Mclaren - Property Abroad

The Cape Verde islands are finally being rediscovered!

Over five hundred and fifty years after intrepid Portuguese explorers first caught a glimpse of this tropical paradise, investors are coming to realise Cape Verde’s immense potential as an emerging holiday destination that is expected to flourish over the next few years.

An enviable climate with lovely sunshine all year round

The ten main islands that make up the Cape Verde archipelago, 620km (385 miles) off the west coast of Africa, enjoy a fabulous temperate climate with plenty of sunshine and very little seasonal variation. This means that they are at their very best all year round, making them an ideal location for overseas property investment.

One of the top 20 places in the world for property investment

Cape Verde’s tourism market has grown by 25% per annum in recent years. This continuing trend is creating an enormous demand for accommodation that estate agents expect will push up property prices by as much as 70% in the next 24 months. In view of this, it is hardly surprising that the BBC Channel 4 TV programme “A Place in the Sun” has recently named Cape Verde as one of the top twenty places in the world for property investment.

A diverse and unique destination

Cape Verde is a country of astounding diversity, with its unique and fascinating mix of African and Portuguese culture that is most apparent in the local traditions, music and colourful festivals. The islands’ landscapes too are as varied as they are beautiful. You can climb towering mountains, walk through fertile valleys of lush tropical vegetation, take in the beauty of magnificent volcanic formations, or simply relax and enjoy some of the world’s most gorgeous beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Something for all tastes

Sal island is the most popular with tourists, who are attracted by its beaches of dazzling white sand, vibrant nightlife and plenty of opportunities to practise a wide range of sports. This naturally makes it one of the most sought after by property investors. On the other hand, quiet Boa Vista is the least populated island and the ideal place to get away from it all, although it is now more accessible with its new international airport that opened in August 2006. Cape Verde’s capital of Praia is located on Santiago island – considered the most African island of all. In fact, each of the nine inhabited islands is different from the rest, making Cape Verde a country with so much to offer to people of all tastes.

Little is known about the history of Cape Verde before the arrival of the Portuguese. There is some speculation that the islands were visited in ancient times by African seafarers and maybe even by the Arabs and the Phoenicians. Still, there is little actual evidence for this apart from a rock with mysterious carvings found on the island of Santo Antão.