The cheap winter sun islands five hours from the UK that will soon be much easier to get to
A WINTER sun destination five hours from the UK has just completed a major airport modernisation project – and announced more for the future.
Vinci Airports in Cape Verde has just completed the first phase of its airport modernisation project costing €80million (£69.3million).
And, a further €142million (£123million) will soon be invested.
Vinci has been responsible for Cape Verde’s airports since 2023, including four international airports (Praia, Sal, São Vicente, Boa Vista) and three domestic airports (São Nicolau, São Filipe, Maio).
The first phase involved improving the runways at both Sal and São Nicolau airports, modernising terminals, and installing self-service check-in counters.
The second phase will see a €142million (£123million) investment across the airports including increasing each airports’ passenger capacity over the next three years.
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There will also be terminal expansions in this phase, as well as new shopping areas and the runway will be extended at Boa Vista.
The hope is that the updated airports will promote tourism as well as improve movement between Cape Verde’s islands.
In November, easyJet announced it was adding a third route from the UK to Sal in Cape Verde from Bristol Airport.
The new route will commence on May 1, 2026, with flights operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with fares from £129.99 per person.
The airline already flies to Sal from London Gatwick and Manchester airports.
TUI also launched a new route to the winter sun destination last year.
Flights from East Midlands Airport to Boa Vista depart twice a week on a Wednesday and Saturday during the summer season and then once a week on a Wednesday during the inter season.
The airline added an additional flight on a Wednesday from London Gatwick to Boa Vista and an extra Saturday service from Bristol Airport to Sal.
Cape Verde is known for its warm temperatures, dramatic landscapes and golden beaches with crystal clear waters.
And everything is relatively cheap on the islands.
For example, a mid-range three course meal for two people costs around £39.28.
Coffee will set you back just £1.53 and a pint will set you back between £1.65 and £2.59.
Sal in Cape Verde has also just been named the second best escape for a winter sun holiday, according to the ‘sun-reliability index’ which has collected climate data from the last 25 years.
The island is the most popular tourist destination in Cape Verde, with the main international airport.
Visitors can experience the sunny paradise, with soft sand beaches and only a slight chance of rain during April, according to the ‘sun-reliability index’ compiled by easyJet Holidays.
You could also head to Santiago, which is the largest of the islands.
The island features a diverse landscape with lots of rare birds and 38 endangered plant species.
There is even a 500-year-old tree on the island called the Kapok tree, which is around 40 metres tall, making it the largest tree in Cape Verde.
At the other end of the spectrum, the smallest Cape Verde island is Brava, which is also known as the ‘Island of Flowers’ due to its green valleys, volcanic craters and vibrant flora.
In addition to the increased spending on Cape Verde’s airports potentially attracting more airlines to the islands in the future, island hopping could soon also be easier.
This is because Cabo Verde Airlines has launched new planes to travel between Sal and Boa Vista.
During the winter, Cape Verde can reach temperatures up to 27C, making it the ideal winter sun destination.
What’s it like to visit Boa Vista?
DEPUTY travel editor, Kara Godfrey has visited Boa Vista and here’s what she thought…
The islands in the Atlantic Ocean, just 350 miles off the west coast of Africa, celebrate 50 years of independence this year and I’m exploring Boa Vista, the lesser-developed island often overlooked in favour of its busier sister, Sal.
Tour giant TUI has just added extra flights from the East Midlands to the island, starting next weekend, in addition to its flights from Gatwick.
My guide Paolo gave me a brief insight into the history of the island, colonised by the Portuguese until 1975.
We learn of morna music — created by the indigenous population when they were enslaved by both African nations and Portugal — slow, danceable rhythms with tales of love and longing for the homeland.
And one can understand their longing to return when you discover Boa Vista’s blissfully quiet beaches.
Santa Monica, on the southeast of the island, is the finest in Cape Verde and often named as one of the best in the world by Tripadvisor.
Despite the abandoned apartment complex overlooking the beach (left half-finished for decades), the rest of the beach is almost as idyllic as any in the Maldives.
I was the only person there, sinking my toes into the soft golden sand, so powdery it almost felt like flour.
My other favourite beach was Praia Carlota, where you can lose the days in the hippy Morabeza beach hut, chilling out while enjoying fried fish and local Strela beer and admiring the soaring kite-surfers braving the winds that whip across the waters.
For more winter sun destination inspiration, these are the cheapest winter sun destinations from your nearest airport – with seven-night holidays to Turkey, Tunisia and Spain.
Plus, five winter sun holiday destinations where you can get more for your money – and the expert guide to each.