How you can find the perfect African Caribbean island for your holiday – while we reveal the best for beautiful beaches, walking and volcanic adventures

The Republic of Cabo Verde (as it is officially known) consists of 10 islands, nine of which are occupied. But what suits you?

For a passing spaceship, this fascinating country on the west coast of Africa must look like a scattering of crumbs. Each island is golden brown, with whimsical volcanic edges, surfing through surfing.

Still zoom in and differences appear.

The Eastern islands are cookie floor and sieved with sand, while they get mounted on the west and the green appears. But wherever you go, a friendly welcome awaits.

It rarely rains and the sun always shines. All you have to do is choose the right island. Here is our lowdown …

Step in history

To understand the story of the archipelago, start in Santiago, the rugged and fertile largest island – the first to be arranged in 1462 (by Portugal).

In fact, Cidade Velha claims to be the oldest European city in the tropics.

The more recent capital from the 18th century, Praia, was built on a pedestal of basalt outside the reach of pirates.

It is an intriguing, charming place with churches, fortifications, paved streets, music tents and fruit -colored mansions.

There is even the strange museum. In the Praia Archaeology Museum, objects are shown in shipwrecks.

In the meantime, the House Museum Amilcar Cabral tells the story of Che Guevara in West -Africa, whose umbrella, Beanie and Czechoslovakse combat jacket are among the exhibitions.

Elsewhere, fruit is still on the market in balance on heads. And you can still buy Praia’s traditional cloth, Panu di Tera – so good that it was once used as a currency.

Pause in the Sofia café and enjoy a pastel de nata. Santiago, it seems, is not entirely Africa and not entirely Portugal but somewhere in between.

Beautiful beaches

Go to Sal or Boa Vista for beaches that extend to the horizon, glowing silver and turquoise.

Although it seems that you almost have them for yourself, huge hotels are lurking in the dunes, cunningly designed to mix in the landscape, with some who look like Berber forts.

Expect Lakesized Polish and Tropical Gardens-Ze are a heaven of the fly-and-floppers.

Two hotels deserve it mentioning. The Morabeza, which was opened in the sixties, is charming retro and comes with a library and two giant billiard tables.

The Hilton Cabo Verde Sol Resort is more contemporary and brings a bit of urban chic to the dunes, with land so lush and calm that they are for egreats. Sal’s Seaside Town, Santa Maria, is a more acquired taste: great if you are looking for a surfboard, tattoo or Boozy night out.

Hiker’s pleasure

Santiago and Fogo are both good for walking, but the best paths are on Santo Antao. It comes to 6,493FT (1,979m), with pure slopes rising dramatically.

Still, somehow, threads up a paved road wire through the craters and gorges, although you need a head by heights; In places the road falls frightening about 3,280 ft (1,000 m).

Most visitors go to the Vale Do Paul, who looks like a huge tear on the planet. But there are farms that cling to the sides of this gigantic canyon and small terraces of sugar cane and corn. The sudden greenness of everything is almost blinding.

Cabo da Ribeira is a good place to stop. Here the road ends and the donkeys take over. It is the sounds that you remember most; the ray of water; singing voices; The hammer of a blacksmith.

Life is simple here.

Walking is spectacular. Although paths are steep – most mountains dive vertically in the ocean – they are often paved. The Aldea Panoramica Hotel is a good basis.

Musical treats

Sao Vicente may seem like a strange place for a carnival.

Until the age of steam it was largely uninhabited, but then the British built a coal station.

Now, however, everything that remains are the mansions, a Victorian fort, a few yachts and the music.

Mindelo, the capital, is often described as ‘the most beautiful city in West Africa’.

One of the world’s greatest singers, Cesaria Evora was born here and there are numerous bars where they erupt her soulful songs.

Try Jazzy Bird, La Pergola, Casa Café Mindelo or – My Favorite – Le Metalo.

The annual carnival of the island starts on Tuesday on every bush; The stunning sound of 100 drums is completely exciting.

Volcanic adventure

Of all the islands, Fogo (or ‘Fire’) is the wildest, highest and strangest. It is an active volcano and has broken out 27 times in the last 500 years.

Since 1847 there have been no fatalities and the islanders have gained the danger. Most of them live on the slopes of old lava flows.

Take a ride to the crater of the volcano. It is five and a half mile by, beautiful black and quiet. From here it is a four -hour trek to the largest cone, Pico, at 9,281ft (2,829m).

Extraordinary 600 people live in the crater. Both villages were destroyed during an eruption of 2014.

Since then a few buildings have been excavated and there is a scorched bar, while the old hotel is still below 20 ft (6 m) lava. Otherwise it is things as usual.

But Fogo is not just about lava.

The capital, Sao Filipe, looks colorful Cuban and is richly restored.

Stay on the cliffs in the four -star Bamboo Xaguate Hotel and try some volcanic rosé on Stadsplein. Sao Filipe even has his own beach (with sand as black as midnight).