Many know Cape Verde only through the haunting mornos of the 'barefoot diva'. To visit her homeland - a series of unlikely volcanic islands off the coast of Senegal - is to understand the strange, bittersweet amalgam of West African rhythms and mournful Portuguese melodies that shape her music.

The islands boast great diversity of landscape, from barren flats to verdant, windward valleys. Its beaches increasingly attract the package-tour crowd, but Cape Verde remains a destination for the connoisseur - the intrepid hiker, the die-hard windsurfer, the deep-sea angler and the morno devotee.

When To Go
With cold ocean currents that keep temperatures surprisingly mild, Cape Verde is pleasant year-round. Even during the so-called rainy season from mid-August to mid-October, weeks can go by without a downpour. Many come during the festive Carnival season in February/March. If you visit in winter you may need a sweater - especially at higher altitudes - although average daily minimums never fall far below 20°C (68°F). Things do get a little stickier in the southern islands (especially Fogo) during summer.