A destination that’s part of an archipelago of 10 islands has beaten all of the Canaries to top easyJet’s Winter Sun Index, and it’s just six hours from the UK.

The destination has even be dubbed the ‘new Canaries’ and ‘the Caribbean without the jet lag’ due to its beautiful white sandy beaches and easy access from the UK. With 25C weather in January, it’s rapidly becoming a popular winter sun spot. Because it’s only one hour behind the UK, there’s also no jetlag when visiting. 

easyJet ranked destinations based on accessibility from the UK, winter temperatures and hours of sunshine, rainfall, and the time difference. They also took into account the prices on arrival, from the average pint to the price of a meal for two.

Heading up the list was Sal, an island that’s part of Cape Verde, which easyJet fly to from London Gatwick, Manchester, and Bristol. Set in the central Atlantic, to the west of Africa, its temperatures in January hover at around 24-25C, while in the UK, we rarely see temperatures over 8C.

The sea temperature also stays around 22-24C, which is a little chillier than the highs of summer, but generally warm enough to swim and enjoy water sports. Best of all, there are about 10 hours of sunshine a day, compared to six or seven hours in Tenerife, meaning you can soak up more vitamin D.

On average there’s only 1-3mm of precipitation in the winter months in Cape Verde, which also makes it one of the drier winter sun destinations. For Gran Canaria, it’s 15-20mm, while Agadir’s average is 28-40mm, meaning there’s a higher risk of dealing with a short shower.

Flights to Sal start at £91.99 one way, or there are a number of package deals on easyJet Holidays. For example, a seven-night break, departing January 13 from Manchester and staying at four-star Sol Dunas Family Fun comes in at £737 per person. This package is all inclusive, so meals and drinks are covered, and the price includes 23kg of checked luggage and transfers. At the moment, you can get £100 off using discount code BIGSALE. 

If you’d rather self cater, there are plenty of options, especially around Santa Maria in the south of Sal. There are both international and traditional island restaurants, with easyJet putting the average cost of a meal for two at £30-31. If you’d like a cold beer to cool off from the sun, the average price of a pint is around £2.25, making it much cheaper than a round in the UK.

The south of Sal island is one of the most popular areas for tourists in Cape Verde, thanks to its white sand beaches, and many of the major hotels are found here. However, if you want to go off the beaten path, large areas of the islands are less developed. Murdeira on the west of the island is much lesser known and has quiet beaches with soft sands.

You can even get on a ferry to visit the other islands, with Boa Vista a three-hour trip away. This spectacular island has just one small town, Sal Rei, and a handful of hotels. It’s surrounded by white sand beaches and turquoise waters, and you may even spot turtle nesting sites as you walk along the shore. 

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