To book accommodations, contact Centro Promoçâo Turistica at (238) 2 622736 or visit the Web site (see Resources below). Stay in a historic hotel. Cape Verde's long and rich history has left it with many older hotels that still retain a great deal of their old world charm and ambience. Most of them have been transformed into luxury accommodations, with 5-star service, beachside restaurants and sporting facilities ranging from golf to archery on site.
Compare amenities. Cape Verde has a wide range of accommodations available, and with most of them being right on the beach, it is sometimes hard to tell by looking which places offer luxury lodging. The best way to find out is to ask about amenities. The best lodgings will have, at a minimum, swimming pools, restaurants, air conditioning and Internet access available for guests. Look around until you find a place with the amenities you most desire. It is likely only a stone's throw away.
Fly from island to island. Cape Verde has a domestic carrier that makes regular daily runs to all the islands in the chain.
Sail through the chain. There is a ferry service offering scheduled rides to all the Cape Verde islands. While slower than flying, taking the ferry is a leisurely and picturesque ride with some great photo opportunities along the way.
Climb a volcano. Mt. Fogo, Cape Verde's highest peak, is an active volcano that last erupted in 1995. With slopes covered in ash and cinder, intrepid mountain climbers can take the slippery 3 to 4 hour climb to the top for some spectacular views of the islands.
Stay near Cidade Velha and tour the past. Cape Verde's most historic site has recently drawn some attention from the academic community for being the first European colony in this part of the world. Founded in 1462, a full 30 years before Columbus set sail for America, Cidade Velha was a rowdy place, and the target of frequent pirate attacks in its early days. You can still see the remains of many an ancient landmark here, and it is a great tour for the historically inclined.
