Cheap Flights to Cape Verde from the UK

Cape Verde, a group of volcanic islands off the coast of West Africa, has been a favourite of British sun seekers since TUI began flights there in 2005. OAG counted around 138 scheduled UK flights there over the 2025 Christmas fortnight, much fewer than the Canaries but enough to make it a regular winter choice.

The appeal is simple. It is under six hours from the UK, the weather is warm and dry in winter, with temperatures up to about 26 degrees, and the resorts are mainly all-inclusive, with long sandy beaches and good value. It also has no time difference from the UK for much of the year, or an hour, so jet lag is mild.

Sal (SID) is the busiest and has the most flights. The resort area of Santa Maria has a long beach, a pier, restaurants and water sports, and the island is flat and dry. Boa Vista (BVC) is quieter, with huge empty beaches, sand dunes, and a mix of big all-inclusive resorts and the town of Sal Rei.

Sal has more variety and nightlife, and Boa Vista offers more space and a feeling of remoteness. Both are good for windsurfing and kitesurfing, with strong winds from November to March. Other islands, such as Sao Vicente and Santiago, are served by domestic or inter-island flights.

The flight from the UK to Sal or Boa Vista takes about six hours, depending on the airport. Cape Verde is one hour behind the UK all year, because it does not use daylight saving time, so the difference is one hour in winter and two hours in British Summer Time.

Flights usually leave in the morning or at midday, and arrive in the afternoon. Some leave overnight. Check transfer times, since hotels on Boa Vista can be up to 45 minutes from the airport.

Cape Verde is dry and warm all year. From November to March, daytime temperatures are around 24 to 26 degrees, with strong winds, good for windsurfing but less pleasant on exposed beaches. April to June is warm and calmer, and July to October is hot and humid, with the rainy season from August to October.

The best months for most holidaymakers are November to June. Winter is the busiest and most expensive, especially at Christmas, New Year and February half-term, and prices drop in spring.

For the winter peak, book as early as you can, ideally eight to ten months ahead, since seats are limited. For other times, three to five months is usually enough.

Switch on an alert for the route and watch it for a week or two. If you want the detail behind that advice, read tracking fare drops and the best time to book flights in 2026.

Most British visitors book a package with TUI or Jet2holidays, which includes flights, transfers and an all-inclusive hotel, with ATOL protection. Prices can be good value, particularly outside school holidays.

Flight-only options are limited, and independent travel is more complicated. Our all-inclusive resorts service and vacation packages service can compare options.

Cape Verde has a rich musical heritage, including morna, the melancholic style made famous by Cesaria Evora, and the livelier funana and coladeira. Live music is easy to find in Santa Maria and Sal Rei in the evenings.

Try cachupa, a slow-cooked stew of corn and beans, fresh grilled fish, and local grogue, a sugar-cane spirit. Eating in local restaurants outside your hotel supports the community and gives a taste of daily life.

Sal has salt pans at Pedra de Lume, where you can float in a crater lake, and the blue eye at Buracona. Boa Vista has dune landscapes, the Viana desert and a shipwreck on the beach. Quad bike and buggy tours are popular.

Excursions to other islands, such as Santiago and Sao Vicente, take you into the culture and music of Cape Verde. Morna music and the legacy of Cesaria Evora make evenings special.

Big all-inclusive resorts suit families and groups who want everything on site, with pools, kids' clubs and entertainment. Smaller aparthotels in Santa Maria suit couples and independent travellers who want to eat out and explore. Boa Vista's resorts are further from the village, so they feel more secluded.

Read recent reviews on the food, the cleanliness and the state of the beach in front of the hotel, as Atlantic swell and seaweed vary. A hotel with a calm, sheltered beach is a big plus with young children.

If you want more than a beach, consider an inter-island flight to Santo Antao, which has some of the best hiking in the Atlantic, to Fogo, with its active volcano, or to Santiago, with the old town of Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

These trips need more time and planning, and flights between islands are limited. Book through a reputable operator, and allow a buffer before your flight home.

Cape Verde is popular with families because of calm bays, kids' clubs and warm weather, and with couples looking for a quiet beach holiday. The short flight and small time difference make it easy with children.

Our family vacations service and honeymoon travel service can help find the right resort.

Flights to Cape Verde operate less frequently than to the Canaries, so a delay or cancellation can leave you waiting a day or more. Check your package's protection and keep records.

Should your flight be disrupted, UK rules can entitle you to refreshments, a rebooking or a refund, and occasionally compensation. For the details of what to claim, see delay and cancellation rights.

Send us which UK airport suits you, your dates and whether you prefer Sal or Boa Vista, and a specialist can compare packages and check hotels. Airport pickups and activities can be arranged at the same time.

Start with the live search below and compare a handful of dates before deciding. Spotted a good fare? We can check the small print on bags and changes for you before you commit.