Where Is Cape Verde? A UK Visitor's First Guide

Last reviewed - May 2026

The first thing that hits most UK visitors to Cape Verde is just how close it feels once you're actually there . When you were planning the trip, it had always seemed a bit far off - a mysterious bunch of islands hovering off the coast of Africa that people mention when they want some winter sun without the crowds of the Canaries.

Then you step off the plane in the middle of January, take a deep breath of warm Atlantic air and suddenly see why so many people quietly return year after year.

Cape Verde is perched off the west coast of Africa, a good 570 kilometres from Senegal, and fast becoming one of the UK's most popular winter-sun destinations. But despite all the fuss, most people still turn up with a pretty vague idea of what it's all about.

What currency do they use, for a start? Or is Sal better than Boa Vista? And what's the flight time like anyway? Does your phone even work out there, and where exactly should you go to get a decent connection?

We've been to the islands ourselves, testing out connectivity with a Cape Verde eSIM from Simify, and it's a few things we wish we'd known before we went.

This guide is all about filling in those gaps.

This article is produced for informational purposes only by Simify - we're an independent outfit with no links to local tourism boards or operators that are mentioned here.

Where Is Cape Verde : A UK Visitor's First Guide

Cape Verde - or Cabo Verde if you want to get all official about it - is a tiny archipelago of ten volcanic islands that stick out of the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of Africa.

Geographically it's African, but the vibe when you get there is something quite different. It's a weird and wonderful mix of Portuguese influence from centuries of colonial rule, West African culture, Creole traditions and just general laid-back island vibes.

For UK travellers, the easiest way to get your head around Cape Verde is to think of it like this:

It's a bit like a blend of the Canary Islands, Portugal and the Caribbean, but in winter it's generally warmer and much less commercialised than all those other places.

There are only a couple of islands that UK tourists tend to visit - Sal and Boa Vista.

• Sal is all about the beaches, resorts and water sports. 
• Boa Vista on the other hand is a much quieter, more laid back experience with a focus on just relaxing on the beach.

But there's loads more out there if you're willing to explore a bit.

Cape Verde flight time from the UK

One of the biggest misconceptions about Cape Verde is that it's just too far away for a winter-sun break. In reality, direct flights from the UK are a lot more manageable than you might think.

Departure Airport	Approx Flight Time
London Gatwick	5.5–6 hrs
Manchester	6 hrs
Birmingham	6 hrs
Bristol	Around 6 hrs

That puts Cape Verde in a pretty sweet spot for winter travel - much warmer than southern Europe but without the long-haul nightmare of the Caribbean or Thailand.

And because it's on GMT-1, there's hardly any jet-lag at all for UK visitors. Which is a big plus, let's be honest.

What's the weather actually like?

This is the main reason most people come to Cape Verde in the first place - it's warm all year round, with average temperatures around 26°C. The best months for UK travellers are November through March, when daytime temperatures usually sit between 24°C and 28°C.

One thing that's worth knowing is that humidity stays relatively low, which makes the heat feel a lot more comfortable than you'd expect.

Based on what our customers have told us, these were the most popular months:

Month	Avg Temp	Traveller Popularity
November	27°C	Very high
December	25°C	Extremely high
January	24°C	Extremely high
February	24°C	Very high
March	25°C	High

But also worth mentioning is that there's a bit of wind to contend with - from November through to June it's generally dry and breezy, which actually suits water sports really well. August to October is the wetter, more humid period.

Because there's usually a steady Atlantic breeze blowing, it makes Cape Verde a fantastic spot for kite surfing and other water sports. Some visitors love it because it keeps the heat at bay. Others might find the evenings a bit cooler than they expected.

A light hoodie for the evening might be a good idea.

Sal vs Boa Vista : Which Island is Better?

This is probably the biggest question first-time visitors ask - is Sal better than Boa Vista? The answer is that it depends entirely on what you're after. But Sal is generally the main tourist destination if you want the easiest, most popular choice.

Sal

Sal is the more developed and lively island.

You'll find:

• plenty of restaurants and bars 
• better nightlife
• easier excursions
• stronger infrastructure

• generally better mobile coverage

Santa Maria is the main tourist hub on Sal Island - it's a lively town with a long golden bay and turquoise water that makes it one of Cape Verde's most popular beach destinations. Some visitors swear by Hotel Morabeza because of its beachfront spot.

If you like a bit of atmosphere in the evenings, Sal is probably the way to go - there are bars and restaurants that often have live music.

Boa Vista

Boa Vista on the other hand is a much quieter and more relaxed experience.

It's got a more laid back vibe, with a focus on just relaxing on the beach.The beaches are just spectacular – huge stretches of sand with barely a soul around – but the island has a distinctly slower pace overall.

Loads of travellers choose Boa Vista specifically because there's just not much going on.

If your idea of a dream holiday involves blissful beach walks, lounging around the resort, and zero stress, then Boa Vista is the perfect spot for you.

But do bear in mind that outside of resort areas things can get pretty quiet, even compared to Sal.

Cape Verde currency: what to bring with you?

Cape Verde uses the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE) - but you'll also find euros widely accepted in many tourist areas, especially on Sal and Boa Vista.

Still, relying on euros alone isn't always the best idea, as exchange rates can vary wildly depending on where you pay.

Card payments are getting more common, but cash is still the preferred choice in many places - even if somewhere says they accept cards, cash is often preferred.

And another tip we learned the hard way: some smaller restaurants and beach bars might not actually take cards, even if they say they do.

You'll find ATMs in tourist areas, but they're not as readily available once you head outside the main towns.

What plug type does Cape Verde use?

Cape Verde uses European-style Type C and Type F plugs - the same two-pin plugs used in much of mainland Europe.

So for UK travellers, that means you just need a standard European travel adapter.

Voltage is 230V, which is the same as at home, so your UK electronics will work without a hitch.

Mobile data and eSIM performance in Cape Verde

We were really curious about this before we travelled, and island destinations can sometimes have pretty dodgy connectivity - especially outside of resort areas.

So we tested Simify Cape Verde eSIM performance on Sal, Boa Vista and São Vicente - and the results were actually better than we'd expected.

Island	Avg 4G/5G Speed Test	Connectivity Experience
Sal	45–78 Mbps	Very reliable
Boa Vista	28–52 Mbps	Good overall
São Vicente	40–70 Mbps	Strong in urban areas

Sal had the best overall coverage consistency, especially in Santa Maria.

Boa Vista got a bit slow outside of resort areas, but messaging, maps and video calls still worked fine - right through the trip.

One thing that did stand out: airport Wi-Fi was pretty hit and miss, so having mobile data ready as soon as we landed made the whole arrival process a whole lot smoother.

For travellers heading there:
Cape Verde eSIM plans

Is Cape Verde expensive?

Compared to the rest of western Europe, Cape Verde falls somewhere in the middle.

Package holidays can actually be pretty good value, especially in the winter.

But once you get there, prices aren't exactly ”cheap” in the way some people expect from African destinations - many products are imported, which drives up the cost.

Here's the rough lowdown:

• Local food is pretty affordable.
• Imported booze is eye-wateringly expensive.
• Excursions can vary hugely in price.
• Resorts tend to be pricier than local restaurants.

In the end, many travellers end up spending less than they would on a Caribbean holiday, but a bit more than they would on a typical southern European trip.

Things we wished we'd learned about travel insurance before heading out

A few things caught us off guard once we got there.

The islands are a lot windier than most beach destinations.

The pace of life is SLOW – we mean really, really slow - but that's part of the charm.

Wi-Fi quality varies wildly between hotels.

Sunburn happens fast because the Atlantic breeze makes the heat feel milder than it actually is.

And finally: getting between the islands is less straightforward than many people expect. Domestic flights are operated by Transportes Interilhas de Cabo Verde (TICV), and services to most islands can be pretty limited and pricey, so if you're planning to island hop it's worth booking flights well ahead of time. Ferry links to other islands do exist, but they can be pretty unreliable and sometimes get cancelled. Airport taxis are usually unmetered and charge flat fares, and on some islands hiring a car can be useful for exploring independently.

Is Cape Verde worth visiting?

Honestly, yes - especially if you're after reliable winter sun and don't want to fly to the other side of the world.

Cape Verde really works for travellers who want:

• Warm weather in winter.
• Short flight times compared to the Caribbean.
• Relaxed beach-focused trips.
• Less crowded destinations.
• Easy resort holidays with a bit of an adventure vibe.

It's not a place built around constant sightseeing or huge city experiences - the appeal is the atmosphere, the weather, the beaches and the simplicity.

And people often end up going back once they've been.

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