Cape Verde Property

Cape Verde real estate is one of the most lucrative investment areas in 2007.

With residential property prices in Spain rising only 8.5 percent in the second quarter of 2006, compared to 14 percent in the same quarter of 2005, many investors are looking further south of the Canary Islands. Cape Verde now has numerous off plan and new development
opportunities, particularly in Ponta Preta on the island of Sal.

The Cape Verde Islands
Cape Verde (meaning Green Cape) is located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 640 kilometres west of Dakar, Senegal, on the African mainland.

It’s an African country that consists of 10 main islands and 5 tiny islands (Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, Ilheu Branco, Ilheu Raso, São Nicolau, Sal and Boa Vista, Maio, São Tiago, Fogo and Brava). The official language of Cape Verde is Portuguese. But most Cape Verdeans speak the national language, Crioulo.

It’s a stunningly beautiful archipelago with many stark contrasts. The islands have amazing tropical beaches – vast endless stretches of white sands, surrounded by impressive mountain peaks. You can practice all types of water sports here. It’s like a little taste of the Caribbean.
The islands all have their own unique character with each of them showing a cultural face as striking and varied as the geography of the archipelago itself.

Cape Verde is located in the subtropical zone. Average temperatures range from a cosy 24°C in January and February to a sizzling 29°C in September. The average annual rainfall for Cape Verde is 68.4 mm.

The Islands are fast becoming a top wave sports destination. Along with excellent surfing conditions, Cape Verde has beautiful sandy beaches, a perfect year round climate and restaurants, cafes and boutiques within a few minutes stroll. There’s no need to go all the way to Hawaii or Australia anymore.

With a year round warm climate, amazing beaches, hospitable people and a stable environment, this sleepy hide away offers an opportunity like no other to cut yourself off from the real world. The Cape Verde Islands are certainly shaping up to be the holiday hotspot of the year – the “New Canary Islands”.

Why invest in Cape Verde?
With the Spanish market becoming oversaturated and overpriced, the next obvious move for investors and homebuyers is to head further south. Cape Verde is the nearest tropical island destination for Western Europe and has very low property prices. Combine this with year-round sunshine, fantastic fishing and great water sports you get one of the most up and coming investment areas on the planet.

Getting here is easy. It’s just a 5½ hour journey from the UK and as interest in the archipelago increases steadily more and more direct flights are being planned. You can already fly directly from major European cities like Paris, Lisbon, Amsterdam, and Las Palmas and Gran Canaria.

The Cape Verdean Government is setting up a tourism infrastructure that will avoid the overbuilding and mass tourist boom that has plagued many other tourist destinations around the globe.

Property for sale in Cape Verde
Montaña Roja are one of the most well established real estate agents on the Cape Verde and have helped many homebuyers and investors find their dream homes or ideal investment. Being both a developer and real estate agency (without intermediaries), Montaña Roja can provide some of the most competitive prices on the market.

At the moment they’re offering one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments for a little as £71.280 (€103.600) in their exclusive Ponta Preta development on the island of Sal.

Known as the “the Island of Flowers”, Brava is the smallest of the populated Cape Verde Islands. It lies at the southwestern end of the group, with Fogo rising dramatically ten miles to the east. The two large islands north of Brava are uninhabited.

It’s the wettest and greenest of the Cape Verde Islands, with an abundance of lush green vegetation. It has an extremely varied terrain of towering peaks and deep valleys. Mountain valleys dominate the south, east and the west of the island, while the north has only a few valleys. Lobelia, hibiscus, bougainvillae and jasmine can be found throughout the island.

Brava is a natural paradise, considered by many to be the most attractive of the Cape Verde Islands.

It’s not just for nature lovers though – Brava is beginning to attract tourists, homebuyers and property investors from all over Northern Europe. So expect you can many off-plan opportunities as the demand for property increases and more villas and apartments are built.

Brava has a pleasant climate with temperatures ranging from 16 to 25 deg °C. Enveloped in a near-permanent mist, it’s more humid and much greener than the other Cape Verde Islands.

It’s not exactly the place to go to for a “fun in the sun” type holiday. Brava is quite unique. It doesn’t offer water sports or other beach activities and is therefore less frequented by tourists.

There are five villages on the island, all of which lie north of the mountaintop. The island’s main town is Vila Nova Sintra, which is located at an altitude of 500m. It’s a pretty town with many flower filled gardens. Brava only has one beach – Faja d’Agua which is made of volcanic sand.

The main port on the island (Furna) is located around three kms from Vila de Nova Sintra. It’s a busy port that gets packed at ferry arrivals and departures.

First settled in the 1540s, Brava now has schools, a lyceum, a gymnasium, churches, and a square (praça) including one in honour of the famous musician Eugene Tavares. Agriculture and fishing have traditionally been the principal activities on the island. Long ago, the main industry was whaling but nowadays it’s more agricultural.

Although volcanic in origin, Brava has no documented historical eruptions. In 1982 it was severely damaged by Tropical Storm “Beryl”.

One of the most scenic routes on the island is from Furna to Vila de Nova Sintra. Here you’ll see some truly spectacular mountain scenery – a photographer’s paradise.

Some of the most interesting place to visit include; Faja d’Agua and Sorno; Nova Sintra; Mato Grande; Vinagre; Porto da Furna; Nossa Senhora Do Monte; Cachaco; and Mt. Fontainhas

Brava is the only inhabited island in Cape Verde without an active airport, so to get here you have to take a ferry from neighbouring Fogo.

Investors are just beginning to realise the potential of each individual Cape Verde Island.

With a growing trend towards ecotourism, Brava is set to represent significant investment opportunities in the future. Properties on Brava will no doubt increase in value as the other Cape Verde islands become more and more saturated. Now could be the best time to start looking at long-term options.

Real Estate Agents

• Horizon Property Group Blog
• Montana Roja Blog
• Aip Property Group Blog
• Homes of Cape Verde
• Cape Verde Island Property
• Cape Verde 4 Sale
• Xclusive Properties
• Redmountain Property Blog
• Cape Verde Resort Invest Blog

Boa Vista (meaning “good view”) is the easternmost of the Cape Verde Islands and the third largest after Santo Antao and Santiago.

Covering an area of 620m2, it’s 31km long and 29km wide. It has the smallest population of all the inhabited Cape Verde Islands.

Boa Vista is well known for marine turtles, traditional music, sand dunes and amazing beaches.

It’s a sunbathers paradise. Being the closest island to the African continent, it has endless unspoilt beaches. It’s also a Mecca for water sports fans. Boa Vista has excellent conditions for sailing, diving, surfing, fishing and sea canoeing.

With a perfect climate and some of the most beautiful beaches on the archipelago, Chave beach and Curralinho beach in particular, it’s no wonder people are now choosing to invest here.

Tourism is a relatively new development on Boa Vista, so expect many off-plan opportunities as the demand for property increases and more villas and apartments are built.

Santa Monica is one of the most spectacular beaches on the whole of the island chain. It’s a five kilometre stretch of dazzling white sand with crystal clear turquoise waters and a gentle rolling surf. Completely unspoilt, it remains an idyllic virgin seascape.

Boa Vista’s interior is fascinating. It’s like a surreal lunar landscape – a mixture of barren rust coloured volcanic rock alongside a leafy green palm filled oasis.

Most of Boa Vista is flat. The highest point is Monte Estancia, which elevates to 287m. Other mountains include Santo Antonio and Monte Negro.

Boa Vista’s climate is heavily influenced by the hot dry winds from the Sahara. Parts of the landscape are made up of desert sand dunes.

Most visitors to the island stay in the capital city of Sal Rei (meaning salt king) – a relaxed sleepy town with a lively nightlife.

During the evenings you’ll see locals outside chatting, playing games and walking in the balmy evening sun, before getting ready for the evening festivities, which go on well into the early hours. On most weekends there’s a local band blasting out Cape Verde rhythms on the main square.

Wildlife on Boa Vista
Boa Vista has a diverse range of wildlife – you’re likely to encounter the occasional lizard, monkey, and wild goat, along with various types of birds. Breeding humpback whales are frequently seen around Boa Vista and Sal. If you’re lucky, you might get to witness sea turtles nesting…

This region holds some of the world’s most important feeding and nesting sites, many of which, are unfortunately under threat.

Every year on Boa Vista the International University Campus for studies and conservation of marine turtles organises field camps where these beautiful creatures are observed and helped.

Most of the study takes places between June and October on the east coast beaches at night.

Getting here
The nearest international airport is on Sal Island. To get here you need to take an air taxi, which only takes around 15 minuets. Sal Rei has a ferry port and also the island’s only airport – on the north west side of the Boa Vista. Once on the island it’s possible to see most of it by self-drive car. You can also hire the services of a local guide.

Buying property on Boa Vista
Before making this step, it’s important that you; do all your research; decide on a realistic budget; carefully choose the right location; visit in person; and find a lawyer. Also, is it a primary or secondary concern? (if you’re buying just to rent it out, it should normally be close to beaches, nightlife etc.).

At the moment there are numerous English-speaking real estate agents on Cape Verde. They can help with you with all these concerns and give you advise on the latest new developments, apartments and villas.

 Real Estate Agents

• Horizon Property Group Blog
• Montana Roja Blog
• Aip Property Group Blog
• Homes of Cape Verde
• Cape Verde Island Property
• Cape Verde 4 Sale
• Xclusive Properties
• Redmountain Property Blog
• Cape Verde Resort Invest Blog

São Vicente (Portuguese for “Saint Vincent”) is located between the islands of Santo Antão and São Nicolau. It’s famous for the “Baia das Gatas” Music Festival and also for its cricket team.

It covers an area of 227 Km² and is home to the largest bay and the best natural port in Cape Verde. São Vicente is one of the most developed of Cape Verde’s northern islands. It’s also the second most populous island of Cape Verde, with around 70,000 people living here.

São Vicente has a warm, dry climate, with average annual temperatures that range from 68 °F (20 °C) to 77 °F (25 °C).

With its perfect climate, good infrastructure and beautiful natural landscape, São Vicente has huge investment potential. Buying property here, be it a villa, apartment, off-plan or new development, can be an extremely lucrative investment.

São Vicente is volcanic in origin and although significant erosion has taken place, some craters still exist. The highest peak on the island is Monte Verde (green mountain), which climbs to an altitude of 774 metres. It’s located on the northeast-central part of the island and is now registered as a National Park.

The main town of Mindelo is the second largest in the Cape Verde islands. It’s an important business centre, well served with hotels, restaurants and bars etc. It can be accessed by air or sea.

Mindelo became an important port of call during the period when maritime travel was fueled by coal. It was always heavily reliant on the British companies connected with ships, provisions and telegraphy. You can still see influence of the British presence today, through the sporting remnants of golf and cricket, which have become very popular on the island.

Mindelo was home to Cape Verde’s first high school. It’s been the centre of the literary culture in Cape Verde, for quite some time.

It’s also home to the best carnival on the Cape Verde Islands, which is marked with a distinct Brazilian influence – literally a riot of colour, noise and fun! You’ll also see many influences from golden period of the transatlantic shipping during the event.

The famous Baía das Gatas music festival is held each year in August and marks one of the most celebrated events of the year, attracting artists from various nationalities who perform at the national level

Other important festivals include the theatre festival “MindelAct”, which is the only one on Cape Verde.

Areas of interest
Apart from Mindelo, other places well worth a visit include; the beach of Baía das Gatas; as well as the beaches of Calhau and Salamansa – both areas expanding and providing modern tourist facilities.

Transport
If travelling on the island, you can easily take a taxi or rent out a car. Buses are also available for urban travel.

São Vicente is preparing itself for a huge boom in tourism and an international airport is scheduled to go into operation in the very near future.

Buying property on São Vicente
If you’re considering buying a second home on São Vicente or just investing here, you can now speak to the many English and Irish real estate agents on the island. They can help you with buying, selling and renting property anywhere on the island.
Real Estate Agents

• Horizon Property Group Blog
• Montana Roja Blog
• Aip Property Group Blog
• Homes of Cape Verde
• Cape Verde Island Property
• Cape Verde 4 Sale
• Xclusive Properties
• Redmountain Property Blog
• Cape Verde Resort Invest Blog

Santo Antão, known as “Island of the Mountains”, is the northernmost of the archipelago. It also marks the extreme west of the island group. The landscape here is regarded as the most spectacular of all the Cape Verde Islands.

This is the second largest Cape Verde Island; covering an area of 779 Km². It’s a very popular hiking location.

Fishing and paper production are the main industry on the island. Other than Portuguese (official language), the majority of the population speaks a distinctive Capeverdean Crioulo.

This paradise island has now begun attracting visitors (tourists, homebuyers, property investors) from all over the globe, all throughout the year.

Some of the most well preserved volcanic structures on Santo Antão include the Tope da Coroa Volcano and the crater of Água das Caldeiras. Towering mountains that have formed as a result of recent volcanic activity dominate the whole island.

This truly is a landscape of rare scenic beauty. It’s got massive lava piles that rise sharply on steep slopes, cut by deep ravines. Once you get here you’ll immediately be overwhelmed by the landscape’s vast magnitude.

Inland, the islanders still use bovine and horse driven “Trapiches” to produce the island’s most famous export – “Grogue”

Protected areas
The following areas in Santo Antão have been identified as national protected areas: Moroços Natural Park; Cova, Ribeira de Paúl, and Torre Natural Parks; Tope da Coroa Natural Park; and das Pombas Protected Landscape.

Getting to Santo Antão
Unfortunately, flights to Santo Antão are still quite limited. The best way to get here is to go through Sao Vicente. You can take a ferry from the port of Mindelo (Sao Vicente). It only takes about an hour.

This can be a very pleasant voyage in calm seas, with wonderful surrounding scenery. However, in rough seas, it can be quite an “adventure” – an exciting prelude to the magnificent first sighting of Santo Antao

Once on the island, you can travel across land by collective transports or by car rentals without drivers.

The ferry docks at the small port town of Porto Novo. From here, you can travel on to the towns of Ribeira Grande and Ponta do Sol.

Accommodation on Santo Antão
Finding accommodation on Santo Antão is easy, no matter what time of the year it is. The best places to look are in the municipal centers of Ribeira Grande, Porto Novo, and Paúl, where there are a growing number of hotel installations. Consult your local travel agent for more information.

Hiking/Trekking on Santo Antão
Santo Antão is a hikers paradise. A stunning mountain range, with altitudes exceeding 1500m, divides the island into two sections, north and south. The highest point on Santo Antão is Tope da Coroa at 1,979 meters. You can also explore by road. Guides are available in Ribeira Grande and Ponta do Sol.
Living on Santo Antão

Santo Antão isn’t exactly your typical holiday island, like Ibiza or Mallorca etc. It is, however, definitely worth a visit, especially if you want to just relax and get away from it all. Geographically, it’s one of the most impressive of all the Cape Verde islands. It’s also an idyllic place to live and a sound place to invest in property.
Real Estate Agents

• Horizon Property Group Blog
• Montana Roja Blog
• Aip Property Group Blog
• Homes of Cape Verde
• Cape Verde Island Property
• Cape Verde 4 Sale
• Xclusive Properties
• Redmountain Property Blog
• Cape Verde Resort Invest Blog

Maio is located between Boa Vista and Santiago. It’s the easternmost of Cape Verde’s Sotavento islands. This flat island is just 31 kms long and 25 kms wide. There are approximately 5,450 people living here.

It’s a peaceful, almost forgotten, paradise with vast deserted white sandy beaches. This is the place to go if you truly want to get away from it all.

Conditions here are fairly basic but that’s all part of Maio’s charm. You can relax sitting in a very “simple” restaurant tasting some of the delicious fresh seafood, listening to the sounds of live Capeveardean music played by the locals.

Although, tourism has not yet taken off here, Maio has great potential, both as an investment area and as a place to buy a second home.

It doesn’t have the active tourism that you’d find on Sal or Santiago but more and more people are looking for property opportunities here, as well as on Boa Vista. Astute investors will no doubt get in before foreign investors push the property prices up.

Vila Do Maio (also known as Porto Inglês) is the capital of the island and runs alongside one of the longest beaches on the archipelago. It’s a sleepy town with a huge baroque church, pastel painted houses, and streets lined with coconut palms. Strolling through this balmy haven of tranquillity, the only sounds you’re likely to hear are the occasional donkey hee-hawing.

Also worth a visit is the small town of Morro, located approximately 3 miles from Vila do Maio. It only has one main street, but is surrounded pretty coconut palms and makes for a very relaxing stroll.

Although volcanic in origin, you can see little remaining evidence of this today. This is mainly due to the influence of wind erosion.

Maio is known for its spectacular desert-like landscapes, small oases, sand dunes and many untouched natural beaches. Almost all of the island’s coastline has idyllic postcard beaches where you can swim and sunbath in complete isolation, all year round.

The only visitors you might encounter are some friendly sea turtles that come here to lay their eggs.

Maio’s sand dunes offer some excellent walking opportunities.

Maio was named by Europeans who first sighted it on the 1st of May 1460. Since then, it has prospered around salt collecting and a little agriculture, but none of the industries are now profitable.

Getting to Maio
Maio’s airport is near to the main town of Vila Do Maio. To get here you have to fly from Sal through Praia airport. There are no direct flight…yet.

All round, Maio is an incredibly peaceful location with excellent climate and spectacular beaches. It’s an ideal place for a peaceful family holiday or location to invest in a second property.
Real Estate Agents

• Horizon Property Group Blog
• Montana Roja Blog
• Aip Property Group Blog
• Homes of Cape Verde
• Cape Verde Island Property
• Cape Verde 4 Sale
• Xclusive Properties
• Redmountain Property Blog
• Cape Verde Resort Invest Blog

São Nicolau (meaning Saint Nicholas) is located between the islands of São Vicente and Sal. It has a population of over 12,850 and covers an area of 388 km².

It’s the quietest of the Cape Verde islands with small, rural communities dotted around its coastline. It’s also considered to be the most beautiful, by many of the natives.

The two main towns on the island are the capital of Ribeira Brava, idyllically situated cascading down a mountainside, and the ferry and fishing port of Tarrafal.

Ribeira Brava is a haven of peace and tranquillity. The main town square has a catholic church on one side, old colonial administration buildings on the other and a delightful garden in the centre. It’s the perfect place to bask in the gentle climate and just watch the world go by…

This fascinating island with its beautiful landscape is in big demand with property investors and potential homeowners.

Along with an extremely varied landscape, São Nicolau has some truly breathtaking scenery. If you walk just ten minutes out of Ribeira Brava you’ll come to a huge gorge with lush plantations of maize, banana and papaya. On inland areas the fairytale dragon trees grow – an endangered species, native to São Nicolau. Driving through the agricultural centre of São Nicolau you’ll see some pretty local villages and busy farming communities.

As you head towards Tarrafal (the coast), the landscape flattens and becomes a lot drier, in stark contrast to the lush inland areas. The landscape here is volcanic and the climate is a lot hotter and drier.

Tarrafal has a beautiful black sandy beach. The bay here is rich in high quality fish and attracts fishing enthusiasts from all over, in search of the much sought after, Blue Marlin.
On many parts of the island you can see remnants of São Nicolau’s intense volcanic past, which has created the rugged features you see today. It’s become a paradise for walkers and trekkers or anyone wanting to get close to nature.

Things to do on São Nicolau
São Nicolau has the perfect landscape and terrain for hiking. It’s also a trekker’s paradise. There’s numerous hillside walks along the interior, all the way to village of Tarrafal. The clean fresh air and spectacular views are guaranteed to lift your spirits.

Tarrafal is the most popular fishing location on the island. From here, you can hitch a ride with the local fishermen and see a fantasctic variety of fish, including dolphins in late Autumn.

Bird watching enthusiasts should head to the small island of Raso. To get here you’ll have to take the local fishing boat from Tarrafal. Raso is home to the one of the rarest birds in the world – the Cape Verdian Lark.

The island has no facilities (bars, restaurants etc), so make sure you bring your own water and food.

Investing on São Nicolau
São Nicolau is attracting more and more tourists and property investors every year. It’s got the perfect climate, beautiful beaches and a stunning natural landscape – what looks like a sound investment opportunity.
Real Estate Agents

• Horizon Property Group Blog
• Montana Roja Blog
• Aip Property Group Blog
• Homes of Cape Verde
• Cape Verde Island Property
• Cape Verde 4 Sale
• Xclusive Properties
• Redmountain Property Blog
• Cape Verde Resort Invest Blog

Santiago (Portuguese for “Saint James”) is the largest of the Cape Verde islands and is home to the capital of Praia; a bustling, noisy, crowded and distinctly African town.

Santiago is located between the islands of Maio (40 km west) and Fogo (50 km east). This is where half the nation’s population live.

This tropical paradise with its lush forests and beautiful beaches has huge investment potential. Buying property here, be it a villa, apartment, off-plan or new development, can be an extremely lucrative investment, especially if you get in before foreign investors push up the property prices.

Santiago is the most important agricultural centre on Cape Verde. The main agricultural products are corn, sugar cane, bananas, coffee and mangoes. It has a lush green landscape, quite distinct from the deserts of Sal and Boa Vista. All over the island, in the highlands and valleys, you’ll see vast stretches of lavish green vegetation.

Towards the centre of Santiago, the landscape is mountainous with dramatic valleys and even some permanent water fountains. It’s fertile and farming is evident with papaya and maize thriving here.

The island has two mountain chains; Pico d’Antonia, which has the highest point of the island (1392 meters), and Malagueta mountain which reaches to 1064 meters.

The beaches on Santiago are quite small with clean white sands that contrast dramatically with the pitch-black reefs. With sea and air temperatures of about 24ºC throughout the year, the island has perfect conditions for fishing, diving and many other water sports.

Santiago is also home to the “Cidade Velha” which lies about 10kms from Praia. This was once the famous Portuguese capital of Cape Verde, characterised by its huge cathedral and magnificent fort.

Cidade’s fortunes came about from the slave trade between the Africans and Europeans. This went on for over 200 years – the buying and selling of manpower from West Africa.

Merchant galleons would visit Santiago to barter and buy slaves imported from West Africa. Famous explorers like Sir Francis Drake, Captain Cook and Vasco de Gama all docked here on their epic voyages of discovery.

Some of the best places to visit include; Cidade Velha – 15 km west of Praia, Assomada – 60 km north and the pretty fishing village of Tarrafal in the northern part of the island, which genuinely looks as if it hasn’t changed for centuries. Tarrafal is 75 km from Praia.

Santiago also has some spectacular botanical gardens along with a bustling African market.

In August 2005 a new international airport (IATA airport code: RAI, Praia) was opened in the capital Praia and from November 2006 there have been direct flights from UK airports. As competition between the carriers increases lower airfares are set to follow.

Santiago is likely to become a very popular tourist hub for European holidaymakers and investors. It’s got unspoilt beaches, a stunning mountainous landscape and a year-round warm and sunny climate.

Santiago is suitable for all ages. As well as the beaches and water sports, there are plenty of things to do and see.

It’s an island with fantastic potential – certainly as a place to invest (in either off-plan, new developments or existing property) and also as a place to live.
Real Estate Agents

• Horizon Property Group Blog
• Montana Roja Blog
• Aip Property Group Blog
• Homes of Cape Verde
• Cape Verde Island Property
• Cape Verde 4 Sale
• Xclusive Properties
• Redmountain Property Blog
• Cape Verde Resort Invest Blog

Sal is known for its stunning white sand beaches and guaranteed sun, all year long. With an international airport, it’s become one of the major gateways to the Cape Verde islands. It’s also one of the most popular tourist islands on Cape Verde.

Sun and sea lovers come from all over the globe to witness the beauty of these amazing “postcard” beaches. Most people choose to stay in one of the many resort hotels on the coast between the airport and Santa Maria.

With a near-perfect climate ranging from 68°F (20°C) to 77 °F (25 °C) it’s no wonder people choose to invest here or even make it their second home. Tourism is a relatively new development here, so you can expect many off-plan opportunities as the demand for property increases and more villas and apartments are built.

Sal is the flattest of the Cape Verde Islands and takes its name, “Sal” meaning “salt”, from the now inactive salt mines. It’s not exactly the place to go to if you’re after lush green scenery.

These have man-made salt mines (Pedro Lume) are well worth a visit. The saliency level of the salt pond is more or less the same as the Dead Sea, perfect for that weightless float!

Sal is one of the best places on the archipelago for nightlife. It’s the most cosmopolitan island, with a wide selection of bars, clubs and restaurants, attracting a diverse group of holidaymaker. It’s also one of the best places for live Cape Verdian music.

Being an island, fresh fish is always on the menu – some of the most delicious tuna steaks, lobster, and swordfish you’re ever likely to taste, all cooked to a local recipe.

Santa Maria is one of the prettiest towns on the island. It’s a colourful mixture of single storey houses washed in pink, pale blue, yellow and faded terracotta, surrounded by polar blue skies and contrasting white sands.

Finding a place to stay on Sal is easy. The island is rapidly developing so there’s no shortage of hotels and pensions etc. Santa Maria, located just 18 km south of the airport, is one of the most popular destinations, especially with water sports fans.

Santa Maria has 8 km of white sandy beach with pristine clear blue waters, perfect for practice all kinds of water sports – windsurfing, fishing and diving, in particular.

The town of Espargos is the administrative centre of the island. Located nearby the international airport, it’s packed with all kinds of shops, bars and restaurants.

Palmeira is the main port town on the island. It’s located on the west coast of the Sal.

Accommodation on Sal ranges from luxury all-inclusive hotels to small family run pensions. You can rent a car, jeep or beach a buggy on most parts of the island.

If you don’t have an airport transfer with your flight you can easily pick up a taxi at the airport. There’s always plenty.

Tourism is growing steadily on Sal. Every year there are more and more development projects being set up in an attempt to open up tourism to all parts of the island.

If, like many shrewd investors and homebuyers, you’re looking for a property on Sal but don’t speak Portuguese and are a bit rusty on the “Crioulo”, don’t worry…

There’s plenty of English speaking real estate agents that can give every possible assistance in buying, selling and renting property anywhere on this paradise island.
Real Estate Agents

• Horizon Property Group Blog
• Montana Roja Blog
• Aip Property Group Blog
• Homes of Cape Verde
• Cape Verde Island Property
• Cape Verde 4 Sale
• Xclusive Properties
• Redmountain Property Blog
• Cape Verde Resort Invest Blog

Fogo is an island of spectacular contrasts. From the awesome peaks of Pico de Fogo to the many pristine boulevards and classic colonial homes, built by wealthy farm owners. It’s a volcano, which has become an island, with a summit reaching up to 3,000 m in height.

It’s described as the original ‘Mother’ island and has its own distinct character and people. On Fogo, the hot climate lasts all year long, making it the hottest of the Cape Verde islands.

This fascinating natural landscape is now in big demand with property investors and potential homeowners.

One of Fogo’s most elegant towns is Sao Fillipe – a gracious pastel coloured town with pretty squares and wide avenues. It’s just a short stroll away from a dramatic reminder of Fogo’s birth; a monochrome scene of bright white surf breaking onto a black volcanic sand beach.

If you go for a drive inland you’ll see further examples of Fogo’s dramatic landscape. At first you’ll pass by rolling fields of fertile lush green countryside. Then the terrain steepens suddenly as the road turns into series of hair-raising bends and turns.

All of a sudden you’ll be confronted by the massive grey volcanic cone of Pico de Fogo – one of the most spectacular sights on the Cape Verde islands. Few scenes are as awesome as this.

Pico de Fogo last erupted as recently as 1995. The surrounding area is littered with craters from previous eruptions. If you want you can hire a guide to take you to the point of the 1995 eruption. You can still feel the intense heat coming out of the earth here.

From the top of Pico, there are some amazing views out over the rest of the island. You can also see close up the many lunar-like lava formations created from past eruptions. Curiously, people still live, farm and even produce wine in this volatile landscape.

There’s a stark contrast between Fogo’s dry and arid zones in the south and the, humid and amazingly fertile north. On the north west of the island the scenery is different again. Here you’ll fine lush hillsides of coffee, banana and orange plantations. Fogo truly is full of surprises. You’re guaranteed a unique experience.

Buying property in Fogo

Fogo is one of the warmest locations on the Cape Verde islands. It still has that laid-back “island charm” and unique culture that some larger tourist destinations tend to lose. It’s a very pleasant place to live, at any time of year.

Nowadays there are numerous English-speaking real estate agents on Fogo catering to mainly English and Irish clients. They can show you all the latest new developments, apartments and villas etc. and guide you through the whole process. Buying property here is very straightforward.
Real Estate Agents

• Horizon Property Group Blog
• Montana Roja Blog
• Aip Property Group Blog
• Homes of Cape Verde
• Cape Verde Island Property
• Cape Verde 4 Sale
• Xclusive Properties
• Redmountain Property Blog
• Cape Verde Resort Invest Blog