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Cape Verde
Cape Verde was named one of 2014's World's Ten Best Ethical Destinations by the Ethical Traveler organization. The winning countries were judged on their records on environmental protection, social welfare and human rights.  Cape Verde has been included on the list for two years in a row.  

This island nation is adrift in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 300 miles off the west coast of Africa.  Its name was derived from its location due west of Cap Vert (the name of the Dakar peninsula of Senegal), not for its greenery. The Cape Verde archipelago includes ten major islands, and an assortment of tiny uninhabited islets.  Some are mountainous; others are flat.  Some verdant and tree covered; others stark and desert-like.

Though discovered by the Portuguese centuries ago, some of its islands are now being rediscovered by European package tourists.  But independent travelers should not be dismayed. The four islands we sampled - Fogo, Sao Vicente, Santo Antau and Santiago - have yet to be heavily commercialized. These are the islands that lure independent travelers; they justify Cape Verde's place on the Ethical Traveler's top 10 list.  These are the islands that await to be "discovered" - even today.
Date(s): June 2014. Album by David Kohl. Photos by David Kohl & Ross Rosenberg. 1 - 69 of 69 Total. 2270 Visits.
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Map of Cape Verde
The islands, in total, comprise only about 1500 square miles - about the size of the state of Rhode Island.  The total population is about 400,000.

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Sao Filipe - Casa Beiramar
Casa Beiramar is a small B & B located in a quiet area of town.  Only four rooms.  Great ocean views from the top floor.

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View from Casa Beiramar

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Church Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Sao Filipe

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Mural in Sao Filipe

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Pipi's Restaurant - Sao Filipe

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Boy in Cashew Tree
Cashew trees grow anywhere in the wet/dry tropics. They are fairly draught resistant and grow well even on marginal soils where other fruit trees would fail. The best soils for growing cashews are sandy soils.

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Cashew fruit and nut
The cashew nut is only a part of the cashew fruit.  The other part is called the cashew apple. The cashew apple is actually the swollen stem of the fruit.

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Cashew fruit flesh
The cashew apple is high in Vitamin C.  It is surprisingly juicy but a bit acidic. Like a persimmon, it leaves a slightly furry feeling in your mouth.

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Girl eating cashew fruit
To grow cashews, daytime temperatures should not drop below 50F. They can also handle temperatures above 105F. An average daytime temperature of around 77F is ideal.

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Entrance to the Park at Pico de Fogo
The main peak last erupted in 1675 (or 1680, according some sources).  The peak rises 9,281 feet above sea level.

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Round lava house on Fogo
The volcanic lava is used for construction.

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Topographic map of Fogo
The caldera is formed by land that has collapsed further into the ground after a volcanic eruption.

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Pico de Fogo and  the 1995 peak

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At the 1995 peak

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View of Pico de Fogo

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Lava field

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Road through the lava field

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Cha Das Caldeiras

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Pico de Fogo - View from the east coast

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School girls near Mosteiros

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School boys near Mosteiros

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Eastern coast of Fogo

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Fishermen on Fogo

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Greeters at Sao Vincente Airport

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Bay of Mindelo

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Bay of Mindelo & Bird Island (Santo Antao in background)

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Street scene in Mindelo

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Casa Colonial - Mindelo
Casa Colonial is one of the oldest buildings on Sao Vicente.  It has been restored and converted into a 9-room B & B with a 'plunge' pool in the central courtyard.

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Mural in Mindelo

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Staue in Mindelo

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Waterfront in Mindelo

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Torre de Belem
A copy of a tower of the same name located in Lisbon.  This replica was built in the 1920s.

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Market women in Mindelo

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Painted ceramic tiles in Mindelo's market

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Mindelo Bay - View of Monte Cara

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Mindelo waterfront

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Poster for Casa da Morna
"The" music venue in Mindelo.  Shows don't really start until near midnight and end in the wee hours of the morning.

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Chez Loutcha on a Friday night

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Pica Pau restuarant In Mindelo

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Panoramic scene of Mindelo bay

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Wind turbines in Mindelo Bay

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View of Sao Vicente from Santo Antao

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Hiking trail in Covo do Paul

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View atop Ribeira Paul

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Trail down to Ribeira do Paul

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View from Casa Covaquinho
Casa Covaquinho is located in the tiny town of Cabo de Rivera in the Paul Valley.

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Casa Covaquinho
The small B & B has four rooms, a large stone patio, and rooftop common room.

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View from Casa Covaquinho
Sugar cane is the main crop in the Paul Valley.  It is used to produce 'grogue' - the local liquor.

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Ribeira do Paul

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View of Ribeira Paul

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Ribeira do Paul

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View of Ponta do Sol
We stayed at Beira Mar Residencial right on the waterfront in Ponta do Sol.

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Road near Ponta do Sol

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Road from Ponta do Sol to Fountainhas

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View of Fountainhaus

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View of Fountainhas

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Fountainhas

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Tarrafal Bay on Santiago

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Women at Tarrafal Bay

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Beachfront dancing at Tarrafal Bay

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Tarrafal Bay

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Tarrafal Bay

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Exterior of Hotel Cachoeira in Tarrafal
A relatively new addition to the few hotels in Tarrafal - Hotel Cachoeira is a small hotel with enormous rooms.

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Aluguer - Tarrafal to Praia
Aluguers - minivans - are the main method of transport between destinations on the island.

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Pillory Square in Cidade Velha
The town of Ribeira Grande, renamed Cidade Velha in the late 18th century, was the first European colonial outpost in the tropics. Slaves, en route from Africa to the West Indies, were shackled on display.

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Cidade Velha
Cidade Velha ("Old City") is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the country.

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Passionfruit flower

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Exterior of Praia Confort Hotel