Boa Vista

Dreamy desert beaches, unbroken dunes, date palms, acacia trees and warm, shallow sea. Complete relaxation.

Location
Boavista is the most eastern island of the Archipelago, and quite near to the African continent. It has a surface of 620 km2 and is pentagonal in shape with its longest distance, from North to South of 31 km, and 29 km from West to East. lt is made of sedimentary rocks and is basically flat except for the volcanic formations in Rabil and Fundo das Figueiras. Pico d'Estancia at 390 meters is the highest point of the island. Among the typical vegetation of the island is the date palm a kind of a palm tree with three or six branches coming out of the same base. The island is covered with sand dunes, which give it lunar scenery, and it has 55 km of beautiful white sand beaches and emerald green water. All these characteristics make Boa Vista an excellent tourist attraction.

History
It was discovered on the 3rd of May, 1480, after the islands of Maio, Santiago and Fogo, and was first named S.Cristovão. The name Boa Vista has its origin in the exclamation "Captain, good sight (boa vista)", instead of the traditional "Land at sight", due to the joy of a sailor in the dormer window of a sailing vessel which faced a fearful tempest. Initially dependent on one of the ports under the command of a captain in the island of Santiago, the occupancy of that island started in 1497, when it was given to Captain Rodrigo Afonso for the raising of cattle in the hands of a small number of shepherds. Its adult population began in 1620.

São Nicolau

An island of old volcanoes and ancient Dragon trees. Wild landscape, numerous mountains and beaches. High-sea fishing and the famous medicinal black sands of Tarrafal.

Location
The island of S.Nicolau is situated to the north of the Archipelago. With a surface area of 346 km2, its widest point in the North/South direction of 25 km is on the western side and its shape is very similar to that of the African Continent, narrowing to the east for a distance of 52 km. The very active volcanic past of the island is majestically visible in Monte Gordo, the highest peak of the island with an altitude of 1304 m. Two separate clusters of peaks part from there, one in a North/South direction, the other from East to West. Upon reaching the sea this succession of hills and plains terminates in almost sheer cliffs. The valleys on the whole are generally narrow and deep, except for the VALE DE FAJÁ, which is wide and fertile enough for agriculture to flourish.

History
Although S.Nicolau was discovered on the 6th of December 1461, it was only during the middle of the XVII century, when the first village was built in Porto da Lapa that people began to settle there. However, because of the constant attacks by pirates, the inhabitants moved inland and settled in Ribeira Brava. Access to the sea was obtained through the Port of Preguiça in the Bay of S.Jorge and in 1818 a fortress was built there to defend the local inhabitants from pirates.

Fogo
A volcanic mountainous island paradise for climbers and mountain bikers. A hot climate, coffee and grapes. Magnificent panoramas and traditional feasts.

Location
The island of FOGO west of Santiago, is almost round in shape, and looks as if it is just a volcanic mountain. The surface area is 476 Km2 and, although only the fourth biggest island of the Archipelago, it is the highest with the top of the volcano reaching a height of 2829 m. The volcano is in fact the main tourist attraction of the island. The volcanic cone rises from a sort of plateau about 8 km in diameter, called CHÃ DAS CALDEIRAS the walls on the western side reach almost 1000 m and end in a crater 500 meters in diameter and 180 meters deep. This is truly the most spectacular scenery in the whole of the Archipelago. The original volcanic cone must, at one time, have reached a height of 3500 m. The volcano was active right up to the XVIII century, when the main cone ceased activity and all that remained as testimony to it were the volcanic vapors and deposits of sulphur. There have been sporadic eruptions and the last one was in 1951, when the lava poured out of one of the two chimneys on the southern side of the volcano.

History
FOGO was discovered at the same time as SANTIAGO and MAIO, on May lst.1460. At first it was called S.FILIPE but later, and quite appropriately its name was changed to FOGO (Fire). The habitants of Fogo are the only ones to have known only three flags. During Portuguese occupation by Spain between 1530 and 1580, the Spanish flag was raised throughout all Portuguese territories except Fogo. This was due to resistance of the habitants of Fogo.
 
Fogo is where colonial influence of the Portuguese is most apparent. It is a fact that there are two cemeteries in Sao Filipe. One for the rich and white people and another for the poor and black people. The discrimination was so strong that in the 18th century, drunk, rich, white man that was “involved” with a slave was not buried in the white or black cemetery. He was buried on the outside of the white cemetery with his testimony and mausoleum.

Often seen in this island is FUNCO - a primitive, rustic habitation and constructed with rocks forming a circular structure. They are covered by large dried leaves. Fonte Aleixo is a neighborhood which predominantly has these types of homes. FUNCO symbolizes the most poor in contrast to the “sobrados” (large colonial style homes) normally owned by the wealthy.

Other notable aspects of Fogo includes the acclaimed musician Minó di Mama. An excellent accordion player, Minó has a unique form and style that he plays. He has the form of Portuguese musicians and is certainly famous all around Cabo Verde. Over 80 years old, Minó still commends a youthful spirit that can even make rocks dance as they usually say in Fogo.

Often seen is a bird called Gongon. A black bird that produces a sound similar to sounds of crows, Gongon lives in rocks and flies at night searching for food. The fat and meat of Gongon has a medicinal function that is often used to cure rheumatoid. However, this bird is nearly extinct.

It is important to mention Caetano Dos Santos De Pina also known as "Fatinho - the children factory.” At 37 years he has fathered 34 children with 5 women. He resides in Chã das Caldeiras at the foot of the volcano, in a rural zone without many options for passing time. If he continues averaging one child per year, he may enter the book of records. On the other hand is Nha Arminda Lopes Monteiro who at 113 is the oldest and most known person of the island. Entering the year 2000, she holds the record to have lived in three different centuries.
Famous for holding records, Fogo also holds another record in the construction of Volta-Volta road. Formed by a sequence of three valleys, that separate Mosteiros and Sao Filipe, the first construction attempt was made in the 80’s by constructing an iron bridge and tunnel at a cost of $1,250.00 dollars per meter.

Maio
Like Boa Vista with space, tranquility and hospitality. Endless beaches and warm, crystal clear waters. Beautiful bays and fishing villages.

Location
MAIO belongs to the leeward group and is located south of the island of BOAVISTA and about 25 km east of SANTIAGO. It has a surface area of 268 km2, the longest point, in a north-south direction being 24 km and the widest point, in an east-west direction is 16 km. The island is on the whole fairly flat, the highest point, in the middle, is Monte Penoso, with an altitude of 436 m. The valleys are arid and dry and not very deep. Although the island is volcanic in origin, there are few signs to show it. The climate is very dry and the land is essentially calcium based s rock. There is little irrigated land. Even though the climate is not particularly favorable, the island does in fact have the biggest forest park in Cape Verde. The Northern region has been well eroded by the rough seas and the strong Northeast winds. Along the coast there are numerous and very beautiful beaches of fine golden sand.

History
The island was discovered on the 1st of May 1460 by the Portuguese navigators Diego Gomes and Antonio de Noli, and it was from the name of this month that the island "Maio" got its name.
Although the island is essentially a desert zone, here and there oases are to be found. The rearing of animals, once the most important occupation, remains one of the principal economic activities of the population. Even today, the capture of a wild donkey, a real rodeo, is an event much appreciated by tourists. With waters which abound in fish and sea-food, fishing is undoubtedly the main occupation of the islanders.

São Vicente
A cosmopolitan island with the city of Mindelo and Porto Grande. Majestic mountains, beaches, horse riding, windsurfing, carnivals and crafts. Music and dancing.

Location
S.VICENTE is roughly rectangular with o surface area of 227 Km2. From east to west it measures 24 Km and from north to south no more than 16 Km. Although volcanic in origin, the island is quite flat. Its highest point is MONTE VERDE with an altitude of 774 m. Although a great amount of erosion has taken place, some craters still remain; in particular the bay of MINDELO.

History
Discovered on St.Vincent's Day (the 22nd of January), in 1462, the island remained practically uninhabited until the middle of the XIX century. It was only in 1838, when a coal deposit was established in PORTO GRANDE to supply ships on the Atlantic routes, that the population started to grow.

Sal
Fine white beaches and turquoise blue seas. Sal has the international airport and an eye to tourism. Water sports, fishing, horse riding or peace and privacy. Good hotels and the famous salt deposits.

Location
The island of Sal, in view of its close proximity to the African continent, has a climate very similar to other zones with the same latitude. It is a very arid island, and although volcanic in origin, constant erosion throughout its history has made it almost flat. The highest point is MONTE VERMELHO, with a height of 406 m. From north to south, it is about 3O km long but does not exceed more then 12 km in width. The overall surface area is 216 km2. The International Airport of Sal is the main gateway to the whole Archipelago.

History
Sal was discovered in 1640 and was first known as LLANA or PLANA meaning "flat'. It was given its present name when a lagoon in a crater of an extinct volcano was discovered and in this place, after the rains, salt was produced. This crater is now known as PEDRA DO LUME.

Home to International Airport Amilcar Cabral, the island of Sal is therefore, first point of entry in Cape Verde. Major efforts were pursued by the government to acquire FAA security certification following the events of September 11th, 2001 which enabled flights from Cape Verde to land in U.S. airports and the re-establishment of direct flights utilizing the country’s flag carrier, Cabo Verde Airlines.
 
Over the years, the island have been plagued by severe droughts causing most of its citizens to live abroad. Sal is constantly featured in songs about it's beautiful beaches and natural landscape. Other than tourism, the island is basically quite but the residents of this tiny island are actually a very happy kind of people. This happiness is often displayed in their hospitality.

Brava
Small but passionate. An island of dreams, mysterious mists and beautiful flowers. Cooler with lush vegetation, fresh fish and a great variety of seafood. Off the coast, there are two beautiful islets packed with wildlife, sandy beaches and divers haven.

Location
The island of Brava is located in the extreme Southeast of the leeward group of the Archipelago, with an elliptic configuration, it has a surface of 64 km2 and the maximum length of 9 km East-Westward. lt is 20 km away from the island of Fogo and from this viewpoint you can see four small islets where the fishermen go from time to time.
Brava is the smallest island of the Archipelago with the exception of the uninhabited Santa Luzia. lt is very mountainous and its highest point is Monte Fontainhas. Deep and abrupt valleys contrast with its high peaks. The coastline is very rugged, forming many bays such as: Furna, Ancião, Fajã d'Água and Sorno. Evidence of the volcanic past of the island can be seen in Fundo Grande; a crater preserved by time.

Due to its altitude, Brava is the dampest and the most green of all the islands and due to and its abundance of flowers makes it known as "ilha das flores" (island of flowers). The medium temperature oscillates between 16 and 26°C

History
It was discovered in 1462 and its began to become populated after 1680. Due to the eruption of the volcano of Pico, in the nearby island of Fogo, its inhabitants all relocated to Brava. By the end of the XVIII century the New Bedford and Rhode Island whaleboats started to use the island as a supply stop in the mid Atlantic. Little by little the men from Brava, with their fame for being excellent mariners, find work aboard these whaleboats. But because the living conditions on these boats were very hard, the Cape Verdeans started to look for jobs on land, mainly in Massachusetts, thus commencing the emigration to the United States of America, where still today there is the greatest Cape Verdean community abroad. Therefore, it is not by chance that in Brava, English is more widely spoken and the greater part of the commercialized products come from the United States.

Santiago
The largest of the islands with the capital city - Praia. Superb landscapes, lush vegetation, mountains and beaches. Strong African influences, festivals and markets.