I’ve been reminiscing over past summers. Growing up my dad used to take our family on adventurous holidays every year. We still try to keep this tradition as much as we can. My dad is a true outdoor, adventure man. He’d happily live in a tent on a mountain, eating food cooked from the fire every day if he could! Together we’ve explored amazing countries such as Cape Verde, Madagascar, Alaska, India, Iceland and New Zealand.

Holidays to Cape Verde have great options if you want to visit all the beautiful islands, try exciting water sports and explore vibrant marketplaces. If you’re planning a summer break with guaranteed sunshine and want to try out some new experiences, it’s really a great place to consider.

The ten islands that make up Cape Verde are a holiday-maker’s paradise. You can lose yourself in the cool blue waters that lap on the islands’ many sandy beaches. It’s rather dreamy.

The islands aren’t just seaside resorts, there really is so much to do, especially for families.

Here are some of my recommendations:

Carnival Baia das Gatas Music Festival
This annual festival which started in 1984 is held on a beach on the Island of Sao Vicente. It has grown quite a bit, but retains its friendly atmosphere and cool vibes. The music isn’t just supplied by Cape Verdean musicians but now attracts many international artists as well. You get a bit of the local music scene mixed in with more familiar sounds. It’s worth checking out!

Big Game Fishing
This is a popular sport amongst both locals and tourists. If you’ve never tried fishing, this could be your perfect chance. Many of the organised trips are based from Sal, but you can find them from Santa Maria too. I can tell you, these trips are pretty exhilarating. Definitely not for the faint-hearted!

Karting Excursions
This is a fun one for the boys! Hire some karts and explore the back roads and tracks which criss-cross the islands. Most of these excursions are in organised groups as well but you can go solo if you prefer. Three hours is about enough to get a good idea of the islands’ rugged terrain and experience a few bumps along the way.

Cape Verde Carnival
If you’re planning to be in Cape Verde during February, don’t miss the carnival season. There are multi-coloured float processions with energetic beats to get the party going. The carnival at Sao Vicente is well-known for its many flamboyant costumes. If this doesn’t get you in the mood to dance, I don’t know what will!

Turtle Excursions
If you like the idea of turtle spotting then there’s plenty of choice in here, as these wonderful creatures inhabit some of the islands’ beaches. For the best chance of seeing them I recommend joining a group from somewhere like Santiago. Be prepared to head out in the middle of the night when they come ashore.

It’s so magical when you see the baby turtles, they look just like those little wind-up toys. But however tempting it may be, don’t pick them up! They get a little confused when you put them back down.

These islands can really cater for a range of different activities. From high speed thrills to nothing more exhilarating than lounging on the beach with a margarita in hand :).