Cape Verde: paradise on earth — for tourists and investors
Many people are familiar with the year-round destination Canary Islands. But Cape Verde? For a long time, the archipelago 460 kilometers off the coast of West Africa and 1500 kilometers south of the Canary Islands was considered an insider tip for sun-seekers. But the fantastic landscapes, easy accessibility, picture-perfect sandy beaches, colorful culture and lush vegetation do not go unnoticed: In recent years, the archipelago has developed into a true tourist magnet - but this does not detract from the relaxed atmosphere. Find out why Cape Verde can also represent an attractive alternative with a sunny return perspective for real estate investors.
Cape Verde: natural beauty with many faces
Cape Verde - also known as Cabo Verde (green cape) - is an archipelago that consists of ten larger and several smaller islands of volcanic origin. They offer an impressive variety of landscapes: from endless sandy beaches to rugged mountains to green valleys and colonial cities. The mild and dry climate all year round with temperatures between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius and the crystal-clear water make Cape Verde an attractive destination for sun-seekers, nature lovers and water sports fans. Political stability, growing economic development and increasing internationalization also contribute to Cape Verde's attractiveness.
The archipelago has a total of 15 islands, although only nine of them are inhabited and each has its own charm. The most important are:
- On the island of Sal, which is very popular with tourists, there is pure beach life. The island is known for its miles of white sandy beaches, turquoise-blue water and ideal conditions for wind and kite surfers and sun worshippers.
- Santiago, the largest island, is the economic and political center of the country. In the capital city of Praia, modern urbanity meets history — for example in the old town Plateau, which still bears traces of the Portuguese colonial era today.
- On the volcanic island of Fogo, the surreal lava landscape around Pico do Fogo, the highest mountain in Cape Verde, is impressive. The Chã das Caldeiras plateau with its vineyards and black soils looks almost like the moon.
- With the capital Mindelo, São Vicente is the cultural heart of Cape Verde. The city is known for its lively music scene, Creole culture, and legendary live sessions of Cape Verdean music.
- The neighboring island of Santo Antão is considered a hiking paradise: Huge volcanoes have formed a high mountain range here, which is lush green and rainy in the northeast, dry and barren in the southwest. Mist-shrouded plateaus and deeply cut, fertile valleys make the island a natural experience.
In addition to the pleasant climate all year round and the individual characteristics of each Cape Verde island, there are other benefits for tourists. For example, the short time difference with Germany, which is only three hours, direct flight connections and a stable security situation.
Holiday region on the rise - mass tourism not in sight
In contrast to other sunny destinations, Cape Verde has so far been spared from mass tourism despite all the advantages mentioned, but Number of holidaymakers is constantly increasing: While around 200,000 tourists were registered annually in the early 2000s, the country received According to official figures, over one million tourists in 2023 — a new record and a strong sign of recovery after the pandemic. In 2024, the national tourism institute expects around 1.2 million guests, and the government plans to further promote this trend: 1.3 million tourists are the destination by 2026. However, care should be taken to ensure that the number of holidaymakers is spread across the islands.
As a result of growth in recent years, tourism is now the most important pillar of the Cape Verde economy. With a share of around 25% of gross domestic product (GDP), the sector is a key growth engine. In the third quarter of 2024 alone, the Cape Verdean economy recorded growth of 3.3%, with the hotel and catering sector growing by 20.8% compared to the previous year.
Accordingly, it is obvious that the government of Cape Verde is investing massively in tourism infrastructure. By 2030, five billion euros are to be invested in sustainable development and the expansion of the “blue economy”. In addition to new hotel projects in Santiago and São Vicente, there are tax incentives for investors. Regional air traffic is also to be expanded: The start-up TransVerde Airlines is planning investments of 15 million US dollars to improve connectivity between the islands.
Accessibility to Cape Verde is also picking up steam internationally: easyJet has been offering a new direct connection from London Gatwick to the island of Sal since March 2025 on. In December 2024, there was TUI Mein Schiff 7 visited the Cape Verde ports of Mindelo (São Vicente) and Praia (Santiago) for the first time. This new route marked a significant step for cruise tourism in Cape Verde and reflected the growing interest of international shipping companies in the region.
Real estate investments with vision
The tropical dream landscapes, the increasing international presence and the ambitious plans for sustainable tourism development make Cape Verde a hotspot - both for holidaymakers and for future-oriented investors. FINEXITY therefore now offers an attractive opportunity to participate in this growth: The new investment option Financing the acquisition of around 65,000 m² of land with direct sea access in Verde Beach, São Francisco on Cape Verde, is using digital shares of 500 euros or more. The property is being sold to one or more international investors as part of a structured sales process — for example, the Marriott hotel group has already expressed interest.
