A Sweet Escape To Sal Islands – My Cape Verde Experience.

A City Break From Lagos To Cape Verde 

Planning a trip from Lagos to Cape Verde was never in the plans for my year. Prior to August, I had never even heard of Cape Verde. But when it suddenly started popping up all over my Instagram, I knew I had to add it to my list of “places to visit”.

It didn’t take me long to start my research and finally conclude to spend my own Detty December in Sal Island in Cape Verde.

For someone who hates travel planning, I was quite fastidious, researching everything from how to get to Cape Verde from Nigeria to things to do in Cape Verde.

I rallied around a team of co-travelers, booked my flight and eagerly awaited the day.  I just couldn’t wait to experience the beauty of Cape Verde and the island life for myself.

Related: 2019 In #TravelAfrica : Post Cards From Senegal, Ethiopia, Maputo, And Cape Verde.

Cape Verde is a Volcanic Archipelago  (A cluster of islands) country on the northwest African coast near Senegal consisting of 10 islands –  Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Brava, Boa Vista, Maio, Santiago, Fogo, and Sal.

We chose to stay in Santa Maria – a Quaint town in Sal island because it is the most touristy destination – A decision I definitely do not regret.

Flying from Lagos to Cape Verde via Cabo Verde airlines is a tale for another day. But thankfully we only had to deal with a few hours delay before take-off and nothing extreme like a canceled flight (There were rumors of this happening).

Getting into the country and past immigration, on the other hand, was a breeze. I could instantly tell that they  took their “No stress” motto seriously. There was no passive aggressiveness from the officials and everyone seemed eager to help.

Planning To Visit Cape Verde? Here's My Experience Vacationing In Sal Island, Cape Verde! Click To Tweet

The first thing that got me super excited was the beautiful scenery; Pastel-colored buildings, blue skies, and a general rustic feel – the stuff my blogger dreams are made of. Driving to Santa Maria from the airport, the view was mostly dry land with little to no buildings, so seeing that immediately reassured me.

The weather was also reassuring – I had read that it was going to be pretty sunny so I came prepared with hats and sunscreen. It was sunny like I expected, but it was also quite windy and got super cold at night.

Get A Glimpse Of Cape Verde Through My Lens ! Click To Tweet

We stayed in a lovely aparthotel facing the beach. It was a last-minute booking because we had run out of options and I was hoping that it would be decent enough for the four nights we planned to stay.

Fortunately, it exceeded our expectations:  with a beach front just opposite the building, a lovely swimming pool and the best aesthetics that made for a great shoot location, we had a great stay there.

Although we got a little note telling us to minimize use of electricity and water because there can be shortages, we didn’t really experience much of that. Granted, we spent more time out of the hotel than in the hotel.

On our first day, we took a walk down to the supermarket, got a local sim card and then headed down to the famous fishing pier. Santa Maria is a small city, so everywhere can be reached on foot. Although, there are also cabs available if you don’t feel like walking or you’re not about that fit fam life. 

It’s also largely surrounded by water, so you can imagine how easy life there is – Think a lot of beach days, boat cruising, chill nights, restaurant hopping and lazing around. 

If You're About That Island Lifestyle, Santa Maria In Cape Verde Should Be Your Next Destination. Here's Why! Click To Tweet

On our second day, we hopped on the back of a pickup truck for a full tour of the island. This was one of the highlights of my trip because we got to hear a bit about the history of Cape Verde, walk in a water-filled with baby sharks, see some breathtaking sights and swim in a salt lake.

I’ll dedicate another post to sharing what we got up to/ things to do in Cape Verde because including it here would be a bit too much.

I also put together a guide E-book detailing my cost breakdown/budget, travel itinerary, things to note and the answers to all of the questions I’m sure you have. More details at the end of the post.

We spent our evenings trying out restaurants, discovering new spots and hanging out with some of the Nigerians we met.

I had an absolutely amazing time and I fear I won’t be able to fully describe the awesomeness of the Cape Verde life here.

All I can say is that Cape Verde is an absolute must visit. I had a super relaxing time and I’ll definitely do it all over again! 

If you’ll like to see more of what I got up to, I have an instastory highlight of my Cape Verde experience on my gram – @cassiedaves.

If you’re planning a trip from Lagos to Cape Verde – Here’s Everything You Really Need To Know.

How do you get all the travel documents you need? How do you get the best accommodations on a budget? What to expect and how much to budget? Etc

I put together a Cape Verde travel guide sharing all the above and my travel itinerary/cost breakdown for this to help you plan yours.

Get your travel guide here. 

Have you been to Cape Verde? What was your experience like and which island did you go to? 

Do you have plans to visit Cape Verde this year? What are your travel plans for the year?  Please share and let’s connect!

BLOGLOVIN || SUBSCRIBE || FACEBOOK||TWITTER || INSTAGRAM

---

READ THESE NEXT:

• A Trip Down Memory Lane – On Feeding My Wanderlust.
• The Ngwo Pine Forest, Cave And Waterfall (What No One Tells You)
• Experiencing Ghana In 48 hrs – My Top 7 Things To Do In Accra.
• A Weekend Lake House Adventure In Ouidah, Benin Republic.
• A Day Trip To The Olumo Rock + 3 Other Notable Places To Visit In Abeokuta.