• Cape Verde,  Ilha Do Sal,  Island hopping,  Santiago,  Santo Antao,  Sao Vicente

    Top 10 Tips for Cape Verde – How to Get the Best Travel Experience

    Kap Verde vinkit


    *Article contains affiliate links


    Cape Verde is a perfect holiday destination thanks to its wonderful beaches, diverse nature and pleasant climate. Cape Verde is not just about wonderful beaches and year-round sun, it is also about the colorful culture, happy people, untouched nature and local island life. A few years ago, I moved to Cape Verde after a couple of memorable vacations, because I fell in love with the relaxation of the island life and the wonderful seascapes. Why not try moving to a distant island in Africa once in your life?

    In this article, I present the best tips for Cape Verde – from accommodation and activities to local food delicacies. Grab these practical tips and make sure your vacation is memorable and stress-free. Whether you’re planning your first trip or returning to the archipelago again, these tips will help you make the most of Cape Verde’s beauty.

    cape verde tips



    TOP 10 TIPS TO CAPE VERDE


    1. WHAT, WHERE, HOW CAPE VERDE?

    Cape Verde is a small and fascinating island nation in the Atlantic Ocean, about 500 kilometers from the coast of West Africa. This tropical paradise consists of 10 main islands, each with its own unique character. Cape Verde is known for its wonderful sandy beaches, lively culture and relaxed atmosphere. The islands attracts both nature lovers, sun worshipers and active hiking tourists.

    A self-guided trip to Cape Verde offers a unique opportunity to experience the authentic culture of the archipelago and support local residents. When you travel independently, you can choose local accommodations, restaurants and guide services, which directly benefits the islands’ economy. A self-guided tour also gives you the freedom to discover hidden gems outside the tourist areas and delve into the culture of the islands at your own pace. In addition, responsible tourism helps preserve Cape Verde’s unique character and supports sustainable tourism that protects natural resources and local livelihoods.

    cape verde tips


    2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT ISLAND

    Cape Verde consists of 10 main islands, all of which are different from each other and offer travelers wonderful and versatile experiences:

    1. Santiago – Cape Verde’s largest island, where the capital Praia is also located. Known for its history, lively market culture and great hiking trails. Read more about Santiago Island here.
    2. Sal – The most popular tourist destination known for its long sandy beaches and clear waters. An excellent destination for sun worshippers, surfers and divers. Read more about Sal here.
    3. Boa Vista – A peaceful and exotic island with stunning sand dunes and pristine beaches. Perfect for relaxing and admiring nature.
    4. São Vicente – A paradise for culture lovers. The city of Mindelo is known for its live music and colorful nightlife. Read more about the island of Sao Vicente here.
    5. Fogo – A dramatic volcanic island that offers hikers unforgettable experiences. The Fogo volcano dominates the landscape, and vineyards spread across its slopes.
    6. Santo Antão – A hiker’s dream island, whose green valleys and terraced plantations create a wonderful setting for nature lovers. One of Cape Verde’s greenest islands. Read more about green Santo Antao here.
    7. São Nicolau – A lesser known and quiet island that offers peace and beautiful mountain scenery. An excellent destination for nature lovers and hikers.
    8. Maio – A lesser known gem with peaceful beaches and traditional villages. Maio is the perfect destination if you are looking for silence and a local atmosphere.
    9. Brava – The smallest inhabited island, also known as the “island that blooms with flowers”. Brava’s mountain landscapes and floral splendor will enchant nature lovers.
    10. Santa Luzia – An uninhabited island that is a popular destination for day trips and fishermen. Santa Luzia offers deserted beaches and rugged beauty.


    ARE YOU INTERESTED IN ISLAND HOPPING IN CAPE VERDE? READ THIS:


    3. THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN CAPE VERDE

    There is plenty to do and see in Cape Verde, but not everything happens on the same island. This is another reason why a self-guided trip to Cape Verde is a more than recommended way to explore the island nation. It’s wonderful to relax on the beach and in a hotel basking in the sun for a week, but I dare say that this does not give any kind of picture of the real Cape Verde, nor does it offer the holiday experiences that many people would want anyway (yes, wonder why?).

    Here are the best activity and tour recommendations for each island offered by Kookospalmu Alla – travel site:

    SAL

    SANTIAGO

    SAO VICENTE

    SANTO ANTAO

    SAO NICOLAU

    BOA VISTA

    FOGO

    MAIO

    cape verde tips


    4. ACCOMMODATION IN CAPE VERDE

    There is a wide variety of accommodation in Cape Verde, from small bed & breakfasts to large hotel resorts and private holiday apartments. Most of all businesses are owned by foreigners, especially on the island of Sal, but if you want to support the local community and make the most sustainable choices on your trip, I recommend favoring small businesses. Small bed & breakfasts and apartment hotels are not chain companies and their income stays on the islands. Some of these are fully or usually at least half locally owned and thus also a more comfortable choice. In addition, this way you can get closer to the local way of life right from the moment you step into your accommodation!

    CHECK OUT THE BEST HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION IN CAPE VERDE!
    cape verde hotels


    5. WEATHER AND CLIMATE

    Pay attention to the weather when you travel. Cape Verde is sunny and warm all year round and it is a complete myth that there is wind all the time on the islands. During the winter, the evenings are cooler and the wind is a bit more during the day as well, so you should bring a small long-sleeved shirt for the evenings. Sunscreen 50+ is a must, unless you want to join the happy crowd of many tourists looking like a lobster. In the summer, the islands are hot and from August to September there is also some heavy rain. This can also be a fun time to travel as the locals love the rain!

    cape verde weather


    6. MONEY AND CURRENCY

    This is easy to remember, because Cape Verde uses a so-called closed currency called the escudo. Therefore, escudos cannot be exchanged anywhere in advance, and according to the law they should not be taken off the islands either (though I have never heard of anyone’s wallets being searched for this, heh). You can use escudos by withdrawing money normally from the ATM machines on site. In the Santa Maria area, the island of Sal also uses euros, because there is a lot of tourism on the island. 1 euro equals 100 escudos. In many places you can also pay by card, but for this an international card surcharge will be charged. I recommend caution when paying by card, as I have heard that sometimes zeros are added to the bill, especially at night in some bars for drunk tourists. So check the amount on the card machine before paying in the bars. However, this is quite rare and mainly targets the drunkest tourists.

    7. TRY THE LOCAL DELICIOUS FOOD AND DRINKS

    Most of the restaurants and cafes in Cape Verde are of a good standard. I recommend you bravely get to know different restaurants and also the small and local ones. You can usually get lunch from these locals at a very good price, and dinner doesn’t turn out to be too expensive either. The average price of lunch in Cape Verde is 4-6 euros depending on the place, a filling lunch menu with dessert and drink is around 8-13 euros. Local delicacies are Catchupa and Feijoada, which are a type of bean stew topped with rice, vegetables and meat. Both are good!

    Also try the local hard and strong grog or the honey-flavored pontche as a drink, you can also buy these to take home with you!

    cape verde tips


    8. SHOPPING AND LOCAL MARKETS

    Don’t travel to Cape Verde looking for famous clothing stores, because there are none here. Cape Verde is not a paradise for shopping, as the clothing stores on each island are only small overpriced boutiques or cheap Chinese stores. Of course, you get clothes from these while living and visiting the islands, but you will hardly make any very wonderful discoveries.

    The local market is a good option. In bigger cities, market vendors are always there, and larger street markets are also organized at certain times every week. In these you can find everything from home goods to basic branded clothes. Often the sellers also know how to recommend clothes when you just say what you’re looking for. NOTE! Don’t mix local markets with markets established by people from the African continent (e.g. Senegal). These are two completely different things and also easy to recognize and distinguish from each other. Those who came from the mainland have booths and stalls here and there in the market places and they are full of African handicrafts, baskets, hand jewelry, wooden statues and colorful fabrics and scarves. Local markets are like our flea markets and markets with sales tables. Locals never take tourists from the street to their boutiques and they give you your privacy when looking for items. The mainlanders are more about asking tourists to visit their shops and this might be too much for some. There is still no need to be afraid and you can happily visit the stalls, there is no compulsion to buy and you can always politely refuse. No stress.

    cape verde tips


    9. HEALTH CARE

    Health care in Cape Verde is at an okay level. Health care centers and facilities are not quite at the level of our European hospitals, but the nurses are always nice and the doctors are trained either in Europe or America. Mild ailments, such as flu, stomach ache, diarrhea, dehydration, sinusitis, etc. are easily treated. If possible, I still recommend leaving problems bigger than this to be handled in your own country if possible.

    10. EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

    Cape Verde has different events every year, from small local concerts to cocktail parties at beach bars and more fun white parties at clubs. Especially on the bigger islands, something happens every now and then, so it’s worth finding out about the events of your island destination when you arrive. Annual carnivals are held every year at the beginning of the year, and festivals start at the end of summer. Each island organizes its own festivals and carnivals, so you can even jump from one event to the other!

    sal festival cape verde

    Now that you’ve got the tips and the travel bug is already biting you, there’s nothing left to do but get the flights and go. Check here for the best flight offers to Cape Verde!


    cape verde


    HAVE YOU BEEN TO CAPE VERDE? SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS AND EXPERIENCES IN THE COMMENTS! 🙂

    <3: Tiina Johanna

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  • Cape Verde,  Ilha Do Sal

    SAL CAPE VERDE – BEST HOTELS & ACCOMMODATION TIPS


    *Article contains affiliate links

    Sal Cape Verde is a popular holiday destination. The best hotels and accommodation tips all consist of wonderful beach hotels and amazing pool accommodations, because there are plenty of these in Cape Verde. Sal is always a sunny destination and there are plenty of turquoise sparkling ocean water and beaches along the entire length of the island. Sal is also full of magnificent hotels and different accommodations for every need and every budget, from luxury hotels and large resorts to affordable hostels, cute bed & breakfasts and private apartments.

    Living in Sal for a long time, I have also had time to get to know several of these hotels and places myself and to gain my own experience, good local knowledge and also the experiences of my friends.

    HERE ARE THE BEST HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION TIPS IN SAL!


    FIVE STAR LUXURY BY THE SEA

    Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort offers five-star luxury right by the sea. The Hilton has a beautiful large pool area with red sunbeds and wonderful palm trees and a direct sea view. At Hilton, the quality of services is always quaranteed! The Hilton is also just a short walk from the cozy center of Santa Maria.

    BOOK HILTON CABO VERDE SAL RESORT HERE!


    Oasis Salinas Sea is a popular five-star hotel with two swimming pools on the same coastline as the Hilton. The services of this hotel are also amazing and the location couldn’t be better: Right on the beach and walking distance to everywhere!

    BOOK OASIS SALINAS SEA HERE!


    GOOD QUALITY HOTEL FOR A RELAXING TASTE

    Hotel Morabeza is a beautiful and stylish hotel located right next to the center of Santa Maria, which also suits a more quiet taste. There is no entertainment services in Morabeza and entertainment can be found only outside the hotel. The hotel has no less than three swimming pools and is located right next to the beach in the best parade spots. If you want to relax in peace but close to everything. choose this!

    BOOK HOTEL MORABEZA HERE!


    Oasis Belorizonte is a nice good quality four-star hotel, where you can get everything you need, from good food to an entertaining program and just relaxing by the pool. Even many famous people have stayed here and loved it!

    BOOK OASIS BELORIZONTE HERE!


    Halos Casa Resort is a bright and beautiful four-star hotel with a large swimming pool in the center for relaxation. Halos’ evening entertainment is highly praised by customers. The hotel is only a short road crossing to the beach and only a short walk to the services of the city center.

    BOOK HALOS CASA RESORT HERE!


    Hotel Dunas de Sal is a modern beautiful hotel close to the city and close to the beach. It has all the priviledges of a wonderful holiday resort combined with a tasteful style. You will not go wrong with this choice and the staff is so amazing.

    BOOK DUNAS DE SAL HERE!


    ADULTS ONLY QUALITY RELAXING

    Robinson Club Cabo Verde is a cozy and beautiful adult-only hotel with all amenities, right on the beach and within walking distance to everything. Also this hotel has been the perfect choice for many celebrities and it really is a wonderful hotel to stay in!

    BOOK ROBINSON CLUB CABO VERDE HERE!


    Melia Llana Beach Resort & Spa is a wonderful five-star luxury resort that consists of several beautiful swimming pools and pool restaurants. The nearby Bikini Beach beach area is a great place for swimming even on a windy day thanks to its more sheltered coves, and the Bikini Beach Club found on the beach offers entertainment every day and night for every taste. Melia Llana is for adults only.

    BOOK MELIA LLANA BEACH RESORT & SPA HERE!


    Design Suites Boutique Hotel is quite new in Sal’s accommodations. The modern and cozy boutique hotel is an adult-only accommodation right in the center of Santa Maria. The rooms are stylish and on the roof terrace you can enjoy sea views from the infinity pool!

    BOOK DESIGN SUITES BOUTIQUE HOTEL HERE!


    BEST POOLS

    Hotel Odjo D’Agua is a local, high-quality, beautiful and cozy hotel right by the sea. The food in the hotel’s restaurant is so delicious and the hotel is the only one whose infinity pool is a seawater pool. The hotel has its own small beach coves with beach chairs on both sides of the pool, where you can swim without worries even on windier days. Tip: Locals also prefer Odjo D’Agua’s seawater pool and the restaurant’s delicacies when they want a little pampering, just like us as well!

    BOOK HOTEL ODJO D’AGUA HERE!


    Hotel LIVVO Budha Beach is located near the beach of Antonio Sousa, a little further from the center of Santa Maria, but still within walking distance. The hotel is bright, relaxed and peaceful, and in its center is an attractive swimming pool, from where you can enjoy a beautiful sunset or go and admire the big seashells of Shell Cemetery Beach in front.

    BOOK HOTEL LIVVO BUDHA BEACH HERE!


    Melia Dunas Beach Resort & Spa is located in the Melia hotel resort area next to the previously mentioned Llana. Melia Dunas’ swimming pools are large and you can enjoy them even a long day of swimming and chilling. You can get delicious refreshments directly in the pool from the pool bars. There are boutiques and several different restaurants in the hotel resort area. Entertainment can be found both in the hotel area and at the nearby Bikini Beach Club. We spent our wedding weekend at Melia Dunas in a private villa and totally enjoyed ourselves!

    BOOK MELIA DUNAS BEACH RESORT & SPA HERE!


    SMALL HOTELS AND BED & BREAKFASTS

    Hotel Da Luz is a nice small hotel a bit outside of the main pedestrian street of Santa Maria in a nice area. The hotel always has great happy hour offers at the pool bar and the small swimming pool offers an opportunity to refresh yourself in the middle of a hot day.

    BOOK HOTEL DA LUZ HERE!


    Ocean Suites offers stylish and original accommodation right next to the beach, along the main street and in the heart of everything. The rooms are modern and the main asset of this place is definitely the central location. The popular Ocean Cafe restaurant downstairs always has good food and evening entertainment that attracts both tourists and locals who love the fresh dance rhythms.

    BOOK OCEAN SUITES HERE!


    Sakaroule B&B is a small and colorful bed and breakfast in the center of Santa Maria, a short walk from the main street and the beaches. The service is friendly and the breakfast is always delicious. Totally recommend, if you are looking for something a bit more special and charming!

    BOOK SAKAROULE B&B HERE!


    PRIVATELY IN YOUR OWN APARTMENT

    Misturod is a basic, but good apartment hotel a little further from the hustle and bustle of the city center. Misturod’s apartments include everything you need and each apartment has its own small terrace with hammocks. This is where we spent the first couple of months after I moved to the island!

    BOOK MISTUROD APARTMENTS HERE!


    Villa ao Mar is a wonderful apartment hotel right on the beach. All apartments are of good standard and quality, each one has everything you need. The absolute best is the large and comfortable terraces and the seaside location, you literally step out of the hotel door directly onto the beach! I myself spent a week here for the first time on vacation and I can warmly recommend it.

    BOOK VILLA AO MAR HERE!


    Porto Antigo Hotel B&B is a nice apartment hotel also right by the sea. There is a private swimming pool and a private small beach cove where it is nice to swim even on a windy day.

    BOOK PORTO ANTIGO HERE!


    Branco Suites is a bit further from the beach area, but a very great choice for accommodation. The apartments are of a good standard and it’s nice to look at the sceneries from the terrace. The breakfast is excellent and one of my friends often walks here for breakfast just because!

    BOOK BRANCO SUITES HERE!


    Aguahotels Vila Verde is a good basic apartment hotel a short distance from the center of Santa Maria. The apartments are modern and have everything you need. The hotel has its own swimming pool, with a pool bar for those who are hungry and thirsty. Vila Verde Resort has its own convenience store and restaurant. Vila Verde also offers apartments for longer-term rental. The nearest beach is Bikini Beach and there is a free shuttle bus from Vila Verde to Santa Maria several times a day. We ourselves lived here for a while, because we wanted to enjoy the pleasures of our own swimming pool and get a little change in our everyday life.

    BOOK VILA VERDE HERE!


    There is also much more accommodation in Sal than just these and there are also various private holiday apartments for rent in every price range. Due to its wide range of accommodation, Sal is suitable for both luxury lovers and budget travelers, so pick your favorite from the list or find out more and find the best accommodation on Booking.com!

    SAL CAPE VERDE BEST HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION ON BOOKING.COM



    <3: Tiina Johanna

    Remember to follow me on Social media!
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    *Photos: Tiina Johanna, blogger and Booking.com*
    *Photo editing: Loov.fi “Tropical blues” presets – check it out!