Cape Verde is an archipelago consisting of ten islands and several islets of volcanic origin, with an area of 4.033.37 square kilometers and situated at a distance of 455 km from the African west coast, with the neighboring countries Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Gambia. The name "Cape Verde Archipelago" was due to its proximity (about 500 km east of Dakar, Senegal) to the cape of the same name. Taking into account the prevailing wind, the archipelago is divided into two island groups: the Windward Islands, the northern side that the wind blows: Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal and Boavista and the islands of Sotavento, the south, opposite the blowing wind: Maio, Santiago, Fogo and Brava.

According to relief, there are three groups of islands that form the archipelago of Cape Verde: the first are the mountainous islands in particular Santo Antão, Santiago, Fogo, Brava and St. Nicolau; the second group are the flat islands: Sal, Boavista and Maio; and third, the island of São Vicente, which brings together those two characteristics, ie between mountainous and flat.

Because of its volcanic origin, the islands of the archipelago of Cape Verde have different characteristics, which are considered a country of contrasts, thus having a great potential for tourism development.

The tourism developed in Cape Verde has been focused mainly for sun and sand, the beach said, which includes the island of Sal and more recently the island of Boavista. Many of the features of these islands are not yet fully exploited, such as natural landscapes that do not relate only to the beaches but also with a very rich culture and history.

At a general level, Cape Verde has several attractions such as music (morna, coladera, mazurka, funaná, among others), the gastronomy with the famous Catchupa, seafood, fish and many other attractive.

In the following table are presented the particularities of the islands and also the types of tourism that can be exploited them.

Please note that the seaside tourism is the main mode found in the country, despite the many options available in the various islands possesses different characteristics. Notably, perspective to diversification of tourism based on big hotels, investments in eco-tourism and cultural tourism, knowing the differences presented in the islands are certainly a clearly differentiating factor.

On Sal Island is where most has been invested in the tourist sector for many years and, consequently, is on this island that there has been an increased flow of tourists. However, in recent years, the island of Boavista has to highlight, surpassing in numbers the island of Sal. Today, Boavista, Sal, Santiago and Sao Vicente are the islands which accounts for the bulk of tourists, making with the apparent increase in the tourist sector reflected in increased housing capacity and, consequently, in increased jobs.

It is illustrated by the following table the evolution of the number of rooms, beds, accommodation capacity and personnel working in the tourist office from 2002 to 2012, according to the National Statistics Institute:

Also according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) of the year 2013, the main source markets of tourists to the archipelago were: the United Kingdom, which remains in the lead with 19.9%, followed by Portugal with 14,6%, Germany with 12.5% and France 11%. Increasing the number of tourists in the country is quite significant having more than tripled its value 2002-2013 as shown in the following table.

For the years 2014 and 2015, although there was information on the level of news about the increase of incoming tourists in the archipelago. However, no data from the institution responsible for statistics that prove that if these information.  It’s advisable to to stress that by the year 2005 there was only one international airport in the country, the Amilcar Cabral International Airport on Sal Island. With the increase of the tourist flow was realized the need to invest in the transport sector. Today there are four international airports located on the island of Santiago, São Vicente, Boavista and Sal. Previously the air transport was monopolized by the airline TAP, with the opening of new airports and to give vent to demand, several companies fly now to Cape Verde. Cape Verde's airports have been equipped with various services in order to please the tourists visiting the country.

It is remarkable investment in road infrastructure, mainly on the islands of Santiago, São Vicente and to a lesser extent on the island of Santo Antão. With regard to maritime transport stands out the increase of cruise ships that dock the country, especially the Big Port of Saint Vincent and the Praia.

It should be stressed that there is a public transport network that guarantee the links between the various locations in the main islands of Cape Verde. There is a good fleet of taxis and Hiaces (small buses) and also offered rent-a-car companies in all the islands of the country. Regarding the long distance passenger transport, these are secured by mixed Toyota Hiace type vehicles, with capacity for 15 people.

In short, much has been done to improve the tourism sector in Cape Verde in both the level of general infrastructure such as tourism, are being set carefully great improvements globally in order to provide tourists visiting Cape Verde decent infrastructural conditions and compatible with sympathy, kindness and singular own “morabeza” the Cape Verdean people. Cape Verde is life, joy, of peace and tranquility! Check, visiting us.