Cape Verde’s Evolving Accommodation Scene
The accommodation landscape in Cape Verde has long been defined by large-scale package resorts, offering a comprehensive array of restaurants, activities, and entertainment. While these complexes guarantee pool access and proximity to sandy beaches, a significant shift is underway. A growing number of boutique hotels, focusing on distinctive architecture and local craftsmanship, are emerging. Alongside these are dedicated eco-lodges, catering to travellers seeking environmentally and socially conscious stays.
A Market of Contrasts: From Resorts to Eco-Retreats
This diversification is evident across the islands. Travel editors often highlight the spectrum of choices, from budget-friendly options like the Tiduca Hotel to sustainability-focused stays such as La Fora Ecolodge and the design-led Aquiles Eco Hotel. This range allows travellers to select stays based on value, environmental commitment, or suitability for couples and families.
The All-Inclusive and Resort Mainstays
On the popular island of Sal, large resorts remain a dominant feature. The Hotel Morabeza in Santa Maria exemplifies the classic beach holiday, boasting three pools and direct sea access, with a focus on watersports. Similarly, the Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort provides a comprehensive ‘fuss-free’ holiday, featuring multiple dining options, a casino, and extensive family facilities, including a kids’ club. For multigenerational travel, the Melia Tortuga Beach Resort & Spa offers villas and suites alongside numerous restaurants. Meanwhile, the Hotel Riu Funana is explicitly geared towards entertainment, with swim-up bars, a neighbouring water park, and an onsite nightclub.
Boutique Options and Niche Stays
Beyond the large family resorts, other properties cater to different demographics. The adult-only Robinson Cabo Verde, also on Sal, provides a contemporary design, focusing on activities like aquafit and beach volleyball, complemented by evening DJ parties. On Boa Vista, the VOI Praia De Chaves Resort is centred on its location overlooking three miles of golden sand. For those seeking value and ocean views on Sao Antao, the Tiduca Hotel is a popular budget option, prized for its views of the Atlantic. In Santa Maria, the Odjo D’Agua Hotel offers a boutique feel, with its infinity pool and restaurants positioned for commanding views of the bay.
The Growth of Conscious Travel
The emergence of properties like La Fora Ecolodge on Fogo island signifies a growing interest in sustainable tourism. La Fora shifts the focus from the beach to farmland, offering bungalows on a hillside and promoting local life. The lodge runs serious eco-projects, including tree-planting, solar power, and water recycling. Similarly, the Aquiles Eco Hotel in Sao Pedro stands out for its unique architecture, resembling stacked shipping containers. It eschews televisions, encouraging guests to explore, and emphasizes its credentials with FSC-approved wood and renewable energy. Tienne del Mar on Santo Antao is also noted as a base for excursions into nature.
Booking Platforms Under Scrutiny
This shift towards sustainable options reflects a wider global conversation about the impact of travel. While platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com revolutionised tourism, making it more personal and affordable for many, their success has brought significant downsides. In popular cities such as Barcelona, Paris, and New York, these platforms face criticism for exacerbating the housing crisis. Critics argue the rising number of short-term lets leads to scarce and expensive housing for local residents, fuelling the problem of overtourism.
New Platforms Champion Sustainability
In response, a new generation of booking platforms focused on sustainability and social responsibility is establishing itself. Venice-native Emanuele Dal Carlo, having witnessed his city’s negative transformation, founded Fairbnb in 2014. The platform directs half of its commission fees to local social projects, promoting responsible tourism that benefits both visitors and the community. Fairbnb currently operates in several European countries, with plans to expand. Another Italian-born platform, Ecobnb, aims to reduce the environmental impact of travel by promoting properties that actively implement sustainability. Its listings, which include treehouses, organic farms, and zero-emission mountain huts across 55 countries, are rated against ten sustainability criteria. Ecobnb also plants a tree for every booking.
From Nature Conservation to NGO Support
Other models focus on specific niches. Naturhäuschen (‘Nature House’), a Dutch family company, mediates individual holiday homes away from major portals, offering everything from tiny houses to yurts. This initiative aims to protect nature through nature holidays, investing five per cent of its revenue directly into local biodiversity projects. Meanwhile, the German platform Socialbnb takes a different approach. It offers accommodation in 45 countries run by local NGOs rather than private hosts. Bookings directly support charitable projects, such as school construction or animal protection. Some properties even allow guests to participate in activities, such as whale research, turning a holiday into an experience with tangible social value.
