Sitting 600km away from Senegal in the Atlantic Ocean, the archipelago of Cape Verde is comprised of ten volcanic islands and five islets, split into the Barlavento and Sotavento groups. Unsurprisingly, the islands are rocky and volcanic, with mountainous peaks alongside wonderful deserted beaches and some truly stunning vistas. The country’s main financial support comes from the tourism industry, and as such the islands see numerous visitors every year, all there to experience the wonderful hospitality, fantastic sights and pleasant climate that Cape Verde has to offer.

The islands of Cape Verde were uninhabited until their discovery by the Portuguese in 1456 – soon enough settlers arrived in the region and set up the first European town in the tropics, Ribeira Grande (now Cidade Velha, holder of UNESCO World Heritage status). The islands became a hotspot for the slave trade, with many settlers using slaves to work on the land and provide sugar cane crops – but the wealth that came with the successful crops attracted pirates, and Cape Verde saw a number of destructive raids in the region. The problems didn’t end, and changing environmental conditions in 1747 saw the onset of drought and the loss of many thousands of lives – the droughts still happen to this day, though thanks to international aid the fatality rate is kept as low as possible. By 1975 the islands saw independence from Portuguese rule, thanks in part to the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde and partly because of the collapse of Salazar’s rule in Portugal. The newly-created one party state instigated many health and social reforms, helping the country stay economically stable – far more so than many other African nations – and attracting more tourists to the islands to help bolster the economy further. Drought is still a problem that rears its head from time to time, and the failing crops that come with the environmental conditions mean that Cape Verde is heavily reliant on food aid from abroad – a lot of which comes from the USA, where around 500,000 Cape Verdeans live and work (yes, more than the population of the islands themselves!). Nevertheless, Cape Verde today sees itself as a prosperous and stable nation, a beautiful holiday spot and an incredibly interesting prospect for investment.

The potential for off plan investment in Cape Verde is incredible – obviously no investments are guaranteed returns, but with a virgin market and prices for luxury beachfront property that raise eyebrows in the good manner it’s certainly somewhere worth looking. The people are friendly, tourism and investment are actively encouraged by the powers that be and the country is one of incredible natural beauty. It won’t be at the top of many people’s lists, but it probably should be.

The standards of healthcare in Cape Verde are generally good on the larger islands, though hospitals on the smaller islands can prove expensive for treatment. Healthcare on larger isles is provided free on production of a passport, but private health insurance is highly recommended.

Mobile phone coverage stretches across most of the islands, though quality of connection cannot be guaranteed on the smaller islands. Landlines are widely available in towns and cities and lines are of an excellent standard thanks to extensive modernisation. Internet cafes are available in major hotels and from some private businesses, though services can be expensive.