At Cover Page Media, we bring you travel destinations that are taking over the world just like Cabo Verde took over FIFA 2026 and now, the travel industry.

Cabo Verde: FIFA Wildcard That Deserves To Be On Your Travel List!

Cabo Verde has a quiet way of surprising people. Those who expect a plain and simple beach destination find volcanic mountains and emerald valleys. And those who come for the quiet backwaters find a vibrant music scene and also a Creole culture built from centuries of fusion of the Portuguese and African. Those who expect one island find ten and each with its own distinct personality, landscape, specialty and reason to visit.

The archipelago forms part of Macaronesia which means Islands of Bliss, alongside Madeira, the Canary Islands, as well as the Azores. Now there are only two seasons that punctuate the calendar on these islands: the dry, breezy season from October to mid-July, and a short rainy period from August to September.

Here the the sun shines approximately 350 days a year and temperatures sit comfortably between 21 and 29 degrees Celsius all year-round. Easyjet has launched new direct routes to the capital Santiago in 2026. This has made it way easier than ever to reach from Europe.

Here are the islands and destinations that define the Cabo Verde experience- and if you are visiting, you need this list:

Sal Island: The Beach Capital

Sal Island is one of the or if not, the most popular destination in Cabo Verde. And this destination attracts travelers looking for idyllic beaches, all-inclusive hotels, and water sports. But what anchors the island’s tourism is the town of Santa Maria. With a long stretch of powder-white beach and a lively waterfront promenade. It also has easy access to a bunch of the popular activities ranging from kitesurfing and windsurfing to dolphin-watching tours and deep-sea fishing.

Boa Vista: Dunes, Turtles, and Wild Beaches

In contrast to Sal Island, Boa Vista is renowned for its desert landscapes, dunes, and wild beaches. If Sal can be called Cabo Verde’s busy beach resort, then Boa Vista takes the title for the quieter, more dramatic counterpart. Boa Vista too features great stretches of undeveloped coastline and rolling sand dunes. Not only this, there is another unique attraction- it is one of the Atlantic’s most important loggerhead sea turtle nesting sites. And as a result,  one of the most memorable wildlife experiences in West Africa is the turtle conservation tours, run with a biologist on the beach.

Santo Antão: Hiker’s Paradise

For travelers who prefer the adventure of the mountains more than tanning at the beach- Santo Antão is the place for you! It is considered one of the most beautiful islands in Cabo Verde for nature lovers and hikers. It features verdant mountains, deep valleys, and traditional villages that offer refreshing scenery. This island is lush, green and has a dramatically vertical terrain where valleys plunge to the ocean and mountain paths wind through sugar cane plantations and coffee groves. What is widely considered one of the finest day walks in the Atlantic islands is the hike from Cruzinha to Ponta do Sol along the coastal cliff path. A hikers dream adventure! Visitors reach Santo Antão by ferry from São Vicente.

Santiago: History and the Capital

Now we come to the heart- Santiago is the cultural heart of Cape Verde. It is the ideal island to discover history, gastronomy, and local traditions. The capital Praia is primarily administrative, however the north of the island rewards the two-hour drive- the beach town of Tarrafal. This place offers a calm bay with yellow sand, a relaxed local atmosphere, and excellent seafood at a fraction of resort island prices.

Fogo: Volcano at the Centre of Everything

Forget beaches and hikes- this is for the brave of hearts! Fogo Island is famous for its active volcano and spectacular landscapes. Pico do Fogo, rising to 2,829 metres, last erupted in 2014. Spreading across the Chã das Caldeiras caldera, the lava fields from that eruption are now one of the most otherworldly landscapes in the Atlantic. Another mind-blowing feature-Wine is produced inside the volcano’s crater, from vines growing in the volcanic soil. Making it some of the most unusual wine in the world, and genuinely worth seeking out.

A Few Things To Note:

The Escudo is a closed currency, which means it can only be obtained within Cape Verde and also cannot legally be taken out of the country. Therefore, Euros is a convenient alternative for many visitors, and are exchangeable at a fixed rate. Also, the Cabo Verde Airlines is the sole domestic inter-island carrier following Best Fly’s closure. Internal flights should be booked well in advance. For all the shorter island hops, ferries are often more reliable and the significantly cheaper option.

Cabo Verde is generally safe, genuinely welcoming, and now getting the global recognition it has long deserved. The window to experience it before it becomes everyone’s obvious choice is narrowing, but it has not yet closed. Will you be willing to experience the travel world’s newest obsession?

Editorial Disclaimer: Destination details and travel information in this article are sourced from Euronews Travel, Actour Cabo Verde, TripAdvisor, Indie Traveller, WeWillNomad, and Viator. Cover Page Media has not independently verified all seasonal or operational details. Readers should confirm current flight and ferry schedules before travelling.

Featured Image Credits:
Creator: ROBERTO SCHMIDT | Credit: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors