<h3>Cape Verde</h3>

Most people only know the name Cape Verde. They imagine maybe a green promontory jutting out from a continent, or an island perhaps. It is in fact an archipelago consisting of a number of islands, a series of unlikely volcanic islands some 500 km off the coast of West Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. To visit Cape Verde is to understand the strange, bittersweet amalgam of West African rhythms and mournful Portuguese melodies that is Cape Verde music.

Cool currents in this area of the Atlantic separate Cape Verde from the rest of West Africa, keeping temperatures moderate, and a stable political and economic system help support West Africa’s highest standard of living. The population, who represent varying degrees of African and Portuguese heritage, will seem exuberantly warm if you fly straight in from, say, Britain, but refreshingly low-key if you arrive from Lagos or Dakar.

The beach of Boa Vista increasingly attracts package-tour crowds, but Cape Verde remains a destination for the connoisseur – the intrepid hiker, the die-hard wind-surfer, the deep-sea angler, the morno (typical Cape Verde music) devotee.

Santa Maria is a fishing city situated in the southern part of the island municipality of Sal, Cape Verde. The city is the third largest in Cape Verde, and is located 15 km south of the Amilcar Cabral International Airport. Living standards in Santa Maria are some of the highest in Cape Verde. The urban area is near the beach. Hotels, restaurants, bars and shops are within its main streets. There are excellent hotels in Santa Maria to choose from so whether you are looking for a 4 or 3 star hotel for an all inclusive holiday in this resort, or simply Bed and Breakfast, your choice will give you good accommodation with friendly people to look after you and provide your holiday requirements.