10 January 2007 - The Daily Telegraph Online - Charles Starmer Smith

Why go now?

The dawn of the New Year brings sore heads, but also the realisation that it will be months until the sun shines again. But just 5½ hours away lies an archipelago where it is summer every day. Sprinkled off the west coast of Africa, the 10 islands of Cape Verde rarely see rain and enjoy temperatures hovering between 25°C and 35°C. With miles of soft white sand and clear water, this former Portuguese colony fits the bill for beach-lovers, but also boasts the towering volcano of Fogo, the vertiginous landscapes of San Antao and Santiago and the music and nightlife of São Vicente. Developers are belatedly discovering these islands, dicing up the waterfronts of Sal and Boavista, so go now to avoid the crowds.

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