Cape Verde Holidays from the UK

• Short-haul effort, long-haul warmth. Around six hours direct with minimal time difference, so even a week feels worthwhile.
• Reliable winter sun. Mid-20s °C by day through the UK winter, and very little rain for most of the year.
• Wind and water. Sal and Boa Vista are known for kitesurfing, windsurfing and surfing, and loggerhead turtles nest on their beaches in the summer months.
• Hiking on Santo Antão. Cobbled mountain paths, terraced valleys and ocean views make for some of the most dramatic walking in the Atlantic islands.
• Music and morabeza. Cape Verdean morna and coladeira, and the islands' famous warm welcome (morabeza), shine in Mindelo's bars and festivals, including its lively February carnival.
• Different islands, different moods. Flat, sandy Sal and Boa Vista for the beach, green and mountainous Santo Antão for hiking, and Fogo's volcano for adventurous walkers.
• No stress. It's the unofficial motto on Sal, and it fits.

Direct flights from the UK

At the time of writing, TUI and easyJet fly direct to Sal from London Gatwick, Manchester and Bristol, and TUI also flies from several other UK airports, including Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle. TUI flies to Boa Vista too. Flights take around six hours, and some routes are seasonal, so availability depends on your airport and dates. On arrival, the resorts around Santa Maria are a short drive from Sal's airport, and Boa Vista's airport is similarly close to its main beaches.

Island-hopping

The other islands are reached by short inter-island flights and by ferry between some islands, including São Vicente and Santo Antão. Schedules are limited and can change at short notice, so we build buffer time into multi-island trips, especially before your flight home.

Via Lisbon

If the direct flights don't suit, or you're heading to islands they don't serve, TAP Air Portugal connects London with Cabo Verde via Lisbon.

Winter sun (November–April). Cabo Verde's main season for UK travelers, covering Christmas, February half-term and Easter. Expect mid-20s °C by day, cooler evenings, steady trade winds and very little rain. In the depths of winter the sea is refreshing rather than tropical, at around 21–23°C.

October half-term. Warm, with the sea at its warmest after the summer.

Christmas and New Year. The busiest weeks, so plan early for the best-located hotels.

May–July. Warm, dry and quieter, with lighter winds; good for couples and families with pre-school children.

Summer holidays (late July–August). Hot, with turtle-nesting season on Sal and Boa Vista. The short rainy season, when it comes, usually falls between about August and October, often as brief heavy showers, and some years see very little rain at all.

For wind lovers: the trade winds are usually strongest from around November to May.

What shapes the cost of Cabo Verde from the UK:

• Your departure airport and dates. Direct flights from the UK are with leisure and low-cost airlines, so seat prices rise at half-term and Christmas; flying midweek or outside school holidays helps.
• All-inclusive or not. Many Sal and Boa Vista resorts are all-inclusive, which can suit families; smaller hotels and guesthouses suit travelers who want to eat out.
• Island-hopping. Inter-island flights, ferries and transfers add cost and time, but they're what turn a beach week into a real adventure.
• Local guides. A hiking guide on Santo Antão is well worth it and is usually good value.

As a rough guide only, good beach hotels on Sal or Boa Vista often start around US$150–300 per room per night, and guesthouses on the smaller islands can cost less (shown on our site as approximate pound conversions). Final pricing depends on dates, hotels, group size and itinerary.

• Time difference: 1 hour behind the UK in winter and 2 hours behind in summer (BST).
• Plugs: European two-pin Types C and F at 220 volts, so pack a European adapter.
• Money: the Cape Verdean escudo, which is pegged to the euro. Euros are often accepted in resort areas, but you'll usually get better value paying in escudos elsewhere. Larger hotels take cards; carry cash on the smaller islands.
• Language: Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu). English is spoken in resorts, less so on the smaller islands.
• Sea safety: some beaches have strong currents and big waves, so swim where lifeguards or hotel staff recommend.
• Wind and sun: the breeze keeps it feeling cool, but the sun is strong, so use high-SPF sunscreen.
• Entry requirements: see the Entry requirements section for verified guidance for British passport holders, including any pre-registration or airport fees, with official sources and last-checked dates.