Boa Vista

Boa Vista is Portuguese for 'good view' and you can take this translation literally, as the azure sea stretches away from miles and miles of unspoilt golden sand. This is the most eastern of the Cape Verde chain, a mere 300 or so miles from West Africa. Inland, there's a mix of dry desert, forests and valleys, but the beach is where you'll see all the action, including dolphins and turtles. 

Here's where you'd fly to visit Cape Verde's Barlavento - or windward - islands such Ilha do Sal, where you'll have the stunning white sandy beaches pretty much to yourself.