USEFUL INFO
Cape Verde: ten islands to explore
Cape Verde, or Cabo Verde, is made up of 10 islands, 9 of them inhabited, divided into Sotavento and Barlavento (Leeward and Windward). The capital is Praia, on Santiago Island, discovered by Italians and Portuguese in the 15th century. Cape Verde was the first land visited by Charles Darwin with HMS Beagle on his voyage of study around the world.
Situated between the Tropic and the Equator, at the crossroads of Africa, Europe and South America, 500 kilometres from the coast of Senegal (from the Cape Verde that gave it its name), 1500 km south of the Canary Islands, and a 3½-hour flight from Fortaleza in Brazil.
A Parliamentary Democratic Republic since 1975 (following the Carnation Revolution, which led to independence from Portuguese colonisation).
Africa's second most democratic country, after Mauritius, with a good GDP and good universities. Interestingly, the Cape Verdean population is 600,000 on the islands, but the worldwide diaspora is three times larger.
Cape Verde is considered one of the safest countries in the world to visit, rated as posing an 'Insignificant travel security risk'. Source: factsinstitute
CLIMATE
Pleasant all year round. Bear in mind that from January to March, the trade wind tends to be stronger and the temperature a little lower, and you may encounter the bruma seca, a kind of dense haze caused by Saharan dust, although this phenomenon usually does not last more than a couple of days.
The sea temperature never drops below 22° C, and the air temperature is around 19° minimum and 30°/32° C maximum. The idea that the island is excessively windy should be dispelled; from late January to March/April, the trade winds blow, to the delight of kiters and windsurfers, but the islands are no windier than many other places in the world. On the other hand, even at the height of summer, temperatures rarely exceed 28°C, and there is always a slight breeze. The hottest and wettest months (when rain is possible) are from late August to mid-October.
Time zone: One hour behind UTC
Phone coverage: very good, just buy a local Sim card for 5 or 10 euros for domestic calls or to use WhatsApp with the rest of the world. Wi-Fi available almost everywhere. The country code is 00238.
Electric current: 220 volts. If you need an earth connection, bring adapters
Religion: 90% Christian Catholic. The rest is made up of Protestant Christians and a small amount of Buddhists and Muslims. You can attend interesting sung masses with gospel choirs (church in Riba d'Olte in Sal Rei, Boa Vista).
DOCUMENTS
Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure; no tourist visa required, but visitors must pay for an EASE permit, pre-registration for entry into the country - airport tax - which is valid for a maximum of 30 days, on the website or on arrival. Cost €31
LANGUAGE
The official language is Portuguese, while Creole is the local language. French, English and Italian are widely spoken in major tourist destinations, and Boa Vista is no exception.
CURRENCY
Escudo Capoverdiano (ECV) non-convertible; 1ECV is divided into 100 centavos. A fixed exchange rate against the euro is in force: €1 = 110.265 ECV.
Visa and Mastercard are fairly widely accepted, and you can withdraw money using ATM and credit cards enabled for use abroad. You can usually pay in euros.
HEALTH REGULATIONS
No vaccinations are required, and Cape Verde is not affected by endemic diseases: compared to mainland Africa, the country has good health facilities. There is a public health centre and some private clinics on Boa Vista. Travel insurance cover is strongly recommended.
UNESCO World Heritage
Music is an integral part of Cape Verdean culture. Morna, the musical genre taken worldwide by Cesária Évora, is included on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity list. Cidade Velha, the historical city of Ribeira Grande on the island of Santiago, with the Pelourinho, where slaves were sold and punished, is a
World Heritage Site.
