Cape Verde Islands, 3rd: The Bradt Travel Guide [Paperback]

Aisling Irwin (Author), Colum Wilson (Author), Sian Pritchard-Jones (Editor), Bob Gibbons (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Bradt Travel Guide | Publication Date: May 1, 2006

Adrift in the Atlantic Ocean, one of the attractions of the Cape Verde Islands is the watersports; surfing, windsurfing, diving, and fishing. Travelers are also lured to the islands by the promise of scenic hikes around the dramatic terrain of these volcanic outcrops, including the climb up the Pico de Fogo volcanic cone. Many off-the-beaten-track highlights are provided to help explorers discover the hidden treasures of this magical archipelago, from beautiful bays with whaling history and beaches teeming with turtles to botanical gardens and cobbled paths leading to summits high above sea level.

Features include:
>How to get there, where to stay, and specialty restaurants
>Local culture, including music, customs, and history
>Detailed hiking routes for all levels of experience
>Maps and town plans of key areas of the islands

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The only travel guide in English is the excellent and up-to-date Bradt Travel Guide." The Guardian

"Best guidebook."  The Sunday Times

"Reliable and well researched." The Bookseller

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

"Crumbs that fell from God's fingers"--how else could this string of Atlantic islands have come to be marooned, 460 km from the west African coast?

 

The Bradt guide to the Cape Verde Islands is the ideal manual for maneuvering across this Caribbean-influenced archipelago. Founded by pirates and merchant sailors centuries ago, this Creole nationhood offers the traveler a beguiling landscape of sandy beaches and sulphurous volcanic slopes, ripe for exploration. With a vibrant culture rich in maritime history and a people passionate about music--prepare to be enchanted.

 

*Travel around and between islands

 

*Where to stay, eat and visit--fully updated

 

*Detailed hikes on each of the islands

 

*Music, poetry, and other cultural traditions

 

*Windsurfing, diving, and other watersports

 

*New town maps

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides; 3rd edition (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841621021
• ISBN-13: 978-1841621029
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,795,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a guide in English - And it is excellent!, January 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cape Verde Islands: The Bradt Travel Guide (Paperback)

Irwin and Wilson's guide gives you all the factual information you need, and in addition succeeds in capturing the spirit of Cape Verde, with boxes on cultural and historical issues linked to each island. There is no doubt about it: This is the best guide available. If you read German, Rolf Osang's "Kapverdische Inseln" from Dumont is nearly as good and a useful supplement (especially when it comes to photos). The chapters on Cape Verde in Rough Guides' and Lonely Planet's books on West Africa are neither up-to-date nor in-depth enough if you plan to spend more than a few days in Cape Verde (which you should!).

The appendix on Crioulo language in Irwin and Wilson's book is brief but good. Don't be put off by the nasty details on horrible diseases in the section on health!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect blend of insight and practical help, May 31, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Czech Republic) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cape Verde Islands: The Bradt Travel Guide (Paperback)

This was just the sort of thing a hardened backpacker needed. It had all the useful nooks and crannies of info you need - plus the fact that it filled in a lot of the extra info you like to get about a place you're seeing. They gave a great account of the islands' history - it was really moving.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential for the cruising bookshelf, January 27, 2002

By 

Freelance writer/editor (Cornwall) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cape Verde Islands: The Bradt Travel Guide (Paperback)

I first visited the Cape Verdes in 1987 while researching the ATLANTIC ISLANDS, a sailing guide covering the Azores, Madeira group, Canaries and Cape Verdes, now in its third edition. Getting information on the Cape Verdes in the English language was difficult in the extreme -- if only Aisling and Colum's excellent book had been available then! These days no sane person should visit the islands without reading it first. The Cape Verdes come as something of a culture shock after the Canaries -- this book will explain why, and help you get the most from the experience. Buy it!