Cape Verde Holiday Reviews

OK. Long Nice Beach Great for surfers and Kiting. long walks if you like that sort of thing. Massive hotel in the middle of sand dunes. great transfer time 5 Minutes.

Expensive, expensive, expensive !! and very little to do, avoid if you can. There is a lot of building work going on but I assume because of the credit crunch it is all on hold so the place is full of unfinished buildings. The beasch is OK but the wind blows all the time.

We stayed all inclusive so cannot comment on prices etc. The island is gradually becoming more popular and tourism will be taking off in a big way. The beaches are completely unspoilt. The only problem is that the Atlantic is pretty choppy so swimming is not really enjoyable.My advice would be to go and experience it sooner rather than later because it will inevitably become more and more commercialised.

Well there is no resort really just the hotel which is fine for a week but you would get bored after that. 4X4 trip great

very nice around hotel, barren around it, airport only few mins away but very small. Atlantic ocean very strong on hotel beach

The whole of the island of Sal is basically a rubbish dump. All of the buildings in Santa Maria are either half built or derelict with people living in them anyway. The roads are falling to pieces in Santa Maria.

DO NOT expect tree-lined promenades, restaurants and shops because there are none. Sal is not a tourist island. We did all of the organised trips, including the tour of the island in which you see basically nothing. The middle of the island is a couple of miles of piled up rubbish. We ventured into Santa Maria on one evening to find there is literally nothing there, it was like being in Deliverance! We got straight back into a taxi to the hotel.

Locals can be quite intimidating trying to force you into buying their 'wares' consisting of fish teeth and shells. If you don't want to buy, don't get involved in a conversation, just walk away.

The boat trips were fun but you have to climb onto a small boat at the jetty either in Santa Maria or Palmeira, climbing over the locals gutting tuna and chopping up fish. Particularly in Palmeira there are fish guts everywhere on the jetty so do not wear your best shoes on the boat trips.

However, the best boat trip was the King Boa which was a much more professional set up. The two guys running the trip, Bob and Mike, are very knowledgable, friendly and approachable. We spent about 3 hours on the power boat and trailed a pod of Pilot whales which were within 20 feet of the boat which was just fabulous, the highlight of the holiday. We also took our fishing rods and did a bit of fishing, both on the boats and over the east side of Santa Maria. If you need bait, go to the proper fishing shop at the start of the pier, don't try to buy it off the locals!

In summary, I would recommend the boat trips but there really is nothing else to do outside of the hotel. Take packs of cards and board games for the evenings!

Do not go there! Locals every where after small change all the time. Nice beach, nothing else. Restraunts are expensive & not very clean

great for those not looking to explore, sea rough not suitable for children.small airport 5 min transfer time.

We did the trip of the Island with the local lads who stand by the beach and had a fantastic day with Souza, Elvis and Fidel i would reccomend that you do the tour with these boys and not Thomson because they really do need the money and at the same time you will learn more from these guys. We also did the beach buggies from the scuba caribe on the beach which is also very good but you get reallly dirty so be prepared. It is turle season now in cape verde and my daughter and i went with the conservation group from the beach and we saw 2 turtles which is quite exciting and then before we left the island the first turtles were born that was so lovely to see, also for $10 you can adopt one which we did and the helps to save these endangered animals.

The weather was great for the whole time we were there be careful the wind makes you believe that it is not as hot as it is and i burnt on the first day and so did my daughter and we were wearing factor 50 sun screen. Take a walk along the beach it is a good hour to Santa Maria via the sea as it is hard to walk in places but well worth it, watching the fishermen bringing the morning catch in is worth a look. Now this island is very baron nothing grows except bananas, and there aren't many shops but it has a lovely charm about it. If nothing else it will make you appreciate what you have got at home. These people are very poor but there catchphrase is 'no stress, and they always have a smile on their faces.

The resort is still developing with very few shops but the hotel is that big and has that many facilities you will not need to go far.

Sal is only a tiny Island and as such, there isn't much to see or do however, if you like watersports, it is your ideal destination. The locals are very friendly and though most will try to sell you something, they will leave you alone if you say no without any trouble. Sal has few/no natural resources or farming so all food and drink is imported (except for fish, which is caught fresh each day.) The main holiday resort of Santa Maria has died a little with the introduction of an all inclusive hotel right outside of town. Tourists no longer go into town (as advised by bad holiday reps!), so many of the amazing restaurants have closed down or have very limited opening but there is still lots of choice.

What a resort, what an island, unspoilt beaches and unspoilt land, go now before all the hotels are built and see the island in its natural state. If you are looking for a clubbing holiday this is not for you but if your looking to relax and wind down in the most lovely place on earth then this is for you.

enjoy cape verde as it is at the moment its unspoled but will be a busy resort in a few years which i think is a shame, so see it as it should be and go soon.

Boa Vista is newly opened to tourism during the last few months it is a serious get away from it all resort. Totally unspoilt at present and lacking in any commercial development except the Riu Karamboa, I am sure that serious development will come quickly. See it now before the inevitable happens.

If you are looking for a relaxing holiday this is the place.  The beaches are wonderful. We have just returned after a week and have a tan, there is a breeze that hides the full strength of the sun, so it is advisable to be careful.  This could be a great family holiday suiting both beach and pool lovers. All inclusive is the best option as there is not really anywhere else to eat or buy food.  The hotel stands on its own beach.