Villa Tortuga Beach Resort

It was about what I expected for the price. The room got some cleaning, the pool and garden were nice, there was all-inclusive food, and some staff were helpful, but everything felt limited. I’d give it 3 stars for now. They’d need to raise their standards to reach 5. I’d recommend it only to people looking to save money on a cheap stay in Cape Verde.

The buffet was our favourite part. It was really yummy, with lots of variety, and since I don’t eat meat I still had plenty of fish and vegetarian choices. The restaurant staff were attentive too. The villa was spacious, the beds comfortable, and it wasn’t far from the restaurant, with easy access to the all-inclusive buffet. The resort is clean, tidy and pretty, in a quiet spot that felt well located even though it isn’t central. There’s a private beach with lots of seating, and it’s long enough to enjoy without going into Santa Maria. The centre is about a 45-minute walk, or you can take the shuttle at set times. We stayed in a Tortuga villa. It was fairly clean, but the pool wasn’t always maintained, though we barely used it. On arrival there were drinks and snacks, and cleaners kept us stocked with towels and water each day. Ants were a problem in the room at times, even though we tried to keep it clean and put food away. I don’t know where they came from. We weren’t squeamish, so used spray ourselves, and cleaners cleared the remnants when they could. The gym at Tortuga is limited compared with their other branches. We paid for a VIP day to use the neighbouring resorts, there are about three, and found nicer lounging areas and gyms there. Still, we had everything we needed at Tortuga. The spa’s jacuzzi and sauna cost extra unless you have the VIP upgrade. We couldn’t find a massage appointment time that worked, so didn’t try one. We booked some of Tortuga’s restaurants, which are free for all-inclusive guests, but preferred the buffet. We tried a Japanese restaurant at a neighbouring branch, a nice chance to try different food, though it costs extra. Room service was lovely when we ordered once, but took over an hour. We mostly drank water and didn’t use the bars much, though there are plenty around.

The beach was a short walk away, with stunning, really clean water. The room was a massive deluxe double, with a large shower, spa bath and huge balcony. The bed was comfortable, though it was two singles pushed together. Service was outstanding, the food choice was massive, and everything and everybody felt welcoming. We’re at meila tortuga Beach now, with a few days left on this beautiful island. We were seen promptly when we arrived and given our key card. The only thing that needs an upgrade is evening entertainment. There were shows for an hour, 9pm to 10pm, and more evening options like bingo or quizzes could go a long way.

The staff were friendly, and taxis to Santa Maria were easy to get. We stayed at Melia tortuga in June 2026 in a lovely suite. The food was about what you’d expect from an average all-inclusive, and the restaurants onsite weren’t anything special. We had to pay to use restaurants at sister hotels, and the cocktail menu was small. Sometimes the bedding wasn’t changed, just made up with the old sheets. All in all, a lovely place to stay.