Port Description

St. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands

The Cape Verde Islands were uninhabited until they became a trading center for African slaves and were visited by Darwin and Columbus. St. Vincent is one of these 10 igneous islands off Africa's Atlantic coast. The Portuguese-speaking city of Mindelo is full of restaurants, bars, and colonial homes, and is the largest port in the Cape Verde chain. Fascinating corals flourish at the reef off St. Vincent's scenic western side. Dust from the African continent augments the sand on the volcanic shore. Folklore, not surprisingly, focuses on the exquisite mountains and dazzling sea.