Cape Verde Guide Tips Things to do in

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The nation of Cape Verde sits in the Atlantic Ocean, off of the coast of West Africa. It has a population of about 500,000 people with Cidade de Praia acting as the capital. The islands were a Portuguese colony up until independence in 1975. 

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Portuguese is the official Language and many of the residents also speak Creole, with French, English, Spanish, and German also being spoken. The islands enjoy constant warm temperatures all year long with the rainy season coming from August to October. Some of the other major centers are Santa Maria, Tarrafal, and Mindelo.

Cape Verde 

There are nine inhabited islands in Cape Verde and each one has its own personality, character, and musical culture. The island of Sal is one of the most popular with visitors as it offers long sandy beaches and is an ideal spot for sunbathing and water sports. The exciting town of Santa Maria is one of the world’s top surfing destinations. Along with the excellent beaches, the islands are filled with beautiful volcanoes and mountains.

Cape verde guide 

Santiago is the biggest of the islands and the capital, Praia, offers a fun nightlife as well as ruins and an old Portuguese fort named Real de San

Cape Verde 

Felipe. Tarrafal is a quaint fishing village and houses an old colonial prison. Sao Vicente is the most cosmopolitan and cultural island and the port of Mindelo is quite lively with a booming music scene and pretty colonial buildings. Mindelo also hosts the annual Baia das Gatas music festival each August.

Most visitors love to spend the majority of their time outdoors due to the spectacular beauty of the islands. Hiking is just as popular as water sports and you can’t go wrong no matter which island you spend your time on.

cape verde travel 

If you’re flying to the islands the main airport is Amílcar Cabral, which is on the island of on Sal. There are also islands in Praia, Santiago, and Boa Vista. The airport you land at depends on where the flight originates from. You can also dock at the ports in Praia and Mindelo if you head there by sea and Sao Vicente can also take passenger ships.

Once you reach the islands you can visit all of them except Santo Antao and Brava by air. One of the best ways to get around is to buy an air pass as they last for three weeks. There are also ferry services between Sao Vincente, Santo Antao, and Mindelo. You can also travel internally by car, bus, and taxi.

The food in Cape Verde is an exciting mixture as it is influenced by several cultures such as African, Portuguese, and Creole. There’s tons of excellent fresh seafood and quality restaurants aren’t too hard to find as the islands are becoming more used to tourists. Some of the best local dishes include thick chicken soup and rice, stew with beans, corn, marinated tuna, and vegetables, and fresh fruits. There are also some wonderful local drinks including sugar cane rum, San Antao liqueur, and Manecome, which is a locally-made wine from Fogo.,

Cape Verde 

Hotel rooms aren’t too hard to find either as the islands are starting to attract visitors from all over the world. The nightlife is a lot of fun as it features traditional live dance and music. The most popular is known as ‘morna’ music – which combines lovelorn lyrics, violins, and guitars and it’s great to listen to while enjoying a local rum or beer.

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Cape Verde offers dramatic and picturesque scenery on all of its islands as well as numerous activities. You’re bound to enjoy the rich history and culture they offer no matter which location you decide to explore.