Hotel Cruz Grande-Brava

On Brava — Cape Verde's smallest inhabited island and the one the archipelago calls the Island of Flowers — Hotel Cruz Grande-Brava sits in the highland town of Vila Nova Sintra, where cobblestone streets wind between flowering jacaranda trees and volcanic hills tumble dramatically into the Atlantic. Completed in 2016, the hotel occupies a commanding position with spectacular views across the ocean to the neighbouring volcanic cone of Fogo Island.

Eight generously sized rooms offer private bathrooms, free toiletries, and a choice of sea or town views — some of the most arresting vantage points in all of Cape Verde. Free breakfast is served daily, free WiFi keeps you connected (on an island where connectivity is a genuine luxury), and free parking is available. The ground-floor restaurant and snack bar provide casual dining, while the rooftop terrace is the place to watch the Atlantic light change through sunset and into the remarkable star-filled Brava evenings.

Brava is reached by fast ferry from Fogo or Santiago islands — its relative inaccessibility is precisely what has preserved its extraordinary unspoiled character. The island's hiking trails pass through valleys of hydrangeas, bougainvillaea and endemic flora, connecting clifftop villages to black-sand coves where sea turtles nest undisturbed. Vila Nova Sintra's town centre is a 5-minute walk from the hotel.

For travellers seeking a genuinely off-the-beaten-path Cape Verde experience — far from the tourist infrastructure of Sal and Boa Vista — Hotel Cruz Grande-Brava is the island's finest address, and the gateway to one of West Africa's most quietly beautiful destinations. Airport transportation is available on request.