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 The islands of Cape Verde are famous for the various activities which can be enjoyed there. Santa Maria is home to one of the worlds best windsurfing sites; the centre is located on the beach. These are ideal for those with windsurfing experience, as the winds and open seas can be dangerous for less experienced sailors; instruction is available to top up your skills. Head off to Boavista or Sao Vicente for beginner friendly centres and equipment available to hire. If you have your own equipment to bring with you, check with the airline for carriage requirements.
The Blue Marlin fishing in Sao Vicente is the best in the world, with many boats catering to the international game fishing community. The fishing clubs in Sal and Sao Nicolao also operate trips of varying durations and objectives.
Sal is regarded as the surfers' paradise, with constant breezes blowing from the north making the seas of the island perfect for the champions to train. The Trilogy Windsurfing Competition is held in Punta Preta, renowned as one of the best in the world, get down here for more advanced conditions. However, the island has five other locations for those of varying standards, as on Boavista, Santiago, Sao Nicolau and Maio.
Diving is also taking off in Cape Verde, where impressive submerged caves, rock formations and canyons are home to a variety of eels, lobsters and fish species. You may get to experience the dolphins residing in these clear waters, making conditions ideal for discovering the wealth in marine life blessing the archipelago. Shipwrecks are also abundant around the islands, and are fascinating to explore - local dive schools are located in Santa Maria on Sal and Mindelo on Sao Vicente. You can pre-book instruction and equipment. 
One of the most popular activities on Cape Verde has got to be trekking, with a wide range of locations and levels of difficulty, combining spectacular views and diverse flora and fauna, especially on Santo Antao, where the green valleys and mountainous peaks provide a magnificent landscape for the intrepid explorer. All islands offer guides to take you through the best routes, including, possibly the finest for stunning scenery, the summit of Pico de Fogo, a fantastic volcanic cone, one of the best in the world. 
The bird watching on the islands is another popular pastime, as the variety of bird species is legendary, such as the rare, nocturnal ngon-ngon, recently placed on the endangered species list. You can arrange a special tour to take in these fabulous birds, however be prepared for a physically demanding journey up to the crater of Pico de Fogo. The climb is, however, well worth it for the stunning views and birds. |
