For UK residents who love to travel, the beginning of the year is always tricky to navigate – as we look outside at the bleak, rainy weather and the dark and depressing skies, it’s often impossible not to think about where else we could be that has sun in the sky and brightness overhead.

If the urge to take an impromptu winter break abroad becomes too much, here’s the hot tip: Cape Verde’s average February temperature is between 21C – 27C and has flights from £218pp return from London or £353pp return from Manchester.

Cape Verde is an archipelago in the Central Atlantic Ocean comprising ten volcanic islands known for its tropical climate with year-round sunshine making it a popular winter sun destination.

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Direct flights from the UK take between 5 hours and 50 minutes to 6 hours and 45 minutes depending on which island you’re aiming for.

The islands of Sal and Boa Vista are the most popular with tourists and are viewed to have the best beaches, watersports and resorts. Santiago is the largest island with the capital Praia and has the UNESCO site, Cidade Velha – the first European colonial settlement in the tropics – while the island of Brava, known as the ‘Flower Island’ is famous for its green valleys, natural pools and stunning flower-lined trails.

If you’re heading to Sal, you’ll be treated to some overwhelming nature and wildlife including Shark Bay in which you can wade with harmless baby lemon sharks in shallow water or you can search for seasonal sightings of sea turtles, whales or dolphins on one of the island’s many eco-tours.

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Many reviews of Santa Maria beach on Sal highly recommend it. One reviewer wrote: “What a spectacle. Miles of fantastic beach, with white sand and crystal clear water. A dream we can’t wait to relive.”

Another said: “Simply a paradise beach in terms of colours.”

Sal’s Kite beach is also well-known as a prime spot for wind and kitesurfing enthusiasts and its Algodoeiro beach has calm waters favoured by people keen to swim and snorkel.

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If you’re heading to Boa Vista, it also has a great selection of stunning beaches – in particular Santa Monica Beach known for its pristine, white sands.

The island also has unique landscapes including the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck – a historic Spanish freighter that ran aground in 1968 and has since become a major landmark – and its charming and laid-back capital city, Sal Rei.

Sal Rei can be translated to ‘Salt King’ from Portuguese which references the island’s historical salt trade and offers pristine beaches, historical sites and adventure in its natural landscapes.

Reviews praise its friendly, local atmosphere and ‘no stress’ vibe.

One reviewer of Sal Rei commented: “Sal Rei is a small and bustling town in which tourists simply fold into the fabric of real village life.

“The joy for me was that it remains a wonderful melting pot – Cape Verdeans, Italians, Portuguese, Africans, Dutch, Germans, Spaniards and English all seemed to integrate three dimensionally without any apparent drama.”