Destination Guide

Things to See in Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) is a volcanic archipelago of ten islands in the central Atlantic Ocean, roughly 570 kilometres off the coast of West Africa. Its scenery shifts island to island — from the active stratovolcano of Pico do Fogo and the clifftop village of Fontainhas on Santo Antão to the turquoise beaches of Sal and the volcanic headlands around the capital, Praia, on Santiago. Here are four iconic Cabo Verde spots worth visiting, spread across four islands — each a collectible postcard in VistaSpots once you check in on-site.

Spots to collect

Iconic spots in Cabo Verde

Illustrated VistaSpots postcard of Pico do Fogo volcano on Fogo island, Cabo Verde

Pico do Fogo

Chã das Caldeiras, Fogo

Pico do Fogo is an active stratovolcano on the island of Fogo and, at 2,829 metres, the highest peak in Cabo Verde. Its near-symmetrical cone rises straight from the Chã das Caldeiras, a caldera floor of black lava where farmers grow grapevines and coffee in the rich volcanic soil. The most recent eruption, in 2014–2015, buried two villages on the caldera floor. The classic view is from the rim road as you descend into the caldera. Check in on-site to earn its VistaSpots postcard.

Illustrated VistaSpots postcard of the clifftop village of Fontainhas on Santo Antão, Cabo Verde

Fontainhas

Ribeira Grande, Santo Antão

Fontainhas is a tiny village on the rugged northern coast of Santo Antão, its brightly painted houses clinging to a narrow ridge between deep ravines above the Atlantic. Reached on foot along the cliff-edge coastal path from Ponta do Sol, near Ribeira Grande, it is one of the most photographed places in Cabo Verde — framed by terraced fields and the island's jagged volcanic peaks. Check in on-site to add it to your VistaSpots collection.

Illustrated VistaSpots postcard of the Pontão de Santa Maria pier on Sal island, Cabo Verde

Pontão de Santa Maria

Santa Maria, Sal

The Pontão de Santa Maria is the pier at the heart of Santa Maria, the resort town on the southern tip of Sal. Reaching out over clear turquoise water off a long white-sand beach, it is the town's working fishing pier, where boats land the day's catch and onlookers watch for rays and lemon sharks circling in the shallows below. The light is best early in the morning. Check in on-site to earn its VistaSpots postcard.

Illustrated VistaSpots postcard of the Farol de Dona Maria Pia lighthouse near Praia on Santiago, Cabo Verde

Farol de Dona Maria Pia

Praia, Santiago

The Farol de Dona Maria Pia is a lighthouse on the Ponta Temerosa headland, set on rocky Atlantic cliffs just south of Praia, the capital of Cabo Verde, on the island of Santiago. Built in the late 19th century and named for Maria Pia of Savoy, then Queen of Portugal, the white tower commands open ocean views from the bare volcanic point. Check in on-site to add it to your VistaSpots collection.

For travelers who collect

Collect Cabo Verde, one viewpoint at a time

VistaSpots is built for people who care where they stand, not just what they see. Each spot here is worth framing, and you earn its card by showing up in person.

Stand in the right place

Every card names the vantage that works, with notes on where to set up and when the light is good, so you can skip the guesswork at the railing.

Prove you were there

You check in on-site to unlock a spot, so each card is tied to the place itself. That makes it real proof you visited, not a reposted stock photo, and worth sharing because you earned it.

Keep the trip, lose the clutter

Every visit becomes one card in a single album, so your travels stay in one place instead of buried in a camera roll you never scroll back through.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What are the best photo spots in Cabo Verde?

Four stand out, one per island. Pico do Fogo's cone rises over the black lava of the Chã das Caldeiras on Fogo; Fontainhas is a clifftop village on a ridge above the sea on Santo Antão; the Pontão de Santa Maria reaches over turquoise water off the white-sand beach on Sal; and the Farol de Dona Maria Pia stands on the volcanic cliffs south of Praia on Santiago.

Where is Cabo Verde?

Cabo Verde, also known as Cape Verde, is an island country in the central Atlantic Ocean, about 570 kilometres off the coast of West Africa. It is a volcanic archipelago of ten islands; the capital, Praia, sits on the island of Santiago.

What are the must-see places in Cabo Verde?

Pico do Fogo, the country's highest peak and an active volcano on Fogo; the clifftop village of Fontainhas on Santo Antão; the beach town of Santa Maria and its pier on Sal; and the capital, Praia, with the Dona Maria Pia lighthouse on Santiago, are among the archipelago's signature sights.

How do you get to Fontainhas?

Fontainhas is on the north coast of Santo Antão. Most visitors walk in along the coastal cliff path from Ponta do Sol — a scenic hike of about an hour each way — though the village can also be reached by road from Ribeira Grande. Santo Antão itself is reached by ferry from neighbouring São Vicente.

When is the best time to visit Cabo Verde?

Cabo Verde is warm and dry year-round. November through June is the coolest, driest stretch and the most reliable for clear skies; August through October is hotter and brings the occasional shower. Steady trade winds make the winter months popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing on Sal.

How does VistaSpots work?

Open the map, pick a spot, and go stand where the shot actually works. Check in on-site and your visit unlocks that spot's collectible card: verified proof you were there, saved to one album with everywhere else you've traveled. It's free.

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Find the best angle, check in when you get there, and keep every Cabo Verde spot as a card you can show off and look back on.

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