They may be a relatively new country, having only gained independence from Portugal in 1970, but you can’t accuse Cape Verde of not moving with the times. Keen not to be dependent on other countries for power, the government has announded a majpr investment programme of 140 million euros, most of it from major overseas investors.

The islands targeted for wind farms are Santiago (above), Sal, Sao Vicente and Boavista and building is ready to start before the end of this year. Its a sign of the potential of Cape Verde, that securing foreign investment has been relatively easy, the main investor is a multi national country owned by five european countries.

The Cape Verde government sees this as just the start as they strive to keep up with demand for more power on the fast growing islands. In the near future, the governmment will invest 250 million euros in sustainable energy and has strong backing from the World Bank, the Aftican Development Bank and the Japanese Development Bank.

New figures from the Cape Verde government show that its rise in popularity among holiday makers, rose by 11.5 per cent in 2007, compared to 2006. As news of this investment hot spot spreads, more people are coming to see for themselves the miles of unspoilt beaches and the largely blank canvas that can become the home of peoples dreams.

Tourism is still in its infancy , the total number of visitors for 2007 was just 312,000 but the spread of nationalities is increasing, and as flights to the islands increase, demand will keep on increasing. Italy leads the way in tourism with 21 per cent of visitors but the UK is coming up on the rails behind them on 19.9 and surprisingly Portugal, the islands former owner, has been pushed into third slot.

Sal continues to be the most popular island with 70 per cent of all visitors, few can resist the lure of the unspoilt stretches of beach in Santa Maria, the stylish southern resort.

Hold tight, it’s impossible to do all 10 Cape Verde islands justice in a brief tour but here is just a flavour of the many charms they have to offer. They are split into 2 groups so we will start in the north with the barlovento or windward islands.

SAL produced all the salt for the Portuguese empire, hence the name. Surfers flock to Sal for the excellent conditions and the Trilogy windsurfing competition in Punta Preta in the south. Divers are equally spellbound by the tunnels, caves and reefs, but cyclists and hikers take the main road from Santa Maria to Espargos in the north.

BOAVISTA has shallow seas and sand dunes, and its pride and joy is the 16 km Santa Monica beach, All water sports are popular on Boavista, but for a small port with bags of character, visit the capital Sal Rei.

SAO VICENTE is the party island with the town square and labyrinth of side streets in capital Mindelo, the focal point. Cesaria Evora is the islands claim to fame, a soulful singing star on the international scene, she learnt her craft at the ash Wednesday carnaval, the biggest in Cape Verde and the Baia das Grata 3 day and night music event in August.

SANTA ANTAO is the scenic island with rugged coasts and green hills around the mountain range that splits the island and attracts hikers. Ponto do Sol is a small capital but has an airport but go easy with the Grogue rum that originates from here.

SAO NICOLAU was a favourite target of pirates, forcing locals to retreat to the volcanic hills, dominated by Mount Gordo at 1,304 metres, the high point of Cape Verde. Preguiga in the bay of Sao Jorge boasts a large fortress built in 1818 to finally see off the pirates.

SANTA LUIZA is the mysterious uninhabited island, but you may be able to explore with the help of a kind boat owner.

This brings us down south to the Sotavento or leeward islands.

SANTIAGO has a strong African feel in its music and dense central rain forest complete with monkeys. Praia, the Cape Verde capital is a vibrant city with a tight maze of streets full of bars and restaurants. Tarrafal sits on a hill above a lush valley but also offers one of the best beaches on all the islands, and is the former home of the colonial prison.

FOGO is famous for the Pico de Fogo volcanic peak, the last small eruption was in 1995 but it didn’t disturb the vineyard and French restaurant that nestle in the crater. The capital Sao Felipe sits on a cliff and has a colonail feel, great place to sample local coffee, wine and grapes or dip in the Salina de Sao Jorge natural pool.

MAIO is quiet, scenic and flat. The sea turtles are usually the only creatures on the white sand beaches. Vila de Maio, the capital, has little more than a church but for real serenity, try Morro, just 3 miles away.

BRAVA gets what little rain is going and with its humid climate, it is home to jasmine, lobelia and hibiscus. Small bays mark the coast of this, the smallest Cape Verde island.

There are 2 words that have set the holiday and investment markets alight, Cape Verde. The next big thing, that’s what the travel industry says, to understand just why they are so special, you need to look at their location and history.

Sail 385 miles from Senegal on the West African coast and you will find 10 unspoilt volcanic islands with a tropical Caribbean style climate, without the extreme storms of that region. You can also knock 4 hours of the Caribbean flying time and be there in just over 5 hours. There you can find 965 kms of bleached white sand beaches and a government committed to backing investors, and building new infrastructure as soon as it is needed.

EARLY DAYS

The Portuguese colonised the islands back in the 15th century but by 1970, Cape Verde was ready to go it alone and was granted independence. The portugese influence remains with slight variations on the Portuguese language and their currency, the Escudo, but the arts and crafts produced on the islands have a distinctly African flavour. Temperatures hold steady between 22 and 27 degrees and rain is a rarity, only making brief appearances between August and October. The Atlantic has long provided a living for the people of the islands and now the fish dishes delight visitors while the sea is a magnet for surfers and divers.

GETTING THERE

Cape Verde has made great strides very quickly and now has several airports. The original Amilar Cabral, on Sal, has been overtaken by a major international airport in the capital Praia on Santiago. The government has done its part with an open sky policy, attracting a range of different airlines into the islands. Each of the 10 islands has it’s own distinct character but they all share a love of music and fiestas, and when the singing starts, the local sugar cane based rum, Grogue, soon starts to flow.

WHY INVEST?

Apart from the obvious attractions of spacious beaches, clear seas and a relaxed lifestyle, the government is pulling out all the stops to encourage investment by individuals and big business. Cape Verde is making sure that its popularity is not a bubble that will burst quickly.