Useful Information
Cape Verde, ten islands to discover.
La Morna: UNESCO World Heritage Site
Music is an integral part of Cape Verdean culture. Morna, the musical genre brought to the world by Cesária Évora, has been declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Cidade Velha, the historic city of Ribeira Grande on the island of Santiago, with the Pelourinho where slaves were sold and punished, is also a World Heritage Site.
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Documents
Passport valid for at least 6 months from the departure date. A tourist visa is not required, but an EASE pre-registration fee (airport tax) is required, valid for a maximum of 30 days, either on-site or upon arrival. €31
Tongue
Portuguese is the official language, while Creole is the local language. French, English, and Italian are widely spoken in major tourist destinations, and Boa Vista is no exception.
Currency
The Cape Verdean escudo (ECV) is non-convertible; 1 ECV is divided into 100 centavos. A fixed exchange rate with the euro applies. Therefore, 1 euro is equal to 110.265 ECV. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, and you can withdraw money from ATMs using debit cards and cards enabled for international transactions. Payments are generally accepted in euros.
Health Regulations
No vaccinations are required, as Cape Verde is not affected by endemic diseases. Compared to continental Africa, the country has good healthcare facilities. In Boa Vista, there is a public health center and several private clinics. Travel insurance is highly recommended. Medications: Basic medications are readily available (Boa Vista has a well-stocked pharmacy); bring your own medications.
Climate
Good year-round. Keeping in mind that the trade winds tend to strengthen from January to March, temperatures are slightly lower and dry mist can occur, a kind of dense haze caused by Saharan dust. However, this generally doesn't last more than a couple of days. The sea temperature never drops below 22°C, and the air temperature is around 19°C (66°F) at its lowest and 30°C/90°F/32°C (86°F/32°C) at its highest. The idea that it's too windy is a misconception; certainly, from late January to March/April, the trade winds blow to the delight of kiteboarders and windsurfers, but like in many other places around the world. On the other hand, even in midsummer, temperatures rarely exceed 28°C (82°F) and there's always a light breeze. The hottest and most humid months (it can rain) are from late August to mid-October.
Jet lag
2 hours less when Italy is on standard time, 3 with daylight saving time.
Telephone Coverage
Very good; just buy a local SIM card for 5 or 10 euros to make internal calls or use WhatsApp with the rest of the world. Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere. The area code is 00238.
Electric Current
220 volts, if you need a grounded socket bring adapters.
Religion
The population is 90% Catholic, with the rest Protestant, and a small fraction Buddhist and Muslim. The masses sung by gospel choirs are interesting (church in Riba d'Olte, Sal Rei, Boa Vista).
10 islands, 9 of which are inhabited
The islands are divided into Sotavento and Barlavento (Leeward and Windward), with the capital Praia on Santiago Island, discovered by the Italians and Portuguese in the 15th century. Cape Verde was the first land visited by Charles Darwin aboard the HMS Beagle on his round-the-world voyage.
Located between the Tropic and the Equator, a crossroads between Africa, Europe, and South America, 500 kilometers from the coast of Senegal (from Cape Verde, which gave it its name), 1,500 km south of the Canary Islands, and a 3.5-hour flight from Fortaleza in Brazil.
Since 1975, a Parliamentary Democratic Republic (after the Carnation Revolution, freeing itself from Portuguese colonization).
It's Africa's second most democratic country, after Mauritius, with a good GDP and excellent universities. Interestingly, the population is 600,000 on the islands, but Cape Verdeans in the diaspora are three times that number worldwide.
Cape Verde is considered one of the safest countries in the world to visit, with a travel security risk rating of "Insignificant." Source: FactsInstitute