Sotavento Islands Islands

The Sotavento Islands are the southern, leeward subgroup of the Cape Verde archipelago and include the islands of Santiago, Fogo, Maio and Brava. They contrast with the northern Barlavento islands in climate, geography and human settlement patterns.

Santiago hosts the national capital and largest population centre, while Fogo is dominated by an active volcanic summit, Pico do Fogo, which reaches about 2,829 metres and shapes the island’s agriculture and settlement. Maio and Brava offer flatter coastal landscapes and small traditional communities.

These islands are inhabited and form the political, cultural and agricultural heart of Cape Verde, with tourism focused on volcanic landscapes, historic towns and beaches.

• Composition: The Sotavento (leeward) group comprises the southern islands of Cape Verde and includes the country’s capital island and the volcanic peak Pico do Fogo.

What to See#

• Santiago: Santiago is the largest island in the group and contains the national capital, as well as diverse interior landscapes and population centres.
• Fogo: Fogo is a volcanic island dominated by an active volcano whose summit, Pico do Fogo, rises to 2,829 metres and forms a dramatic central caldera.
• Maio: Maio is known for long sandy beaches and relatively flat terrain, historically less populated and offering coastal habitat and small settlements.
• Brava: Brava is a smaller, greener island with a compact topography and historic settlements, often noted for its coastal cliffs and maritime culture.

The Sotavento (southern) islands of Cape Verde form the southern island group (including Santiago, Fogo, Brava, Maio, Boa Vista). The main international gateway is Praia on Santiago; from Praia you can reach other Sotavento islands by domestic flights or by inter-island ferries. There are airports on several Sotavento islands (e.g., Praia on Santiago, Boa Vista, São Filipe on Fogo, and Maio), and regular domestic services and ferry connections operate between the islands - plan travel via Praia or the specific island’s airport/port and use local flights or ferry services for inter-island transfers.

• Use Boa Vista as the usual air gateway for the Sotavento islands and check inter‑island flight and ferry timetables before travel - services can be infrequent and change seasonally.
• If you want quieter beaches and a more local feel, plan to visit islands other than the main tourist resorts (research which Sotavento islands are served by regular ferries or flights and prioritize those with fewer charter visitors).
• Allow time to explore inland attractions (salt pans, traditional villages and small ports) rather than only coastal resorts - many visitors focus on beaches and miss the islands' cultural and landscape variety.