The Best Luxury Hotels to Book in Cape Verde

It’s hard to find a facility the all-inclusive Hotel Riu Touareg doesn’t have. Its imposing outdoor area has a fresh-water swimming pool plus three salt-water pools, a hammam, a jacuzzi, and a spa with a relaxing selection of treatments. Dining is well covered too, with a buffet restaurant, as well as themed restaurants catering for every kind of cuisine. Those travelling with kids or teens will appreciate the table tennis, volleyball and shuffleboard games on offer, which guarantee round-the-clock entertainment. And if you’re sans children, the adults-only deluxe wing provides every ingredient for a relaxing escape.

Located on the cosmopolitan island of Sal, the Melia Llana Beach Resort & Spa is not only close to the beach, but it’s also just minutes from the colourful city of Santa Maria. Relaxing and recuperating are a priority here, and the YHI Spa takes centre stage, with a huge range of facials and massages, special treatment cabins for couples, and a gym. The rooms and suites are elegant with spectacular sea views where you can catch a famous Cape Verde sunset, plus king-sized beds and luxurious showers. Don’t miss a stroll in the resort’s beautiful tropical gardens.

The perfect place from which to explore the pristine beaches and turquoise waters on the coastline of Sal, the Budha Beach Hotel offers a totally Zen environment in Santa Maria. Here, oriental details blend with warm natural colours for a peaceful ambience that means you can’t help but relax upon arrival. Rooms and suites are, naturally, a bit of a sanctuary, with large windows capturing the beautiful landscape of the island and soothing blue tones. The on-site fusion restaurant serves delicious Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, while there’s also a lovely spa, infinity pool and a beach club.

The beautiful Riu Palace Boavista is located on the impressive Praia das Dunas beach on the island of Boa Vista. It’s a large resort with more than 500 bedrooms, and you can even splash out on a double room with a private swim-up pool that connects to the hotel gardens. It’s a bit of an all-rounder; families will love the entertainment programmes and four outdoor pools (one just for kids), and couples will love the exclusive private beach with lounges and umbrellas.

Facing the beautiful Santa Maria Beach on the island of Sal, the Hilton Cabo Verde is a tropical retreat located right on the white sands, less than a kilometre from the centre of town and the mouthwatering restaurants in the marina. The hotel has loads of entertaining experiences, including a great spa, water sports and a kids club. Those wanting a bit more can also book customised day trips and excursions to nearby attractions, such as the Viveiro Botanical Garden and the spectacular Buracona Lagoon.

Three swimming pools, a stunning beach bar and well-manicured gardens are all part of this amazing family destination. At the hotel, guests of all ages can practise water sports, while the Star Camp activities for younger guests mean that adults can get some time to themselves. The five-star hotel is also right on the wonderful seafront of Praia da Chaves, one of the best beaches of the island, and it’s turquoise waters are just a few steps away.

Located on the island of Ilha do Fogo, the Colonial Guest House is a relaxed hotel in the city centre of Sao Felipe, not far from the seaside, and only minutes from the airport, Salina Beach and Fogo National Park. The imposing peak of Pico do Fogo is also about an hour from the hotel. There are only 10 rooms at this family-run outfit, which has a distinctive Portuguese feel and is designed in the Sobrado style, characteristic of many of Cape Verde’s oldest buildings. Rooms are large and airy with high ceilings, and the hotel also has a restaurant serving traditional dishes, a lounge bar and an outdoor pool.

Bold architecture, fresh open-air spaces and pristine sea views are just a few of the standouts at Hotel Oasis Salinas Sea. Situated in an exclusive corner of Sal Island, the resort has more than 300 rooms with garden or sea views and are minimalist in style, with the occasional pop of colour and relaxing beds with comfy pillows – as well as minibars, air conditioning and coffee-making facilities. Dine on site at one of the three themed restaurants or unwind with a cocktail by the pool bar. The hotel is also accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Among the best five-star resorts on the island of Sal, this adult-only hotel is right on an impressive white-sand beach, conveniently close to local attractions such as the natural pools in Buracona, the town of Palmeira, and the old mining village of Pedra de Lume. Upscale rooms come with air conditioning, minibar and a balcony or terrace, and the resort’s facilities are impressive too. As well as two swimming pools, a gourmet Italian restaurant with live cooking stations and entertainment ranging from live music to free watersports, there’s also the Renova Spa – the perfect refuge in which to indulge in a hydromassage bathtub, a sauna and a range of rejuvenating treatments.