Cape Verde

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.

June 2014Showing 1-40 of 696952 visitsAlbum by David KohlPhotos by David Kohl & Ross Rosenberg

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.	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.	View from Casa Beiramar	Church Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Sao Filipe
Mural in Sao Filipe	Pipi's Restaurant - Sao Filipe	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.	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.
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.	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.	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.	Round lava house on Fogo The volcanic lava is used for construction.
Topographic map of Fogo The caldera is formed by land that has collapsed further into the ground after a volcanic eruption.	Pico de Fogo and the 1995 peak	At the 1995 peak	View of Pico de Fogo
Lava field	Road through the lava field	Cha Das Caldeiras	Pico de Fogo - View from the east coast
School girls near Mosteiros	School boys near Mosteiros	Eastern coast of Fogo	Fishermen on Fogo
Greeters at Sao Vincente Airport	Bay of Mindelo	Bay of Mindelo & Bird Island (Santo Antao in background)	Street scene in Mindelo
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.	Mural in Mindelo	Staue in Mindelo	Waterfront in Mindelo
Torre de Belem A copy of a tower of the same name located in Lisbon. This replica was built in the 1920s.	Market women in Mindelo	Painted ceramic tiles in Mindelo's market	Mindelo Bay - View of Monte Cara
Mindelo waterfront	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.	Chez Loutcha on a Friday night	Pica Pau restuarant In Mindelo