Cape Verde Islands - First Choice Winter Sun November 2012

TOP 5 Things to See & Do 1. Fogo The name of this sun-shaped island means `fire' in Portuguese, which gives you a good indication of its volcanic status. Its crowning glory is the 160metre cone of Pico de Fogo, which last burst into life in 1995. Head to the coast to get the best view of it. And while you're on the island, stop off at the colonial town of Sao Filipe for a taste of Fogo's wine. 2. Ilheu de Sal Rei, Boa Vista You get the full-on Robinson Crusoe experience on this desert island. Catch a boat from Boa Vista's Sal Rei and in ten minutes you've got a square kilometre of paradise pretty much to yourself. It's uninhabited - take your own supplies - so it's just you, deserted sands and the crumbling 19th-century Duque de Branganca fort. Architecture in Boa Vista 3. Santiago Cape Verde's biggest island can count Captain Cook and Sir Francis Drake among its visitors. Nowadays, though, it's mainly day-trippers heading for the old capital, Cidade Velha. Along with its volcanic beach, you can head for its atmospheric market, National Maritime Museum and church that dates back to 1495. Local life in Boa Vista Weather Report Rain is rare in Cape Verde - the heavens open for just a few days a year. On average, it stays a toasty 26°C around the calendar, with October and June the hottest months. There's no winter season as such, although it cools down a fraction from December to March. 4. Cabo Santa Maria, Boa Vista Back in the Sixties, a monster-sized freighter called the Cabo Santa Maria was shipwrecked along Boa Vista's ten-kilometre Sal Rei beach. Follow the sands north and you can't miss it. It's still intact and stuck in the sand like a giant metal whale. The walk alone is worth it for the views of Monte Estancia, the island's highest peak. Average monthly temperature (°c) Nov 27 Dec 26 Jan 24 Feb 24 Mar 26 Apr 25 5. Sao Nicolau Santo Antao 1979 Sao Vicente Sal Sao Nicolau Santa Maria Vila de Sal Rei An easy plane hop away, this is the island to visit for mountains. Monte Gordo - at 1,312 metres tall - is its highest point. Wind your way up its green valley, past tropical plantations, and you've got no end of trails to hike. Afterwards, head for the pretty capital, Ribeira Brava, for some top-notch restaurants in a colonial setting. i c n t l a A t Boa Vista Cape Verde Islands e O c Sao Filipe Brava Cape Verde Islands Visit your travel shop | Call 0871 200 4455 | Click on firstchoice.co.uk Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras. The cost of calls was correct at the time of publication. See page 3. a n 2829 Porto Rincao Fogo 1392 Porto Ingles Praia 25km Click on firstchoice.co.uk Video tours, more photos, customer reviews and room upgrades online Cape Verde Islands 99

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