Holiday spot known as the ‘cheaper Caribbean’ named one of the best places for winter sun in December
For the perfect sun seeking escape during December, Cape Verde has been announced as one of the best holiday destinations to head to
The temperature across the UK continues to drop and with the weather becoming unpredictable, heading abroad for an escape may be on the horizon, especially if you’re looking for some winter sun. To help you decide the best destination for December, the experts over at Which? have shared the best short haul and long haul locations to have on your radar.
While European city breaks are extremely popular during the winter months, with many tourists flocking to experience the plethora of Christmas markets popping up around the countries, others prefer to head for the sun. For a slice of island living, Which’s travel experts tipped the archipelago of Cape Verde as one of the best long haul destinations for December.
Less than six hours away from the UK, the volcanic islands off the west coast of Africa offer year-round sunshine. The country is made up of ten islands, with the isles of Sal and Boa Vista.
Which? noted: “Sal’s lively resort town, Santa Maria, has plenty of beach bars and restaurants, plus watersports galore. Boa Vista also has miles of unspoilt beaches where you can learn to surf, windsurf, kiteboard or wreck dive. Inland, there are dramatic lunar landscapes to explore.”
Cape Verde offers year-round hot temperatures, even if the temperatures are considered ‘cooler’ during the winter months. It also has little rainfall, which the Met Office said makes it a great destination for sun seekers at any time of the year.
Visitors wanting to avoid the rain will find these months to be the best time to visit as the rainfall between August and October. But in December, you’ll find average temperatures of 26.4℃.
What’s even better for jet setters is that from March 2023, easyJet is set to launch a new flight route from London Gatwick to the isle of Sal. They wrote: “So if you don’t make it this year, put it on your travel wish list for 2025.”
A great draw for Cape Verde is the glorious white sand beaches, many of which have been awarded Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Award for 2024. These include Santa Monica Beach, Boa Vista; Praia de Chaves, Boa Vista; and Shark Bay, Ilha do Sal.
But you’ll find the best beach on Ilha do Sal, Praia de Santa Maria. This stunning beach boasts gorgeous turquoise waters, winning Tripadvisor's Best of the Best for 2024.
Another must-see sight is the Pedra Lume Salt Crater (also winning Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best Award), where you’ll find white and bright pink salt lakes contracting with neighbouring mountains and blue skies. The crater is 27 times saltier than seawater, which means that if you swim, you’ll automatically float.
For nature lovers, visit the Project Biodiversity’s Turtle Conservation Hatchery. From August until December, you can see Loggerhead sea turtle nests and potentially the chance to see baby turtles along the sands. Also found on Ilha do Sal, the Viveiro Botanical Garden and Zoo, described as a luscious green paradise in the middle of the desert.
Cape Verde offers tourists the opportunity to experience greenery, desserts, beaches and mountains all in one trip. Fancy climbing up a volcano? Head to Pico Do Fogo.
Which’s other top picks for holidays in December include Austria’s capital city Vienna, the island of Lanzarote, Thailand, and Florida.
Which’s best places to visit in December
- Best short haul - Vienna
- Best short haul - Lanzarote
- Best long haul - Cape Verde
- Best long haul - Thailand
- Best long haul - Florida