DESTINATIONS WINTER SUN |CAPE VERDE


OF THE BEST


MUST-SEE SIGHTS


Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck This Spanish cargo ship ran aground in 1968. It has been slowly disappearing into the sea, but remains visible off the shores of Praia de Atalanta.


Olaria de Rabil João Morais was hard at work as we arrived in this family-run pottery shop, which has been crafting everything from tiny turtle-shaped souvenirs to clay tiles and amphora for 40 years.


Morabeza Beach Bar On pretty Estoril beach, this chilled-out lounge and restaurant offers dining and drinks with sand between your toes and sunset parties to rival any on the island.


Riu Palace Boavista


This 505-room resort sits on the wide, sweeping sands of Praia das Dunas, a palm


tree-dotted beach edged by the wild waves of the Atlantic.


Its contemporary interiors offer a bright, breezy stay with rooms featuring either a balcony or


terrace, drinks dispenser and minibar, including two-bed


CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Quad biking across the dunes of Boa Vista island; the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck; marine wildlife includes humpback whales PICTURES: Shutterstock/Marso, Alicja Magdalena Wojcik


on the island’s southwest coast that is entirely deserted as I arrive. My footprints are the only ones dappling its golden sands, though there must have been a few people passing through as a small beach bar with pumping tunes is doing a decent trade in cold Strela beers. Sand is a common sight on this island, with mile after mile of undulating dunes that drifted over from the Sahara. We quickly run out of road on the island’s so-called ‘Route 66’, and instead bump up and down its sandy tracks in a 4x4, passing by quad bikers revving their way over the banks.


Perhaps the most exciting way to experience these steep inclines is by surfing down them, with sandboarding opportunities at the vast dunes of Morro de Areia Nature Reserve. I’m a scaredy-cat when it comes to speed, but the squeals of delight as fellow guests skimmed down the slopes were a


42 15 JANUARY 2026


promising sign, even if they were emptying out shoefuls of sand as they came back.


SPORTING CHANCE The windswept winter season is also the peak time for Cape Verde’s array of watersports. The brightly coloured sails of windsurfers, kitesurfers and even a few hydrofoils ply the waves, making the most of those powerful tradewinds. For travellers arriving as the winds die down in spring, however, there are other natural draws: humpback whales pass through these waters during their March


BOOK IT


Tui offers seven nights at 5T-rated Riu Palace Boavista, all-inclusive in a Double Room with balcony or terrace, from £1,254 per person, based on two sharing, including 20kg luggage, transfers and flights from East Midlands on March 4. The same trip departing on September 23 from Gatwick starts from £1,218. Full-day 4x4 island tour from £86; Desert Delight stargazing from £60, including dinner; sandboarding in Morro de Areia from £26; whale-watching cruise from £77. tui.co.uk


travelweekly.co.uk


to May breeding season; July to October brings five types of turtles to nest on shore; and bottlenose and spotted dolphins can be seen year-round. Sightings are never guaranteed, which I discovered on a planned whale-watching tour that turned into more of a gentle catamaran cruise around the islands when the whales stayed far below the surface. But as I kicked back on the nets at the front of the boat, bright blue sky overhead and sea spray frothing below, it wasn’t hard to see how Boa Vista – Portuguese for ‘beautiful view’ – lives up to its name. TW


family options and swim-up pool upgrades. Hop in one of its


three pools to sip a drink from a swim-up bar, work out with


water aerobics or kick back on its sunken sunloungers (pictured above), with a separate kids’ pool and club for little ones.


There’s even a water park with terrifyingly tall waterslides, or a tranquil spa with jet pool (pictured below) for those who like their thrills a little more low- key. Three à la carte eateries – a steakhouse, Japanese and Med-fusion restaurant – are included in the package (with


reservation) along with the main buffet, though dining choice and quality were lacklustre at times. But with capital Sal Rei just 15 minutes away, it’s well placed for island exploring. riu.com


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