Archipelago» Santiago

Great diving on Sal

Sarah Bennett — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:21:29 +0000

“Your staff in Cape Verde were extremely helpful and quick to update us on any changes. Their information and advice on tipping was very useful. The dive school on Sal was just what we wanted – relaxed, no pressure, very competent, happy to provide recreational diving and did so very well. It was clear they would also provide more challenging diving if one wanted so could please divers with different competence levels.”
Mr & Mrs Thelwall, St Neots (06-25 Aug 09)
Sal, Sao Vicente, Santo Antao & Sao Nicolau – walking and diving holiday

“An excellent holiday. Every transfer worked perfectly! Drivers met us at every airport/ferry port as arranged and arrived promptly at hotels for transfers to airports. We loved the varied nature of the scenery on the different islands.”
Ms Knowles, Leamington Spa (18 Aug – 01 Sep 09)
Sao Vicente, Sal, Santo Antao & Santiago – island hopping holiday with some walks

Superb holiday seeing the ‘natural’ Cape Verde

Sarah Bennett — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:59:51 +0000

“We have had a superb holiday – thank you. The transfers were excellent – all spot on time and very courteous. We loved the mountain scenery on Santiago and seeing the natural Cape Verde as well as the beautiful beaches on Sal and Boavista and seeing turtles laying eggs. Quinta da Montanha on Santiago was in a super location, fantastic views and owner. Our walking guide there was excellent, spoke perfect English, was adaptable, knowledgeable, with a great sense of humour and a very nice guy. Definitely worth his weight in gold.
Altogether a wonderful holiday which allowed us to appreciate the islands we visited.”
Mr & Mrs Bonner (16 – 30 Jul 09)
Santiago, Boavista & Sal – walking and beach holiday

What the Observer had to say about Archipelago Cape Verde!

Sarah Bennett — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:54:37 +0000

Last month, we sent Ursula Kenny from the Observer to the islands of Fogo, Santiago and Sal and she had a wonderful time. We tailored her holiday carefully (as we do with all our clients) so were delighted when she referred to us a ’small and skilled company’ in the article. Here are the first few paragraphs, for the rest just click on the link at the bottom :

Why Cheap Sunshine is just part of the story

It’s fair to say that the island of Sal on Cape Verde receives a mixed press.

Fishing boats on the beach in Tarrafal, Santiago

Certainly the Bradt guide doesn’t mince words. “The arrival … on an international flight is a deliciously depressing descent … relentlessly brown and featureless … Disembarking … you will gaze at the rocky plains in puzzlement, trying to remember why you decided to come.”

Still, it is where trips to the Cape Verde archipelago – 10 islands 400 or so miles off the coast of Senegal in West Africa – tend to begin and end for us Brits.

Sal is one of only two Cape Verde islands you can fly to direct from London, and most visitors come on package tours, lured by the promise of winter sun rather than pleasing scenery. I can confirm that it is indeed a bleak and uninspiring landscape that greets visitors after the five-and-a-half hour flight from Gatwick; dusty plains as far as the eye can see, dotted with skeletons of unfinished buildings – the result of half-finished projects started by foreign investors who ran out of money.

On the trip from the airport to the coastal resort of Santa Maria our attention is particularly drawn to a massive development called Cotton Bay, where a 36-hole golf course as well as a shopping centre, spa and casino are planned. There is local concern about development across Cape Verde apparently. Lack of fresh water is an issue on all the islands. Nearly all the water on Sal, (Portuguese for salt) for example, comes from desalination plants.

View the full article on the Guardian Observer website