Gatwick to Sal on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with January dates starting at £111.99 each way. Their current package deals include a 7-night all inclusive break at Sol Dunas Family Fun, departing January 7 2026, from £843 per person. This price is based on two people sharing a double room.

Cape Verde beat Eswatini 3-0 to qualify for the football World Cup for the first time. The island nation, with a population of just 600,000, is the second smallest country ever to reach the tournament, finishing ahead of Cameroon to top their group.

Salty sights and Caesar salads in Cape Verde, the up-and-coming jetlag-free fly-and-flop destination. Travel editor Nigel Thompson went to check then out and for a bob in the water

We entered the 100-yard long rock tunnel at a windswept car park on an island in the Atlantic Ocean. We exited at the edge of a vast crater, mesmerised by an otherworldly view like a scene from a sci-fi film.

Before us lay a volcanic (dormant thankfully!) landscape of ochre, pinks and whites. You feel it could be life on Mars were it not for the fact there is water in a lake below. But this is no “ordinary” water at the Pedra de Lume salt flats at Sal island in Cape Verde.

The lake is more than 20 times saltier than the sea – double the levels in the Dead Sea in Israel and Jordan – and, just like its Middle Eastern cousin, it’s popular with tourists for the novelty of bobbing around on the surface unable to sink.

Locals swear blind by a dip, saying the life of brine restores the skin’s health and people look 10 years younger after leaving the water. Benjamin Button I was not, but floating is fun and it gets your attention as any tiny scratch (e.g. a paper cut or shaving nick) stings noticeably!

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Entry is €6 and a freshwater shower afterwards (you will need it) is €1. There’s also a small cafe and souvenir shop with cash preferred.

Cape Verde, 350 miles off the western coast of Senegal, is taking off for Brits as a (mostly) fly-and-flop destination, with one of the main appeals – apart from pretty reliable tropical weather all-year round – being that it’s a jet lag-free destination and only six hours away heading due south all the way.

For context, that 2,700-mile journey is as far as going across the pond to Newfoundland in eastern Canada. Our base for the trip was the five-star beachfront Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort on the outskirts of Santa Maria, the main tourist town.

It’s an excellent, easily likeable upscale property with all you need – good service, spacious rooms, a lovely central pool area, a lush spa and watersports options in the breezy ocean.

It’s walkable to the centre of Santa Maria and its shops, bars and restaurants via a promenade alongside the vast beach, and is one of the packages on offer with easyJet holidays.

The hotel’s showstopper for me was the airy Bounty Beach Restaurant and Bar. It’s a smart but chilled venue with great sea views and served the chicken Caesar salad of my dreams (around £12.50), plus the local Strela lager (slightly sweet, but decent) and the surprisingly good Cape Verdean wines. Leave me here.

When I was eventually crowbarred out of my seat at the Bounty, another aquatic excursion beckoned. This time, an enjoyable and relaxing catamaran ride in the Atlantic with the friendly folk at Cape Verde Sailing – “marineros” Daisy and Daniel and skipper Delvi.

Much as we were enjoying just pootling around in the ocean – there is also an opportunity to snorkel at an underwater statue of Jesus – a few skipjack tunas leaped out of the water in front of us. Daisy explained that they were fleeing a dolphin hunting for breakfast (half day from €59 per person, cvsailing.com).

So, it was not without a little irony that one of my group of travelling companions ordered the skipjack tuna steak for lunch when we were back on dry land (and the land in barren Sal is very dry indeed).

Our tuna may have escaped a breakfasting marine mammal, but not all manage to elude a Cape Verde fisherman (apparently it was delicious).

That lunch en route back to the airport was at the elegant and traditional Hotel Morabeza, the oldest on the island with its origins dating back to the 1960s and also available with easyJet holidays.

Like the Hilton, it has a terrific beach club and, yes, another decent chicken Caesar salad for lunch (around £8.50). Again, leave me here (I tried hiding in the toilets but the bus driver found me and took me to the airport).

I was only there for a couple of days but it was oh so easy to develop a taste for Cape Verde. With an extra sprinkling of salt, of course.

Book the holiday

easyJet holidays offers seven nights on B&B at the Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort in Santa Maria, Cape Verde, from £882pp with flights from Gatwick on April 27, 2026, 23kg baggage and transfers. easyjet.com/en/holidays

More info at caboverde.com

It’s a six-hour direct flight from the UK, and each of the ten islands that make up the archipelago has a different and distinct feel – perfect for those looking for year-round sunshine

The stunning nation of Cape Verde is fast becoming a favourite among Brits seeking year-round sunshine.

For those looking to change their annual holiday destination in Spain, Italy or France, you might want to have a look at this place. Spain has long been a top pick for those looking to escape the unpredictable British weather, but now more holidaymakers are venturing further afield to Africa’s Cape Verde.

Just a six-hour direct flight from the UK, Cape Verde’s ten islands offer constant sunshine, with temperatures seldom dipping below 21C, making it an ideal winter sun destination. Did anyone say a quick weekend trip?

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Each island in this Atlantic archipelago boasts its own unique charm and character. With an abundance of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, you’ll be spoilt for choice, reports the Express.

With a culture influenced by Portugal and African traditions, Cape Verde is the perfect place as it offers an all-year round exquisite weather where visitors can enjoy the beach and partake in watersports like windsurfing and outdoor activities like hiking.

Cape Verde is a member state of the African Union. But interestingly, the official language of Cape Verde is Portuguese. Nonetheless, Creole is also used in conversation, and visitors will hear it throughout their stay.

Top picks include Santa Maria Beach and Ponta Preta on Sal, Praia de Chaves on Boa Vista, and Laginha beach in Mindelo, on São Vicente. Beyond the beaches, there’s fantastic wildlife spotting opportunities, with whales, dolphins and turtles often seen in the crystal-clear waters.

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While Cape Verde is a great year-round destination, do note that the rainy season falls between July and October. In November, expect daily maximum temperatures around 29C and minimums averaging at 23C.

According to AMAN (Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies), Cape Verde welcomed over a million visitors in 2023, setting a historical record.

For those who love a good hike, the islands are crisscrossed with walking trails through magnificent mountains and towering volcanoes. Santo Antão, São Nicolau and Fogo are touted as the best islands for walkers.

So, if you’re looking to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of city life without going to the typical holiday destinations, Cape Verde is the place for you. For families, friends, and even for a solo trip.

Direct flights are available from London to Cape Verde on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Airlines such as easyJet offer direct flights from London Gatwick, with prices starting at £120 depending on the season and time of purchase.

A far-flung holiday destination is stealing the limelight due to its white sand beaches, lush jungle and volcanic landscapes – and it’s hot in Autumn.

The volcanic island chain of Cape Verde, nestled in the central Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa, epitomises the idyllic island life – boasting year-round warm temperatures, sandy beaches, lush, mountainous areas and a volcanic landscape, reports the Express.

Cape Verde -also known as Cabo Verde- enjoys glorious weather for most of the year. In September, typically the hottest month, temperatures can climb up to a sizzling 35C. By October, you can still expect balmy weather with temperatures hovering between 26 and 28C, peaking at around 30C. Even in the cooler months of January and February, temperatures rarely dip below a pleasant 21C.

This cluster of 10 islands lies hidden in the eastern Atlantic, directly opposite the small African nation of Senegal.

Cape Verde secured independence from Portugal in 1975, though the islands’ heritage endures today through landmarks like the Monumento de Diogo Gomes – a monument to the Portuguese explorer – and the Presidential Palace, constructed during the 19th century for the Portuguese governor.

Cape Verdean culture is a rich blend of Portuguese and West African influences.

The republic boasts its own distinctive music and dance, collectively named Morna – which is most often sung in Cape Verdean Creole, a language that is commonly spoken throughout the islands, in addition to the official language of Portuguese.

Fogo Island stands as the clearest testament to the archipelago’s volcanic heritage, with Fogo meaning “fire” in Portuguese.

The cone-shaped peak of Pico do Fogo soars to 2,829 metres and last erupted in 2015 – though this doesn’t appear to concern the nearly 36,000 residents. Chã das Caldeiras, a settlement of roughly 700 people, sits within the volcano’s crater.

Visitors can explore the hauntingly deserted Esperadinha Airport, situated on the south-westernmost island of Brava. The airport is situated on the only flat pieces of land, a precarious location on a narrow promontory near the water’s edge.

The terminal opened its doors in 1992 but had to cease operations in 2004 due to the strong winds that made it perilous for planes to land.

Nowadays, one can wander across the abandoned tarmac and inside its dilapidated buildings. There are two other defunct airports in the archipelago – Agostinho Neto Airport, in Santo Antão and Mosteiros in Fogo.

Flights are between five and a half to six hours long, with direct connections from the UK to Sal or Boa Vista primarily operated by TUI Airways and easyJet from various UK airports like London Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, and Bristol.

Those willing to make the trip to this far-flung paradise, however, will be rewarded with sun, sand, fascinating culture and stunning views.

Tony Holliday, 57, was left with a fractured right leg, head and shoulder injuries after the crash – which happened after being given a complimentary quadbiking trip while on holiday

A holidaymaker who is suing TUI at the High Court following a quad bike crash has issued a stark warning to tourists while on excursions abroad after he suffered serious injuries which “should never have happened”.

Tony Holliday, who now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, required two operations on his right leg after he collided with rocks and was thrown from a quad bike while on an excursion in Cape Verde in March 2023.

The property developer travelled to the island, off the coast of west Africa, with his wife, Bev, and two of his daughters, Keeley and Rhianna.The 57-year-old, from Cockermouth, Cumbria, is suing TuUI UK, claiming it misrepresented the nature of the excursion and was negligent, and is seeking more than £500,000 in damages.

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Mr Holliday has now urged travellers to take precautions while abroad. He said: “Please check everything. If something doesn’t feel right… take the full checks, make sure everything’s there (and) the health and safety looks like it’s in place.” He continued: “We asked questions at the time but were not given the correct answers.”

Mrs Holliday, 54, said: “Make sure that you’ve got the right insurance in place, that you’re going through your tour operator, and just think carefully about the excursions that you take your family on and that you go on, and just to try and look out for things that we didn’t see.”

The family agreed to go on the free quad bike excursion as compensation for issues with lost luggage and rooms smelling of sewage earlier in the trip.

In court documents filed by law firm Stewarts, which is representing Mr Holliday, Sarah Prager KC said that TUI staff described the excursion as “suitable for total beginners”, despite the company saying online that it was an “off-road adventure”, an “action-packed excursion”, and “four adrenaline-pumping hours” on “very powerful machines”.

Mr Holliday believed the excursion was provided by Tui but later found out it was organised by a local provider. Mr Holliday continues to suffer from anxiety and issues with sleep following the incident, and said he “feels a second slower than where I should be”.

He said: “Although I went through it, I didn’t witness what my family had to witness, and I don’t think they’ll ever get that image out of their head. So it’s not just me who has suffered. I think the full family has suffered through this. It should never have happened.”

Mrs Holliday said: “It’s really strange when you’ve got a partner who has no fear… he gets himself out there and he loves the challenge, work-wise. It’s really strange to then find yourself in the position where he hasn’t got that confidence any more, and your life completely changes. He will get back, he will get back to where he is. We’ll make sure he does.”

Chris Deacon, international injury lawyer at Stewarts, said: “Sadly, every year I see cases like Tony’s, of people sustaining serious, life-changing injuries on holiday excursions. One of the key factors which influences whether a person can bring a compensation claim for their injuries is how the excursion (is) booked.

“This is because booking your excursion through your tour operator as part of your package holiday brings with it certain protections under the package travel regulations.

“If you book through a small, local provider, there is a risk they won’t be insured, fully or at all, with no safeguard that the tour operator may have risk assessed the provider or activity, and the added complication of potentially having to bring your legal case in a foreign jurisdiction.

“What is also worth knowing is that many travel insurance policies exclude high-risk activities such as quad biking, parachuting, bungee jumping and certain watersports. So even if you have travel insurance, don’t assume it will cover you for everything.”

A spokesperson for TUI said: “We are sorry that Mr Holliday was injured during his holiday to Cape Verde. As this is now a legal matter, we are unable to comment any further at this time.”

Tui is understood to be opposing the claim and is due to file its defence at the High Court later this year.