Cape Verde Islands, 3rd: The Bradt Travel Guide

Author(s): Aisling Irwin, Colum Wilson
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides
Publication Date: 2006-05-01
Pages: 296
Binding: Paperback
List Price: $22.95
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Adrift in the Atlantic Ocean, one of the attractions of the Cape Verde Islands is the watersports; surfing, windsurfing, diving, and fishing. Travelers are also lured to the islands by the promise of scenic hikes around the dramatic terrain of these volcanic outcrops, including the climb up the Pico de Fogo volcanic cone. Many off-the-beaten-track highlights are provided to help explorers discover the hidden treasures of this magical archipelago, from beautiful bays with whaling history and beaches teeming with turtles to botanical gardens and cobbled paths leading to summits high above sea level.

Features include:
>How to get there, where to stay, and specialty restaurants
>Local culture, including music, customs, and history
>Detailed hiking routes for all levels of experience
>Maps and town plans of key areas of the islands

Customer Reviews

Amazing Guide

This was the first, but it won't be the last, travel guide I'll buy from the Bradt series.

It contains an outstanding overview of the Islands' geology, political history and economy along with great suggestions for active sports tourism and passive sightseeing.

I was so impressed I bought the Bradt guide to the Canary Islands too.

Both will come in handy on a trans-Atlantic cruise we've booked for this Fall.

A thorough companion

If you plan on visiting the Islands of Cape Verde, this travel guide is essential. I have not found a better or more thorough guide. I currently live here but I am American and I knew nothing of the islands when I arrived. But after living here a while, I discovered that this book is as accurate as I initially thought. There are few things misspelled but that is to be overlooked by the amount of truely uselful and thorough the information is. I also liked the little touches of background and history on each island. It is very well done.

An essential for the cruising bookshelf

I first visited the Cape Verdes in 1987 while researching the ATLANTIC ISLANDS, a sailing guide covering the Azores, Madeira group, Canaries and Cape Verdes, now in its third edition. Getting information on the Cape Verdes in the English language was difficult in the extreme -- if only Aisling and Colum's excellent book had been available then! These days no sane person should visit the islands without reading it first. The Cape Verdes come as something of a culture shock after the Canaries -- this book will explain why, and help you get the most from the experience. Buy it!

Perfect blend of insight and practical help

This was just the sort of thing a hardened backpacker needed. It had all the useful nooks and crannies of info you need - plus the fact that it filled in a lot of the extra info you like to get about a place you're seeing. They gave a great account of the islands' history - it was really moving.

Finally a guide in English - And it is excellent!

Irwin and Wilson's guide gives you all the factual information you need, and in addition succeeds in capturing the spirit of Cape Verde, with boxes on cultural and historical issues linked to each island. There is no doubt about it: This is the best guide available. If you read German, Rolf Osang's "Kapverdische Inseln" from Dumont is nearly as good and a useful supplement (especially when it comes to photos). The chapters on Cape Verde in Rough Guides' and Lonely Planet's books on West Africa are neither up-to-date nor in-depth enough if you plan to spend more than a few days in Cape Verde (which you should!).

The appendix on Crioulo language in Irwin and Wilson's book is brief but good. Don't be put off by the nasty details on horrible diseases in the section on health! Buy Me »

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