Cape Verde Travel Guide

Cape Verde, or Cabo Verde, is situated 350 miles off the coast of West Africa. It is home to nearly a dozen volcanic islands in the central Atlantic Ocean. An arrow-shaped archipelago of 10 islands, Cabo Verde, appears to be several specks dotting the eastern Atlantic.

Cabo Verde sits at a crossroads of mid-Atlantic air and sea routes. This strategic location is complemented by huge improvements at Mindelo’s harbor. Both Sal’s and Praia’s international airports also make the country’s tourism industry a success.

Things To Do In Cape Verde

The development of the tourist industry in Cabo Verde started in the 1970s, and the number of visitors continued to grow during 1980s and 1990s.

Now, tourism is a significant sector of the Cabo Verdean economy. In 2015, more than 500 thousand tourists visited the country. The major amount of visitors comes from the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.

The majority of tourists visit the least populated islands of Sal, Boa Vista, and Majowith, which attract visitors, due to their flat landscape and sandy white beaches.

This area is perfect for hikers. Santo Antão is especially popular, as green valleys offer a sweeping view of plains covered in both flowers and sugarcane. The country’s mountainous peaks hide these valleys. However, searching for them is an adventure! For beach lovers, Boa Vista, Sal, and Maio are also the places to be. You will be dazzled by pure white dunes blending into the indigo sea.

Best Time To Visit

Cabo Verde has pleasant weather all year round and boasts 350 days of sunshine. It is a perfect area for diving, windsurfing, trekking, sailing, and many other tourist activities.

You can also enjoy the view of beautiful white beaches and impressive mountains. On Fogo Island, around the active volcano Pico do Fogo, ecotourism industry starts to grow rapidly.

However, if you are more into the culture than nature, visit the town of Cidade Velha on Santiage Island, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Money

The local currency is Cape Verde Escudo. The approximate exchange rate is CVE106 for US$1. The currency exchange is available at the airport and in local banks. Credit cards are rarely acceptable. A few major hotels accept Visa. You can withdraw cash in the bank, but the charges can be very high. There are also ATMs in Sal, Praia and Sâo Vincent.

Getting Around

Taxis are plentiful. Some of them have meters, with some you will need to negotiate the price beforehand. Cab drivers can also work as guides if you want to see the main sights of the island.

Car hire is available on the main islands, although it is better to book in advance. Roads are generally of a reasonable quality. However, you should expect a few bumps, once you get off the main roads.

Electricity

In Cabo Verde, they use electric sockets and plugs of types C and F, as in Europe. The standard voltage is 230V.

July 27, 2016 12:00 am Published by Neha Rizal Leave your thoughts