Both Developments are Pension (SIPP) Compliant
The stunning Cape Verde islands, situated 450 miles off the coast of West Africa, have been in the spotlight recently for plenty of great reasons. The horseshoe chain of ten islands and five islets has captured the imagination of travellers around the globe, is voted one of the world’s top ten destinations by Expedia and is considered a “must visit” location by Lonely Planet.
No wonder. It is home to a dry and tropical climate, has some of the most amazing beaches in the world, is a haven for water sports, is rich in culture and is incredibly beautiful.
Cape Verde was uninhabited until its discovery by Portuguese seafarers in 1456, when Ribeira Grande (now Cidade Velha) was founded on the island of Sao Vicente. The islands quickly became a hub for the slave trade due to its favourable position in the Atlantic and settlers arrived thick and fast, aiding its prosperity.
However, the demise of the slave trade in the 19th century meant that Cape Verde suffered economically until well into the 20th century. Much of the population emigrated abroad because of this and there is now an expat community of Cape Verdeans all over the world with a particular concentration on the east coast of the USA.
Cape Verde was given independence from Portugal in 1975 and since then has built a stable and prosperous economy, much of it based around tourism. Tourists have been visiting since 1948, when the international airport was built on the island of Sal. Since then, Cape Verde has never looked back.
There are regular scheduled flights to the country from UK airports including London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, and a trip to the islands takes only 5 ½ hours – this makes Cape Verde as accessible as the Canary Islands.
Holiday makers have been flocking to the archipelago; over 1 million people are expected to visit the country in 2015. Around 60% of visitors stay on Sal, exploring the main resort town of Santa Maria, basking in the sunshine, enjoying the town's 8 kilometres of beaches and taking in the vibrant creole culture.
With tourism on the rise, developments on the islands go from strength to strength. There has been much foreign investment in Cape Verde, with beach-front accommodation being particularly popular. UK-based companies such as AMP Ltd deal with Cape Verde property investments. Developments of note include the Dunas Beach Resort and the Llana Beach Hotel, both situated on Sal.
The government is protecting the island by enforcing strict development rules allowing only low density, low-rise projects, meaning that the natural beauty of the islands will not be spoiled.
With so many amazing elements comprising this wonderful part of the world, it’s no wonder that one of travel's best kept secrets has finally been let out of the bag.
