Cape Verde Islands: Discovering something special

Oct 13 2009 By Edward Stephens

And the newest and biggest property to be built is the combined Riu Garopa and Riu Funana, two four-five star all-inclusive hotel properties adjoining each other which can accommodate around 2,000 guests. Despite their vast capacities, however, the Riu hotels are spread over such a large area of beach front land that staying there never felt crowded. Under the watchful eye of Venetian-born manager Giorgio Chiarel the hotel has earned itself an enviable reputation for quality and high standards and is already attracting repeat business.

Its buffets are superb and there are a host of nice touches on various evenings like complimentary pre-dinner cocktails or Irish coffee after dinner. There is entertainment each evening and facilities include everything from four lagoon-like swimming pools to an excellent spa and sports facilities. Best of all the hotel has its own beach area complete with free water sports and beach bar.

The property has provided some 650 jobs for local people and even attracts job applications from other islands in the Cape Verde group. Each day staff attend lessons in English and German, and while there are still pockets of poverty on Sal its thanks to hotel groups like Riu that their days are numbered.

Touring the city of Sal
The diminutive size of Sal means you can do all the main sights on just one guided tour and it only lasts half a day. Its well worth the 37 euros it costs, however, as it shows you the places you would never find alone. Climb down here our guide told me after we had bumped and rattled across a landscape fit only for Jeeps and goats before coming to rest on a rocky outcrop near the shore. There's nothing there except a dark cave, I replied. Trust me, he said, so I climbed down and stared into the darkness. Looking back at me through deep blue water was the beautiful image of a large blue sapphire Sals famous Blue Eye, a phenomenon no one can really explain.

Back on the bus we headed for the island's salt mine, housed inside a vast crater. Here you can float Dead Sea-like in a lake of hot salt water before showering off at a nearby restaurant and bar. Our tour continued to the islands capital, Espargos, where a blend of old buildings and new shops and restaurants sit cheek by jowl.

Don't expect to be able to flex your plastic here, however. Cash is king on Sal they accept the Euro but to be honest there is not a lot to take home unless you want a bottle of locally produced rum.

Cape Verde does have one other surprise up its sleeve its sea life. Green turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand dunes, an area out of bounds during the breeding season, and off the coast you can go whale watching. While I was there a group of tourists saw a pod of 400 dolphins and numerous pilot whales with their young.

You can also fly to Fogo, one of the Cape Verde Islands that is still volcanic, or the island of Santiago the government seat of the country. These trips are expensive, however, at more than £200 per person. Cape Verde is still very much undiscovered but it wont be for long.  If you want to see it before the masses, go now.

Travel facts
Thomson offers seven nights on the Cape Verde Islands at the 4T Club Hotel Riu Funana on Santa Maria, part of the Faraway Shores Collection, on an all inclusive basis from £673 per person based on two sharing. Departing on October 13, 2009 from Birmingham, the price includes return flights, accommodation, transfers. To book visit www.thomson.co.uk.