Stella Maris Maio

Stella Maris Maio Stella Maris is a high quality development of villas and apartments on the island of Maio, Cape Verde.

Flights and ferries operate from Praia (the capital) to Maio. Stella Maris is a beautiful place to stay with lovely sea views, a pool, sunsets and access to a small secluded beach.

The Cape Verde government has announced that a new ferry is expected to arrive later this year with a second one arrivin...
12/08/2026

The Cape Verde government has announced that a new ferry is expected to arrive later this year with a second one arriving in 2027. Travelling between the islands has been problematic for a long time. Improving the Cape Verde ferry services with two more boats will help to make domestic travel more reliable. The new ferry ‘Eugénio Tavares’ (formerly Calle Aguni) will accommodate up to 250 passengers. At present the ship is in China receiving technical modifications. This is a ro-ro (roll on/roll off) ferry and will be able to call at any of the ports in Cape Verde. It is designed to cope with the specific sea conditions around the archipelago. The Minister for Maritime Affairs also stated that the government intends to invest in another ship in 2027. He said that these two new ships will significantly improve the connectivity between the islands. The Minister went on to say that none of the islands must be left isolated.

The Minister also explained that the 'Djabraba' ferry is going to be used to improve the services between Fogo and Brava. At present the technical and administrative procedures with the Institute of Maritime Affairs and are underway.
https://stella-maris-maio.com/new-ferry-expected/

Maybe when you have visited Cape Verde you have heard or seen a group of ladies drumming. This is called Batuque (someti...
05/08/2026

Maybe when you have visited Cape Verde you have heard or seen a group of ladies drumming. This is called Batuque (sometimes spelt Batiko), which is a musical genre and performance mostly led by women. Batuque features polyrhythmic drumming, clapping together with call and response singing. It will usually involve some dancing too. It is an old tradition in Cape Verde found on all of the islands including Maio. Originally women would drum on bundles of cloth, pans or similar surfaces. The use of drums came later.

Batuque is not simply an entertainment it also evokes memory, identity and life in community. It helps to create social bonds, especially amongst women, as well as demonstrating Cape Verde’s African roots. At one time, this genre was discouraged, but its popularity now demonstrates perseverance and tenacity. A Batuque performance could take place anywhere, such as in a square, on a street or on the beach.
https://stella-maris-maio.com/batuque-cape-verde/

Cape Verde’s performance in their first FIFA World Cup was a surprise to many. Getting through to the knockout rounds wa...
29/07/2026

Cape Verde’s performance in their first FIFA World Cup was a surprise to many. Getting through to the knockout rounds was an unexpected success for a team from a small island nation with a population of only about 500,000. Holding a team like Spain to a draw brought world wide attention to the team and to Cape Verde as a country.

Now, defender Sidny Lopes Cabral’s goal in their match against Argentina has been named as the World Cup goal of the tournament. Cabral is the first player from an African country to win this accolade. His girlfriend and his mother were in the stand for the match. He reports that when he ran over to them his mother was crying. She had apparently fainted when he scored the goal.

Although Cabral’s parents are from Cape Verde, he was born in the Netherlands. He started his football career training in Dutch football academies and Swedish club Helsingborg. He then signed for Rot-Weiß Erfurt in Germany in 2022. His first appearance for Cape Verde was in 2023. In 2025 he signed for Estrela da Amadora in Portugal. He then moved to Benfica in January and to Trabzonspor in Turkey prior to the World Cup in June.
https://stella-maris-maio.com/cabral-world-cup-goal-of-tournament

Last night the smallest country still in the men's World Cup, Cape Verde played Argentina, the winners in 2022. On paper...
04/07/2026

Last night the smallest country still in the men's World Cup, Cape Verde played Argentina, the winners in 2022. On paper this was certainly one of the biggest mismatches of the whole tournament. Argentina had only lost 5 games out of the last 91 that they had played. Cape Verde (The Blue Sharks) were the oldest team in the competition and from the smallest country. So to make it through to the knockouts was success in itself. As one British commentator said ‘it is the stuff of fairy tales’. Meanwhile, back in the small island nation supporters had the Cape Verde slogan ‘no stress’ on the backs of their football shirts.

The first goal of the game was scored by Lionel Messi for Argentina. This came in the 28th minute of the game. At half time the score was 1-0 to Argentina. That alone is a testament to the skill, determination and resilience of the Cape Verde team. Their tactic had been to defend their goal, but when the ball was at the other end of the pitch there were not always enough players to make use of it. At half time, the coach clearly told them to attack more, resulting in more players at the argentine end. Then came a second goal from The Blue Sharks to equalise. Described by one commentator as one of the greatest goals in World Cup history. At full time the score was an incredible 1-1. This took the game into extra time and Argentina was clearly up against a force that they had not expected.

Right at the start of extra time Argentina scored their second goal. But within a few minutes the Blue Sharks equalised again. There was no way that Cape Verde was giving up. However, the game finished with Argentina winning 3-2. The Blue Sharks certainly pushed the mighty Argentina to its limits and it has been described as one of the great World Cup matches. Maybe the Blue Sharks didn’t win, but they should be extremely proud of what they have achieved. The Argentinian players congratulated the Cape Verde players at the end of the match. The smallest nation has made the biggest impact and the Blue Sharks can leave the US knowing that they have won the hearts of many around the world. They have also well and truly put their lovely country on the map.

The Cape Verde coach, Bubista (Pedro Leitão Brito), was demonstrably proud after his side came within 10 minutes of forcing Argentina into a penalty shootout. "We showed that we may be a small country, but we can play against the best teams in the world," he said. "That's a reason for pride. We made history for our country. They can be proud for representing our country. To be able to play the way we did against the world champions, and to draw level twice, is something incredible."

We are sorry that Cape Verde will not be going further in this competition, but we offer them our heart felt congratulations on such a magnificent achievement. Be very proud Cape Verde. www.stella-maris-maio.com/cape-verdes-world-cup/

Passengers arriving, or departing from the Nelson Mandela International Airport in Praia (on Santiago island), have foun...
01/07/2026

Passengers arriving, or departing from the Nelson Mandela International Airport in Praia (on Santiago island), have found the building to be unusually and uncomfortably warm. This has led to complaints from both passengers and employees. Several attempts to repair the air conditioning have been made, by specialists from within Cape Verde and from abroad. However, all efforts have proved unsuccessful. Consequently the decision has been made to replace the existing air conditioning system with new. It is anticipated that this work will be completed by the end of July. Many visitors to Maio pass through this airport. www.stella-maris-maio.com/praia-airport-air-conditioning-fault/

Cape Verde faced its second World Cup match in Miami against Uruguay. After their draw with Spain, a team some 65 places...
22/06/2026

Cape Verde faced its second World Cup match in Miami against Uruguay. After their draw with Spain, a team some 65 places higher in the world rankings, all eyes were on the Hard Rock Stadium. Could The Blue Sharks succeed again? Clearly, the answer is yes. Once again Cape Verde’s World Cup success meant they held Uruguay to a draw (2-2). This puts Cape Verde in a strong position to move forward to the knock-out rounds. To do that they need to maintain their form for their next match against Saudi Arabia. That match takes place on Saturday 27 June.

Right from the start of the match The Blue Sharks took on an attacking approach in the game. They were focussed on getting the ball up to the Uruguay end, putting their opponents under pressure. The first Cape Verde goal was scored by Kevin Pina from 29m out. This was the longest range goal of the tournament so far. Their second goal was scored by Helio Varela. Prior to the match football pundits had predicted Cape Verde to lose the match. That prediction was ignored by The Blue Sharks.

The starting line up for Cape Verde was as follows:
J. Vozinha
S. Moreira
R. Lopes
E. Diney
S. Cabral
K. Lenini
R. Mendes
T. Arcanjo
J. Monteiro
G. Rodrigues
G. Benchimol

The human story surrounding this game and the team’s time on the World Cup is about goal keeper Vozinha’s mother. Originally she was unable to travel to the USA because of the high cost of obtaining a visa. However, following Cape Verde’s match against Spain, the US government agreed to waive the costs of a visa. When Ana Candida Évora arrived at Miami International Airport she was greeted by Fifa officials. Happily she was able to attend the match, which delighted her 40 year old goal keeper son.

The Blue Sharks has shown character and class in abundance. The World Cup always has an underdog story and none more so than Cape Verde. This was another captivating match and the stuff of dreams for Cape Verde. We continue to hope that Cape Verde's World Cup success continues in their next match against Saudi Arabia.

Those people who hadn’t previously heard of Cape Verde, or didn’t know where it was, will surely know now. A stunning re...
16/06/2026

Those people who hadn’t previously heard of Cape Verde, or didn’t know where it was, will surely know now. A stunning result for Cape Verde’s ‘Blue Sharks’ ('Tubarões Azuis') in their first ever World Cup game. They were up against Spain, who have been tipped to win the cup, but they were held to a 0-0 draw. What an exciting match it was! It is reported that considerable bets had been placed on Spain to win the match. So there will be people wondering what happened. It has been described as one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history. Spain had 21 shots at goal, but were unable to get one into the back of the net. There will surely be a lot of sore, but happy heads in Cape Verde after the match.

Cape Verde virtually came to a standstill while all the attention was focused on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium (now known as the Atlanta Stadium). This stadium holds over 67,000 people. Nobody in the stadium or watching on television expected the Blue Sharks to hold their own against Spain. Their goal keeper, Vozinha, has become an international sensation. He made serval brilliant saves including one in the 36th and another in the 38th minute. Over night the 40 year old acquired five million social media followers according to reports. Walter, an 11 year old lad in the UK and a fan of Cape Verde, nominated Vozinha as his man of the match. This was also confirmed officially. Roberto Lopes (known as Pico) was born in Ireland and normally plays for Shamrock Rovers. But his father is Cape Verdean and so Pico is also able to play for the Blue Sharks.

The Cape Verde team comprised:

Goal keeper - Vozinha
Defenders -Borges, Lopes, S Cabral and Moreira;
Midfield - Pina and Duarte;
Attack - J Cabral, Monteiro, Mendes and Livramento.
Coach - Pedro Leitão Brito

It is thought that not many Cape Verdeans would have been able to travel to America. The costs were high and there were US visa restrictions. However, the sizeable diaspora in Massachusetts did their team and country proud with their enthusiasm and singing in the stadium. With them was the President of Cape Verde José Maria Pereira Neves. It’s also understood that neutral fans were also supporting Cape Verde. Meanwhile, in Cape Verde the streets on the nine inhabited islands were quiet, apart from those locations where there was a large screen.

Cape Verde has a population of approximately 500,000, compared to almost 50 million in Spain. Spain is ranked number 2 in the world and Cape Verde is 67th. A real David and Goliath battle. Could it be that the team from this small country in middle of the Atlantic could go further than anyone had dare to predict? Cape Verde’s next match is against Uruguay on Sunday 21 June.
www.stella-maris-maio.com/biggest-shock-world-cup-history

It seems that at present the main Cape Verde news is all about the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Cape Verde national football...
10/06/2026

It seems that at present the main Cape Verde news is all about the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Cape Verde national football team - the Blue Sharks - is now in the US. Their first World Cup game is on 15 June against Spain. As with the other participant teams, they have been playing friendly, warm-up matches since their arrival in the States. The first of these matches was against Serbia, when Serbia won 3-0. However, the Blue Sharks then played against Bermuda and won 3-0. These preliminary matches have been attended by some of the Cape Verdean diaspora in the United States. Their support was enthusiastic in both stadiums in which these games were played. There is a large diaspora in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

There are flights from Praia on Santiago island to Boston and Rhode Island in the USA. However, it is not clear how many Cape Verdean residents will be able to support their team in person. Travel and visa restrictions introduced by the US government, plus the very expensive tickets for the games, will make this difficult. This is not just a problem for Cape Verdeans, but for football supporters from a number of countries. It is anticipated, however, that the Cape Verdeans living in the US will give their team some lively support.

The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19. Matches are being played in USA, Mexico and Canada. Cape Verde supporters at home will be watching their team enthusiastically.
www.discover-cape-verde.com/the-blue-sharks-now-in-usa

The African Capitals of Culture programme was set up in 2018. It is intended to highlight and celebrate African culture ...
13/05/2026

The African Capitals of Culture programme was set up in 2018. It is intended to highlight and celebrate African culture through events, shows and activities. Cape Verde has now been chosen as the African Capital of Culture for 2028. The African Union Culture Directorate evaluated the submissions and praised the Cape Verde submission as being well structured. The announcement stated that the proposal ‘stood out for its clarity and comprehensive approach to fostering creativity’.

The programme for 2028 is intended to include all of the Cape Verde islands, although Praia (on the island of Santiago) will be the main hub. Augusto Veiga, the Minister of Culture, stated that this is more than just a celebration. It is also good for the nation’s economy. He said “Our objective is to position culture as a driver for long-term development”. The government wants to concentrate on heritage, collective memory and contemporary cultural practices. Augusto Veiga finished by saying “We want all cultural and artistic sectors to feel that hosting the African Capitals of Culture was truly worthwhile”.
www.stella-maris-maio.com/african-capitals-of-culture

It seems that almost every month there is news of more international flights to Cape Verde. This time we have heard of a...
29/04/2026

It seems that almost every month there is news of more international flights to Cape Verde. This time we have heard of another EasyJet route and also new links with the United States. In addition to these additional flights, the cruise market is also growing. This all points to Cape Verde continuing to establish itself as a major tourist destination.

EasyJet is commencing direct flights between Amsterdam and Sal in October 2026. This route is already available for booking on the EasyJet website. There will be three flights a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. EasyJet has stated that this development is in response to an increasing demand for warm, sunny destinations in the colder months in Northern Europe. This brings the airlines connections to Sal to seven (Amsterdam, Bristol, Lisbon, London Gatwick, Manchester, Milan and Porto).

Up until July 2021 Cabo Verde Airlines flew between Praia (on the Island of Santiago) and Boston in the USA. Before that the airline had flown to Rhode Island, but that service ceased in 2017. However, there is now news that the airline has notified the US. Transportation Department that it intends to recommence flights to T. F. Green International Airport (PVD) Providence, Rhode Island. This route is expected to start on 31 March 2027. This is a natural route for the Cape Verdean airline as there is a large Cape Verdean diaspora in that part of US.

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Stella Maris
Vila Do Maio

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