It feels like temperatures have suddenly dropped, and those pretty autumn days are quickly turning grey and dreary. 

For Brits who are desperate to escape for some sunshine, there are plenty of destinations where you can find hot and sunny weather – and the good news is that you don’t need to travel to the other side of the world. 

Cape Verde has become a firm favourite with winter sun-seekers, boasting balmy temperatures of around 25C throughout the winter months, thanks to its year-round sunshine (it gets about 8-10 hours of sunshine every day). In fact, the best times to visit are between December through to June if you want to get the best of its weather. 

Travel insiders have been recommending it as a must-visit too; the Post Office travel insurance team has named it one of their best holiday spots for January, while easyJet recently tipped it as one of its top summer destinations for next year thanks to its “pristine beaches, lively towns and turquoise waters the lend themselves to snorkelling and diving”. 

Cape Verde itself it made up of 10 main islands, but Boa Vista and Sal tend to be the hotspots where holidaymakers flock because of those Instagram-worhty beaches. On Sal you’ll find Santa Maria Beach with its pristine golden sands and turquoise waters. Meanwhile Boa Vista is renowned for beautiful beaches including Santa Monica and Praia de Chaves, where you’ll find long stretches of clean white sands and crystal-clear waters that are ideal for swimming.

There are also plenty of beautiful towns and villages where you’ll find great local food, shops and views, not to mention there are fascinating landmarks to explore such as salt mines.

For those who prefer a jam-packed itinerary, you won’t be left twiddling your thumbs. The beaches are renowned for having windy stretches which are ideal for adrenaline-inducing watersports, there are countless lush green jungles for a hike to remember, and you can even take on the climb up the Pico do Fogo volcano on the island of Fogo. Then of course those crystalline ocean waters are ideal for snorkellers and scuba divers who want to search for everything from eye-catching marine life to colourful reefs. 

Want to explore it for yourself? easyJet and TUI both offer direct flights to Cape Verde from the UK, predominantly to the Sal and Boa Vista airports. easyJet recently added Cape Verde holidays to its repertoire, with all-inclusive holidays from £792pp including 23kg luggage, transfers and flights. 

While the six-hour flight time isn’t exactly a quick journey, the flights are direct and it’s worth noting that there are simple entry requirements; you don’t need to have a visa if you’re staying for up to 30 days, and you can enter Cape Verde if your passport’s ‘expiry date’ is at least six months after the date you arrive.

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