Lying 450Km off the West coast of Africa and 1,000Km South of the Canaries, the independent Republic of Cape Verde consists of 9 main inhabited islands, each with it’s own lanscape and character.
Colonised by the Portuguese in 15th century, the islands were used as a centre for the slave trade, later as a coal stage for transatlantic

shipping and latterly as an aircraft refueling stop.
Gaining independence in 1975, multi party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa’s most stable democratic governments. The local Escudo is tied to the Euro at 110 to 1 and Cape Verde enjoys “Special Status” within the EU.
 

The population of c500,000 are of both African and Portuguese anticendents speaking Crioulo. Portuguese, Spanish, French and English are also spoken. The economy is dominated by tourism, which is still in it’s infancy and centred for the most part on Sal. The lesser known islands are becoming increasingly popular.