Barlavento Islands

The Barlavento Islands are the northern island group of Cape Verde, an Atlantic archipelago off the coast of West Africa. They form one of the two main divisions of Cape Verde, the other being the southern Sotavento group.

The group includes volcanic and non-volcanic islands with varied landscapes: mountainous, green islands for hiking and drier low islands known for beaches and salt pans. Major inhabited islands in the group include Santo Antão, São Vicente, São Nicolau, Sal and Boa Vista, while Santa Luzia is uninhabited and used mainly for fishing and conservation.

Portuguese navigators discovered and began settling the Cape Verde islands in the 15th century; the Barlavento group developed distinct local economies based on agriculture, maritime activities and, in recent decades, tourism. The islands have grown as regional transport and cultural hubs, with ports and airports connecting them to continental Africa and Europe.

The Barlavento group lies in the central Atlantic Ocean, roughly 500 to 700 kilometres off the coast of Senegal and Mauritania. They occupy the northern half of the Cape Verde archipelago and are clustered within a few hundred kilometres of one another.

• Tourist islands: Sal and Boa Vista are the main tourism hubs, known for long sandy beaches, flat terrain and international airports serving the islands.
• Landscape variety: Santo Antão and São Nicolau offer rugged mountains and hiking routes, contrasting with the low-lying, arid islands to the east.

What to See #

• Main islands: Located in the northern part of the Cape Verde archipelago and made up of several islands including Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal and Boa Vista.
• Mindelo (São Vicente): Home to the city of Mindelo on São Vicente, the archipelago's cultural centre known for music and festivals.
• Santa Luzia: An uninhabited island used for fishing and conservation, lying between São Vicente and São Nicolau.