If you're expecting the landscape to be green on all of the Cape Verde islands, you'll be disappointed. But if you're looking for a cool, tranquil refuge from the heat, crowds and chaos of the African continent, you'll get what you're looking for in this windswept archipelago.
Cape Verde's mild weather, friendly people, clean ocean air, mountainous landscapes and tidy towns more than compensate for its lack of lush foliage (droughts have plagued these islands off the coast of West Africa). It's a surprisingly attractive destination. Its beautiful beaches and intriguing mix of cultures and people are reminiscent of Brazil or the Caribbean. And what's more, every year it sponsors one of the most spontaneous, joyous Carnival celebrations in the world.
Poverty, unemployment and the state of the economy were key issues in February 2006, when incumbent leader Pedro Pires of the ruling African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) again won presidential elections. Tourism is the biggest growth sector of the economy.
