Kap Verde

Portuguese is the official language of government, schools and signs. In daily life, almost everyone speaks Cape Verdean Creole, called Kriolu. It is based on Portuguese with West African influences, and each island has its own accent.

In the resorts on Sal and Boa Vista, many staff speak English, and some speak Italian, French or German. Away from the resorts, English is less common. French is often understood, and a few words of Kriolu are always welcome.

• SIM cards: the two mobile networks are Alou and Unitel T+. Both have shops in the main towns and at the international airports.
• Coverage: 4G works in towns and along the main roads. Signal can drop in the deep valleys of Santo Antão and Fogo, and at sea between islands.

• Tap water: most tap water is desalinated and is not recommended for drinking. Bottled water is sold everywhere.
• Mosquitoes: the World Health Organization certified Cabo Verde malaria-free in January 2024. Since then, a small number of local malaria cases have been reported, mostly in Praia. Dengue is also a risk, especially on Santiago, Fogo and Brava. Use insect repellent day and night.
• Vaccinations: check current recommendations about 8 weeks before travel. You need proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk.
• Sun: the sun is strong all year, and the cool trade winds hide it. Use strong sunscreen.
• Medical care: hospitals are basic, and some medicines are in short supply. Bring any regular medicines with you. Serious cases may need evacuation, so buy travel insurance that covers it.

Citizens of the EU, the UK, the US, Canada and several other countries can visit without a visa for up to 30 days. Travellers from countries on Cabo Verde's visa list must get a visa from an embassy before they travel.

• Pre-registration: every visitor must register on the official EASE portal at least 5 days before arrival and pay the airport security fee (TSA) online. Since 1 July 2026, travellers who arrive without registering pay double the fee at the border.
• Passport: it must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date.
• Longer stays: to stay longer than 30 days, apply for a visa or an extension through the official channels before your permitted stay ends.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

• Greetings: say bon dia (good morning) or boa tarde (good afternoon) when you enter a shop, bar or minibus. A handshake is normal, and friends kiss on both cheeks.
• Pace: schedules are relaxed. Patience and a smile help.
• Dress: swimwear is fine on the beach, but cover up in towns, shops and churches.
• Photos: ask before you photograph people, especially fishermen, market sellers and children.
• Music: music is central to local life. Morna is on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, and live music in bars is common.
• Bargaining: not usual in shops. Light bargaining is fine at craft stalls and for private tours.

On public holidays, government offices, banks and many shops close. Ferries and flights fill up before long weekends. Carnival in February or March is the biggest party of the year, especially in Mindelo. Each town also celebrates its own saint's day with processions and music.

Shops usually open on weekdays from about 8:00 to 12:30 and from 15:00 to 18:30. On Saturday, most open only in the morning, and many close on Sunday. Supermarkets and shops in resort areas keep longer hours.

Travel between the islands is the main challenge. Connections are limited, and delays are common, so leave a spare day before your international flight home.

• By air: domestic flights link the islands with airports, mostly through Praia and Sal. The airline and routes have changed several times in recent years, so check current schedules before you book. Santo Antão and Brava have no working airport and are reached by ferry.
• By ferry: CV Interilhas runs the national ferries. The busiest route links Mindelo on São Vicente with Porto Novo on Santo Antão, in about one hour. Ferries also link Praia with Fogo and Brava. Long crossings can take many hours in rough seas.
• By aluguer: shared minibuses and pick-up trucks called alugueres are the main public transport on every island. They leave when full and take cash.
• By taxi: taxis wait in towns and at airports. Most have no meter, so agree the price before you get in.

Cape Verdean food mixes Portuguese and West African traditions, with plenty of fresh fish. The national dish is cachupa, a slow-cooked stew of corn and beans with fish or meat. Leftover cachupa is fried the next morning and served with an egg for breakfast. Lunch is the main meal, and many local cafés serve a cheap prato do dia (dish of the day).

On the coast, try grilled tuna or wahoo, and lapas (limpets) with garlic and lemon. Fresh goat's cheese with papaya jam is a popular snack. The local spirit is grogue, made from sugarcane, especially on Santo Antão. Ponche is a sweeter version with honey. Fogo also produces wine from vines grown in volcanic soil.

Sal and Boa Vista

• Sal is the main entry point and the busiest resort island. Life centres on the town of Santa Maria and Praia de Santa Maria. Float in the salt pools of Pedra de Lume, watch lemon sharks in the shallows at Shark Bay, and see the light in the Blue Eye rock pool at midday.
• Boa Vista has long, empty beaches and the dunes of the Deserto de Viana. It is a major nesting site for loggerhead turtles in summer. The small town of Sal Rei faces the Ilhéu de Sal Rei.

Santiago

• Praia is the capital and the largest city. Its old centre, the Platô, has colonial buildings, markets and the Presidential Palace.
• Ribeira Grande de Santiago is home to Cidade Velha, the first European colonial town in the tropics. The hilltop Fort Real de São Filipe looks over the old town.
• Tarrafal in the north has a sheltered beach and the Tarrafal Concentration Camp Museum. On the way, Serra Malagueta Natural Park offers good mountain hiking.

São Vicente and Santo Antão

• São Vicente is home to Mindelo, the cultural capital, known for music, bars and Carnival.
• Santo Antão is the hiking island, with deep green valleys, terraced fields and cliffside villages. It is one hour by ferry from Mindelo. Pico da Cruz is a popular hiking goal.

Fogo and Brava

• Fogo is dominated by Pico do Fogo, at 2,829 metres the highest point in Cabo Verde. Villages and vineyards sit inside the crater. São Filipe is the island's colourful colonial town.
• Brava is the smallest inhabited island, green and quiet, and reached by ferry from Fogo.

Other islands

• São Nicolau is rugged and little visited, with hikes in Monte Gordo Natural Park and the old town of Ribeira Brava.
• Maio is flat and very quiet, with long beaches and few visitors.
• Santa Luzia Nature Reserve protects the uninhabited island of Santa Luzia and its islets, important for seabirds.