Cape Verde holidays: Sal or Boa Vista for winter sun

The wind is the first thing you notice. It comes in steady off the Atlantic, rattles the palm leaves above the pool and fills the kites over the beach at Santa Maria. Then you notice the light: a hard, clean sunshine on white sand, in the middle of January, while the weather at home is doing its usual winter thing.

Cape Verde is a group of islands off the coast of West Africa, and for most people heading here on holiday the choice comes down to two of them. Sal is the busier one, with a lively little town and the most hotels. Boa Vista is bigger, emptier and covered in dunes. Below we explain the difference, when to go, how to book flights and a hotel together, and the six hotels we would pick.

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Sal or Boa Vista: which island suits you?

• Sal suits you if you want a town on your doorstep: restaurants, bars and the pier in Santa Maria, plus kitesurfing and windsurfing on some of the best known wind beaches in the Atlantic.

• Boa Vista suits you if you want space: long, quiet beaches like Praia de Chaves and Santa Mónica, sand dunes and a slower pace. Most hotels here are big all inclusive resorts.

• Families often pick a resort with a protected pool area, since the Atlantic can be rough. Couples look at the adults only hotels on both islands.

The wind is part of the deal on both islands, especially in winter. It keeps the heat comfortable, but it also means the sea can be lively. If you dream of a flat, calm lagoon, the Red Sea or the Caribbean may suit you better.

Package or flight and hotel separately?

Cape Verde is a classic package destination. Flights to Sal and Boa Vista are mostly charter and holiday flights, often only a few times a week, so it is common to book the flight and hotel together. You get one booking, one confirmation and one place to turn if something changes. Flight inclusive packages sold in the UK are also ATOL protected.

Booking separately can make sense if you have a particular hotel in mind, want to combine two islands or are flying with your own airline miles. Either way, look at the transfer time from the airport: on Sal it is short, while some of the resorts on Boa Vista are a longer drive along sandy roads.

Flight and hotel together: See Cape Verde flight and hotel packages

Where to stay on Sal

Almost all the hotels on Sal are in or around Santa Maria in the south of the island. The town has the pier where the fishermen land their catch, a beach that stretches for kilometres and plenty of places to eat. Up north you find the salt lake at Pedra de Lume, where you can float in water so salty you barely need to swim.

Flight and hotel together: See Sal flight and hotel packages

Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort: on the beach in Santa Maria

The Hilton sits right on the long beach at Santa Maria, a short walk from the pier and the town. The pools face the sea, and in the afternoon you can watch the kites racing along the shore.

A good choice if you want a proper beach hotel without giving up the restaurants and bars in town.

Book your stay: See rooms at Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort

Morabeza Hotel: a Santa Maria classic

Morabeza is one of the old names in Santa Maria, a few minutes from the pier, with several outdoor pools in a green garden. Guests often mention the helpful staff.

It feels more like a relaxed beach hotel than a giant resort, and you can walk into town for dinner.

Book your stay: See rooms at Morabeza Hotel

Robinson Cabo Verde: adults only and all inclusive

Robinson Cabo Verde is for adults only, with all inclusive as standard. All rooms have a balcony or terrace, and the Santa Maria pier is close by.

Pick it if you want a sociable holiday with activities, but without children around the pool.

Book your stay: See rooms at Robinson Cabo Verde

Where to stay on Boa Vista

Boa Vista is the island for long walks on empty sand. Most hotels sit along the beaches on the west and south coast, and the little town of Sal Rei is where you go for a coffee and a look at local life. Inland, the Viana desert looks like a piece of the Sahara dropped into the Atlantic.

Flight and hotel together: See Boa Vista flight and hotel packages

VOI Praia de Chaves Resort: right on the dunes

VOI Praia de Chaves sits by the beach of the same name, one of the most beautiful on the island, with dunes behind it. It is an all inclusive resort, and breakfast, wifi and parking are included.

Ideal if your plan is sun, beach and a good book.

Book your stay: See rooms at VOI Praia de Chaves Resort

Hotel Riu Palace Boavista: big, polished all inclusive

Riu Palace Boavista is a large all inclusive resort a few minutes from Praia da Chave. All rooms have a balcony.

A safe pick for families and for anyone who wants everything in one place, from restaurants to pools.

Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Riu Palace Boavista

Robinson Boa Vista: active days by the beach

Robinson Boa Vista is also by Praia da Chave and is all inclusive, with breakfast and wifi included and a balcony in every room.

Choose it if you like having sports, entertainment and other guests to talk to after a day on the beach.

Book your stay: See rooms at Robinson Boa Vista

When is the best time to go to Cape Verde?

Cape Verde is a winter sun destination. From November to April it is dry and sunny, and the trade winds are strongest in the first months of the year, which is good news for kitesurfers and less so for anyone hoping for a mirror calm sea. Late summer and early autumn bring more humidity and the chance of rain showers. School holidays in February and around Christmas fill up quickly.

When should you book?

• Christmas and New Year: book three to six months ahead. Flights are limited and fill early.

• February half term: book in the autumn. Family rooms at the popular resorts go first.

• January and March: often the best value, and a few weeks ahead can be enough.

Read more about the islands and other warm places in Where is hot in January and Where is hot in February.

Frequently asked questions about Cape Verde holidays

Is Sal or Boa Vista better for a holiday?

Sal is better if you want a town with restaurants and bars close by, and for kitesurfing. Boa Vista is better for quiet, long beaches and big all inclusive resorts. Both have the same sunny, windy winter climate.

When is the best time to visit Cape Verde?

The best time to visit Cape Verde is November to April, when it is dry and sunny. The trade winds are strongest early in the year, which keeps the heat comfortable but can make the sea rough.

Is Cape Verde good for a winter sun holiday?

Yes. Cape Verde is one of the most reliable winter sun destinations within a medium length flight of Europe, with sunshine through the winter months and a relaxed island pace.

Is all inclusive the best option in Cape Verde?

On Boa Vista most hotels are all inclusive resorts, and it is often the simplest choice. On Sal you have more restaurants in Santa Maria, so half board or bed and breakfast can work well.

Do I need a visa for Cape Verde?

British and most European visitors can currently visit Cape Verde without a visa for up to 30 days. You must register on the official EASE platform at least five days before arrival and pay the airport security fee (TSA) there. If you have not registered, the fee is doubled at the border. Your passport should be valid for at least six months. Rules can change, so check the latest travel advice before you go.

Read more

• Where is hot in January

• Where is hot in February

• Adults only all inclusive resorts

• February half term: sun or snow

• Winter sun holidays: where to go from December to February