Introducing Cape Verde
About Cape Verde
The islands of Cape Verde are a bewitching blend of Portuguese and African influences. You’ll see it in the many European-style buildings and the curious musical styles, but its particularly noticeable in the food. Portuguese fare – especially seafood dishes laden with garlic and olive oil – and more African-style fare – such as stews, beans, maize and tropical crops – comfortably combined on most menus.
Many associate Cape Verde with the mournful songs of Cesaria Evoria, the islands’ best known singer. The ‘barefoot diva’ is the best exponent of morna, a lovelorn type of folk music similar to Portuguese fado. Music is a key component of life on Cape Verde, and several of the islands stage exuberant carnivals, with the best known being the Baia das Gatas Festival. Sao Vicente is also renowned for its exuberant festivities.
Once a colony and slave trade outpost, Cape Verde varies wildly in character and scenery through its 10 islands and five tiny islets. From spectacular verdant mountain ranges, to deserted beaches, with a few volcanic landscapes thrown in for good measure, it’s the variety that makes Cape Verde such an unusual and appealing destination.
There’s lush and lively Santiago, the biggest of the islands, which boasts verdant hillsides, jungle and plenty of remarkable wildlife. It’s also the cultural heart of Cape Verde, home to the UNESCO-listed old fort at Cidade da Ribeira Grande de Santiagog (previously called Cidade Velha).
Near Santiago, divers will discover 16th century shipwrecks littering the sea floor. Blue marlin, yellowfin tuna and the odd humpback whale can be seen in the clear blue waters off Boa Vista. The island of Sal is popular for watersports and white sandy beaches, while Fogo is a hiker’s paradise, where volcanic peaks tower 2,829m (9,821 ft) above sea-level.
Cape Verde may have struggled economically since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, but many argue that it’s isolation is a blessing, leaving these islands comparatively unspoiled. The economy is currently stable and investing in modernized infrastructure, service, commerce, foreign investment and tourism. Get there before the crowds inevitably catch on.
Language, Culture & History
History of Cape Verde
The Portuguese discovered and colonized the archipelago of 10 volcanic islands that now constitute Cape Verde in 1462. The settlement on Sao Tiago (Santiago) was the first European toehold in the tropics and was ideally located as a supply point for slaves traded to Brazil and the West Indies.
The end of the slave trade in the 19th century marked the beginning of a lengthy period of economic decline. However, in time Cape Verde recovered and re-established itself as an important commercial center and stopover point for fleets shipping British coal to the Americas.
Cape Verde achieved independence peacefully in 1975, following Portugal’s 1974 revolution shortly after the granting of independence to Guinea-Bissau, with whom Cape Verde had close political associations. The PAIGC took control of the political activities of both countries and full unification was discussed. This proposal was shelved after the 1980 coup in Guinea-Bissau, after which the Cape Verdean branch of PAIGC was renamed the Partido African° da Independencia de Cabo Verde (PAICV).
At the turn of the 1990s, the Government held elections in February 1991. The Movimento para Democracia (MPD) won both the legislature and the race for the Presidency. The MPD held onto both Presidency and national assembly in 1995, but lost both to the PAICV in 2001, when lose Maria Pereira Neves was named prime minister and Pedro Pires elected president by a mere 12 votes.
Although lacking natural resources Cape Verde is considered one of the most developed and democratic countries in Africa with its economy largely focused on tourism and foreign investment. In 2013 the government decided the Portuguese designation ‘Cabo Verde’ would be used for all official purposes.
Did you lmow?
Pico de Fogo is the region’s largest active volcano and last erupted in 2014.
The Tavares brothers, who formed the international hit-making group of that name in 1973, are of Cape Verdean descent. Their hits include It OM), Takes a Minute and More Than A Woman.
Although Portuguese is the official language of government, the native tongue is Cape Verdean Creole.
Cape Verde Culture
Religion in Cape Verde
80% of Cape Verdeans practice Catholicism. Of the remaining, 10% are Protestant and the others belong to smaller religious denominations. The Catholic majority comes from Portuguese influence.
Social Conventions in Cape Verde
The usual European social courtesies should be observed.
Language in Cape Verde
The official language is Portuguese. Creole is spoken by most of the inhabitants. Some English, French, German and Spanish are widely spoken.
Geography & weather
Weather and climate
Best time to visit
Cape Verde’s subtropical climate makes year-round travel pleasant and worthwhile. The islands experience a windy season (Tempo de Brisas) from October to mid-July and a rainy season (Tempo das chuvas) that lasts from August to September. The islands receive sunshine year-round with the longest days from March to May.
Windy season (October July) average temperatures range between 25-29°C (77-84°F). This is the best time for surfing and other water sports in Cape Verde, and sea temperatures don’t usually dip below 23°C (73°F).
During rainy season (August-September), high temperatures can break 30°C (86°F) so rainfall can be a welcoming relief. Sea temperatures are warmest during this period at 27°C (81°F).
The best time to visit Cape Verde is from February to June when the days are long and sunny. The temperature at this time averages around 23°C (73°F). Keep in mind that the windward islands of Sao Vicente, Santo Antal:), Sao Nicolau, Santa Luzia, Sal and Boa Vista will be cooler than the leeward islands of Santiago, Maio, Fogo and Brava.
Required clothing
Lightweight throughout the year, tropical for midsummer. Nights can get chilly, so packing a lightweight jacket might help. Walking shoes or boots are appropriate for hikes.
Geography
Cape Verde is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, 620km (385 miles) off the West Coast of Africa and comprises 10 islands, 9 inhabited and one uninhabited, and five islets in two groups: Barlavento (Windwards) and Sotavento (Leewards). In the former group are the islands of Sao Vicente, Santo Antao, Sao Nicolau, Santa Luzia, Sal and Boa Vista, along with the smaller islands of Branco and Raso; the Sotavento group comprises the islands of Santiago, Maio, Fogo and Brava, along with the smaller islands of Rei and Rombo.
Land varies from island to island, but most have mountain peaks; the highest being Pico do Fogo, an active volcano on Fogo. The islands in the east are generally known for flat beaches and desert land. Western islands are rockier, with steep cliffs. Much of the land in Cape Verde is infertile and lacks minerals, which forces the country to import the majority of its food and goods. Wind and water erosion also make agriculture less sustainable, though much of the workforce lies in it.
Business Opportunities
Doing Business in Cape Verde
All correspondence should be in English or French. Most of Cape Verde’s business links are with Portugal.
Office Hours
Mon-Fri 0800-1230 and 1430-1800.
Economy
Cabo Verde’s economy is mainly service-oriented, relying on tourism, transport, commerce and foreign investment. However about one quarter of the working population is engaged in agriculture. Maize and beans are the main crops; a variety of fruit and vegetables are also grown.
Though agriculture is the main trade of Cabo Verde’s workforce, the islands lack natural resources and the majority of food must be imported from other countries. The agricultural sector is especially vulnerable to the periodic droughts that afflict the islands, often lasting for several years. Meanwhile, the fishing industry is vastly important, contributing almost half of the total export earnings.
A further vital source of national income is the wages of Cape Verdeans working abroad – some 700,000 Cape Verdeans have emigrated, mainly to the USA.
The larger hotels on the main islands can provide conference facilities.
GDP
DS$1.776 billion (2017).
Main exports
Fuel re-exports, shoes, clothes, fish (mostly processed and frozen), hides, bananas and coffee.
Main imports
Petroleum, foodstuffs, consumer goods, machinery, transport equipment.
Main trading partners
Cabo Verde mainly exports goods to Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands. It imports goods from Portugal Spain, The Netherlands and China.
Keeping in Touch in Cape Verde
Telephone
Improvements to rural areas are in progress.
Mobile Phone
Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies, but travellers should check with their service provider. Coverage is variable, but generally good in towns.
For unlocked phones, buying a pre-paid SIM card to use in Cape Verde is a cheaper option than paying expensive roaming fees for calls and texts. Cabo Verde Telecom and 1, Mobile both operate in the area.
Internet
Major hotels offer laptop connections. Public access is available at the offices of Cabo Verde Telecom. To Mobile also offers services in Cape Verde. Privately run business centres in the main towns offer e-mail, Internet and fax facilities. Some cafés and restaurants across the islands also offer WiFi.
Media
A free press is guaranteed by law, but most media are state-controlled. There are a few private radio stations. The Cape Verdean government runs TCV, the main television channel, and Radio Nacional On Cabo Verde. Community radio has a larger presence in Cape Verde than print media due to the difficulty of distributing papers to every island. Print publications in Cape Verde include weekly papers like A Semana, Expresso de Ilhas, and A NaCao, along with Artiletra, a monthly paper. Portuguese and French radio are both available via FM relays.
Post
Postal facilities can be slow with deliveries to Europe normally taking over a week.
Plan your trip
Cape Verde’s Journey
TACV, also known as Cabo Verde Airlines, the national airline of Cape Verde (https://caboverdeairlines.com/), offers flights from several international locations to Sal and Praia.
Information on international and internal flights, and flight tickets may be obtained from TUI Airways, which flies direct from the United Kingdom. You can also fly with TAP Portugal (www.flytap.com) via Lisbon and Royal Air Moroc from London.
Airports of Cape Verde: Praia Airport, Sal Airport, Sao Vincente Airport, Boa Vista Aristides Pereira Airport, Sao Filipe Airport, Sao Nicolau Airport.
Airport Guides
Amf!car Cabral International Airport
Code SID
LocationTelephoneAddress
Sao Pedro International Airport
Code VXE
LocationTelephoneAddress
Boa Vista Aristides Pereira Airport
Code BVC
Location
Boa Vista Aristides Pereira Airport is located on the island of Boa Vista, 5km (3 miles) southeast of the capital Sal Rei.
Telephone
+238 251 9001
Address Rabil
Boa Vista
Flight times
From London – 9 hours (including stopover); New York -19 hours (including stopovers); Singapore – 34.5 hours (including stopovers); Los Angeles – 26.5 hours (including stopovers); Toronto – 24 hours (including stopovers).
Departure tax
None. However, tourists 16 years old or older are required to pay a tax for overnight hotel stays in Cape Verde of 2 euros per night with a maximum of ten nights per each hotel.
Travelling to Cape Verde by Rail
Driving to Cape Verde
Getting to Cape Verde by boat
Mindelo and Praia are the principal ports. Sao Vicente is served by passenger and cargo ships, but sea services are not frequent and may be costly.
Staying There
Hotels
The number of hotels in Cape Verde is increasing rapidly as the country markets itself as a tourist destination. There are large international chain hotels on the main islands, while there are several beach resorts in Sal. Alternatively, you can stay in beach huts or pensions on the smaller islands. Booking ahead is essential during the high season (April to September).
Camping
Other accommodation
While you’re there
Places to see & things to do
Bird-watching
Cape Verde’s islands are home to several rare breeds of African birds like sparrows, swifts and warblers. The islands are excellent spots to see Western Palearctic seabird colonies and land bird fauna. Many species of birds endemic to Cape Verde are endangered, but increased interest from wildlife-lovers promoting conservation may help reverse this trend.
Boa Vista: shop in Sal Rei
Beyond Boa Vista’s golden beaches and date-tree lined coasts sits Sal Rei, the island’s capital. Experience Sal Rei’s swimming bays and boatyards, colonial-style churches and royal salt, then stop at the city’s shopping square, Praca de Santa Isabel, for fresh produce and souvenirs like African batik cloth and carved wooden figures.
The fiery island of Fogo’s beautiful volcanic peak, Pico de Fogo, is visible from craters in the west. Most hotels and guesthouses are in the island’s largest city, Sao Felipe, which has approximately 20,000 residents. Shop in the busy marketplace, weave through colorful houses and Portuguese-influenced sobrado buildings, and taxi to the craters from there. Pico de Fogo’s influence rules the island, home to black sand beaches and houses built from lava rocks.
Sal: soak up the sun and surf
Sal’s white sandy beaches and evaporated salt deposits make it an adventurer’s paradise. Float in a natural salt lake in the salt mines, which were originally built in a dormant volcano. For more extreme sports, Kite Beach is perfect for wind and kitesurfing. Sal is also famous for its scuba dives, which have everything from shipwrecks and stingrays to reefs and overhangs. Santa Maria’s beach town on the island’s southernmost tip also has bars and restaurants where you can finish the day just in time to catch incredible sunsets on the shoreline.
Santiago: visit World Heritage Sites
Home to more than half of Cape Verde’s population, Santiago is diverse in landscape and activity. Cidade Velha, a World Heritage site of ruins from first European settlement in the tropics, is a must-see for its cliff-side views of the sparkling Atlantic. Summer in Santiago is also a hot time for music and cultural pride with the lively Gamboa festival in May and Tabanka In June.
Santo Antao: eat and drink like a local
Get a taste for Cape Verde from Mercado Municipal in Ribeira Grande or one of Santo Antao’s coconut palms. The island’s landscapes vary from lush vegetation to colorful city squares, and a car ride is the best way to see it all. Blend in with the locals and sample Cape Verdean rum, grogue, produced on Santo Antao.
Sao Vicente: dance the night away
Dance to live music in the cultural melting pot of Cape Verde. Mindelo Harbor drew sailors from across the globe to this city, paving the way for sultry Cape Verdean morna folk music and upbeat coladeira. For a taster, try Cesaria Evora, a national icon. Sao Vicente’s annual Baia de Gata festival also attracts thousands of attendees each year.
Tourist offices
Cape Verde Tourism
Address: CP.4 , Pa61,
Website: http://www.capeverde.com
Nightlife & Shopping
Shopping in Cape Verde
Shopping on the islands is low-key and is mainly found in local markets. Toiletries and other day-to-day items can be expensive as most things are imported, but the markets are a great place to look for handicrafts. Basket-weaving is a popular past-time, and artists fashion utensils and figurines from clay.
Shopping hours
Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1500-1900.
Nightlife in Cape Verde
Cape Verdean nightlife is based on traditional live music and dance. It is impossible to wander round for a night and not hear locals playing ‘morna’ music – a combination of guitars, violins and lovelorn lyrics. However bars and nightclubs do play pop music, and streets may be quieter on some nights when Cape Verdeans stay in to watch Brazilian telenovelas. Santa Maria and Sal are nightlife hubs with bars and discos. Nightclubs are mainly found in the big hotels, although a number of local dive bars sell beer and rum on the islands. Rural areas of Cape Verde have less late-night entertainment.
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Meals & Beverages
Cape Verdean food is an enticing mixture of Creole, Portuguese and African flavours. The islands have a wealth of seafood which is often cooked straight from the sea. The influx of tourists is causing an increasing number of quality restaurants to open up.
Specialties
- Canja:A thick chicken soup with rice.
- Catchupa: A slow boiled stew of corn, beans, vegetables and marinated tuna or meat.
- Morreia: Oil-fried eel.
- Percebes: Barnacles with a squid-like texture eaten by cracking the ends to get to the meat under the skin.
- Bol De Cus-Cus: A corn and sugar cake.
- Queijo de Cabra corn Doce de Popoia: Goat cheese topped with papaya jam, served for dessert.
- Fruits include goiabas, zimbrao, tambarinas, marmelos, azedinhas, tamaras and cocos.
National drinks:
- Grogue (sugar cane rum).
- Manecome (local wine from Fogo).
- Strela (beer brewed on Santiago)
Before you go
Visa & Passport
| Other EU | Passport required Yes |
Return ticket required | Visa Required No |
| Yes | |||
| USA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Canadian | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Australian | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| British | Yes | Yes | No |
Passports
A passport valid for at least six months is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
Visas
From 01 January 2019, holders of a British passport can enter Cape Verde for a maximum of 30 days without a visa. Before departure, visitors should register with the Cape Verde authorities on the EASE website and, if arriving by air, pay Airport Security Tax (TSA) of 3,400 escudos (around £30). This doesn’t apply to those under two years of age and those who are usually resident in Cape Verde.
Nationals of Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo have visa-free access to Cape Verde as long as they register online.
Nationals of the following countries can visit Cape Verde for a maximum of 30 days without a visa: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Vatican City.
It is possible to apply for a visa on arrival, depending on your country of departure. Visitors flying directly from the UK are eligible but note that it takes around two hours to process at the airport. It’s recommended to apply in advance.
Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.
Types and Cost
Visitor visa: €45 (plus delivery charge); multiple-entry visa: €86.30 (plus delivery charge).
As of January 2, 2019, tourist visas can also be purchased at one of Cabo Verde’s international airports and cost €25, which are valid for up to 30 days.
Validity
Tourist Visas are valid for up to 30 days from the date of issue.
Visas are valid for 180 days from the date of issue for a stay of up to 90 days.
Application to
Consulate (or consular section at embassy). UK residents should apply to the honorary consulate in the UK or the Cape Verde Consulate in Rotterdam or Brussels.
Our visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing,
We strongly recommend that you verify critical information unique to your trip with the relevant embassy before travel.
Embassies and tourist offices
Embassy of the Republic of Cape Verde in the USA
Telephone: (202) 965 6820.
Website: http://www.embcv-usa.gov.cv/
Address: NW, 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC, 20007, Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Summer hours (August only) 0900-1500.
Healthcare
| Title Malaria |
Special precautions |
| Sometimes | |
| Hepatitis A | Yes |
| Diphtheria | Yes |
| Rabies | Sometimes |
| Tetanus | Yes |
| Typhoid | Yes |
| Yellow Fever | No* |
A certificate of vaccination is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission.
Cape Verde is flagged as a Dengue Fever risk for travellers visiting from overseas, there is no vaccination for this viral illness.
Health Care
Health insurance, including emergency repatriation cover, is advised, although inpatient treatment is free in general wards on presentation of a passport. Treatment is private and expensive on the smaller islands.
Food and Drink
All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. All drinking water should be bottled, boiled or carbonated. Water used for brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilized and filtered. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid all dairy products and food from street vendors. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other Risks
Hepatitis E is highly endemic in sub-saharan Africa, but has very low occurrence in Cape Verde; precautions are still advisable. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic in the region. Vaccination against tuberculosis is sometimes advised. Giardia occurs.
As of 2019, travellers are advised to practice special precaution for Zika Virus, which is a concern in central and west Africa. Pregnant travelers or travelers planning for pregnancy in the future are advised to postpone travel. All travelers should take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
Holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays in Cape Verde
New Year’s Day
01 January 2020
Heroes’ Day
20 January 2020
Carnival
25 February 2020
Note: Regional observation only.
Ash Wednesday
26 February 2020
Labour Day
01 May 2020
Municipal Day
19 May 2020
Note: Regional observation only.
Independence Day
05 July 2020
Assumption
15 August 2020
National Day
12 September 2020
All Saints Day
01 November 2020
Christmas Day
25 December 2020
Duty free & Currency
Currency information
Cape Verde Escudo (CVE) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of CVE 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CVE200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1.
Credit cards
Credit cards are rarely used. Only Visa and Mastercard are accepted on Cabo Verde. A few major hotels accept Visa. Currency can be obtained in banks from credit cards but charges are very high. There are ATMs in Sal, Praia and Sao Vincent.
ATM
Travellers cheques
Accepted in main towns and tourist areas, though the exchange can often be problematic.
Banking hours
Mon-Fri 0800-1500.
Currency restrictions
The import and export of local currency is prohibited. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration on arrival and on departure. The export of foreign currency is limited to the equivalent of CVE 20,000 or the amount declared on arrival, whichever is the larger.
Currency exchange
Available at international airports (not domestic) and in local banks. Currency cannot be reconverted, except in Portugal.
Cape Verde duty free
Overview
The following goods may be imported into Cape Verde without incurring customs duty:
- 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of
- 1L of spirits and 2 x 1L of
- 250m1 of eau de toilette and 50m1 of
