

Cape Verde, the Morabeza Islands.
There are ten semi-arid islands of volcanic origin spread across the Atlantic Ocean, about 570 km to the west of Mauritania and Senegal and exposed to the trade winds.
Together, the Cape Verde Islands cover an area of just over 4000 square km. From 1460 onwards, they were discovered by Portuguese navigators or in the service of the Portuguese crown. Cape Verde proclaimed its independence (from Portugal) on 5 July 1975.
Cape Verde is one of the four archipelagos that form the insular domain of Macaronesia. The others are, from north to south: the Azores, Madeira and Porto Santo, and the Canaries,
Each Cape Verdean island has its own charm.
The popular island of sal with its arid, desert scenarios. The privileged salt pans and beaches, and the strong trade winds that attract windsurfers and kitesurf de todo o mundo.
The island of Boavista, the emerald sea, its vast sands and huge dunes.
The mother island of Cape Verde is Santiago. The Cidade Velha is located there, the first town in the archipelago that started it all. Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. And the Tarrafal countryside has a bad memory, but today, too, a welcoming town with its own irresistible beaches.
Fogo, its majestic volcano mountain and Chã das Caldeiras, home to resilient communities with a curious French-speaking origin, from time to time, with victims affected by the inexorable lava of Fogo but who still do not abandon the gigantic caldera-crater where your clan has long inhabited.
Then there's the elusive Brava, located west of São Filipe, the capital of Fogo. May, lady of some more wonderful beaches and the tiny Santa Luzia.
To the north, the mountainous Santo Antao, São Vicente, and the city of Mindelo, considered the cultural capital of Cape Verde. And Baía das Gatas, place of the famous music festival of the same name.
The tiny Santa Luzia and then São Nicolau, sung by Cesária Évora in “Saudade“. And, like Santo Antão, place of the last artisanal and historic piers of the archipelago
VISA AND OTHER PROCEDURES
A visa can be obtained on arrival. Diplomatic and service passports are visa free.
More information on Cape Verde page of the Portuguese Communities Portal.
HEALTH CARE
Cape Verdean authorities may require a yellow fever vaccination certificate to visitors over 1 year of age who come from countries at risk of transmitting the disease, or who have spent more than 12 hours at airports in those countries.
It is advisable to vaccinate or boost vaccines against Hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus.
In Cape Verde, there are sporadic cases of dengue and malaria. At the time this guide was created, there had been no reported case of Ebola in Cape Verde.
For more information on traveling health, see the Health Portal of the Ministry of Health and Tropical and Traveler Medicine Clinic. In FitForTravel find country-specific health and disease prevention advice (in English).
TRIP TO CAPE VERDE
You can purchase a travel program suited to the time you have and the style of preferred experiences with the specialized agency in Cape Verde, the soltropic.
A TAP and TACV fly regularly from Lisbon and other destinations to the capital Praia, also to Mindelo, in São Vicente, to the island of Sal and to Boavista, for starting at €250 round trip.
INTERNAL FLIGHTS
A TACV and Cape Verde Express they serve all inhabited islands except Brava. You can also opt for the TACV Air Pass, a pass that allows you to fly on all TACV routes. It must be purchased abroad and after purchasing a TACV international ticket to Cape Verde.
SHIP
There are boat connections between all the inhabited islands of the archipelago. Depending on the number of inhabitants of each island – and, as such, the potential passengers – the frequency of trips can be quite different. Due to adverse sea conditions, connections can be suspended or suffer long delays, up to several days.
Companies that manage ferry services include:
Djalo and Macedo:
Tphone: +238 261 34 41
CSA – Cape Verde Shipping Agency, Lda
Telephone: +238 261 11 78
Polar – Agência Marítima de Navegação, Ltd.
Telephone: +238 261 52 23
More information on www.bela-vista.net/ferry.aspx
CAR RENTAL
It is possible to rent a car on several islands but only three of them have dimensions and roads that justify a considerable expense. São Boavista, Santiago and Fogo. Cape Verdean roads are largely unpaved and very precarious. As such, it is advisable to hire a vehicle with four-wheel drive.
At the time this guide was created, we had not detected any car rental company with a presence in the main rent-a-car search engines. The biggest company was Alucar with offices in Sal and São Vicente, but it is likely that several others have since appeared on the larger islands of the archipelago. Count on prices from €40 per day with everything included.
TAXI
Cape Verde's largest cities are served by a good fleet of taxis. As a rule, journeys are inexpensive, between €1 and €5, depending on the urban distance. The case changes if you want to explore one of the islands by taxi. In this case, expect to pay between €30 to €50 for a few hours and double or triple for full-day services.
OTHER
Are popular in Cape Verde, the gaps, vans or vans that Cape Verdeans misrepresented the name of the famous Toyota model. They are usually old and run through cities and other towns without fixed stops. Pick up and drop off passengers wherever you go. Have become one of the main transports collective on the more urbanized islands. If you use one of these gaps, expect to pay between €0.50 to €3, possibly more if the path urban is longer.
It rains very little in Cape Verde and temperatures remain constant throughout the year, between 20°C and 30°C, with hotter days in the summer peak from late May to September and water temperature that increases from 20°C to 27°C. XNUMXth, in September.
No time is bad to visit Cape Verde but bear in mind that the winter months from mid November to March are quite windy. As a rule, the rainy season runs from August to mid-October. At this time, it rains more often which makes certain areas greener. Despite these rains, Cape Verde is still a dry archipelago, largely inhospitable.
Cape Verde's currency is the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE). Euro and US Dollar are also currently accepted. The main Cape Verdean cities and even smaller towns have bank branches, as a rule, with ATMs that allow withdrawals with bank cards. These agencies also exchange currency, travelers checks and make cash advances. Only the most sophisticated establishments in the country – the best resorts and hotels – are prepared for credit card payments.
ACCOMMODATION
Cape Verde has relatively expensive accommodation by African standards.
You can find a more affordable and spartan stay in the simplest hotels and inns, for around €15 in a double room with shared bathroom, possibly without hot water. On a higher level, average quality hotels charge from €25 for a night in a double room with private bathroom, air conditioning and hot water.
If you show up at the counter of one of the Sal or Boavista resorts without the previously purchased travel package, you can prepare to pay from €70 per night with at least breakfast included.
DINNERS
Meals in Cape Verdean restaurants are based on national dishes such as the famous cachupa but also on simple grilled fish or fried meat dishes accompanied by rice or xarem. Expect to pay between €4 to €15 for a full meal at one of these restaurants.
Meals at the best hotels or resorts not included in travel packages will have substantially higher prices.
INTERNET
There are Internet cafes in the main cities of Cape Verde and even in other towns. As a rule, the Internet is slow. If you arrive in Cape Verde as part of a travel package, the resorts or hotel you are staying at will have access included, almost certainly wi-fi.
Company Mobile CV markets several mobile Internet solutions including simple SIM cards for use in smart phones, pens (USB sticks) and others. Check prices on the website.