BY JEN ROSE SMITH
“Here I first saw the glory of tropical vegetation,” wrote naturalist Charles Darwin after stepping onto the Cape Verde islands in 1832. It
was the first landfall of a groundbreaking voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, and he came ashore to clamber over volcanic rocks, peer into
tide pools, and listen to the unfamiliar melodies of native bird songs. “A glorious day,” he wrote of his introduction to the Portuguese-
speaking, West African archipelago about 400 miles off the coast of Senegal, “like giving a blind man eyes.”
Nearly two centuries later, Cape Verde — officially the Republic of Cabo Verde — remains a treasure trove of marine biodiversity, with
silvery fish, giant sea turtles, and lemon-colored sharks flicking through the coastal waters. On the main island of Sal, a postcard-ready
combination of sun, sand, and salt draws heat-seeking travelers to all-inclusive resorts; but peer beneath the surface, and you’ll find the
island’s wild side waiting. Whether you’re diving with hammerhead sharks or watching baby loggerheads inch towards the surf, Cape
Verde is an invitation to channel Darwin’s spirit of exploration — and wonder.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
WINTER 2019/20 29 FLYWASHINGTON.COM