🌟 What to Do & Local Tips
Experiences and tips to get the most from your trip in Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde runs on two speeds: flat and fast on Sal and Boa Vista, where trade winds power kite surfers across turquoise bays and 4x4s race across desert dunes to reach beaches with no other footprints. And vertical and slow on Santo Antão and Fogo, where you walk all day through terraced valleys or scramble up a volcano at dawn.
In Mindelo, the pace is somewhere in between — colonial and colourful, a city that eats late, plays music later, and wakes up slowly. Morna drifts from open windows. The fish market is loud and alive by 7am.
Cabo Verde rewards people who explore beyond their resort. The islands are all different. So are the experiences.
📍 Book Activities & Experiences
Sal Island Full-Day Tour — Blue Eye, Salt Lake & Sharks
The classic Sal day trip. Float in the volcanic salt lake at Pedra de Lume (second saltiest water in the world), peer into the Blue Eye cave at Buracona, see lemon sharks at Shark Bay, and drive through the Terra Boa desert with its mirage effect. Hotel pickup included. Around €45–66 per person, 4–7 hours.
More info →São Vicente Full-Day Island Tour from Mindelo
Guided tour covering Mindelo’s historic centre, Cesária Évora’s childhood home, Monte Verde (774m panoramic views), fishing villages Salamansa and Calhau, and a swim at Baia das Gatas natural lagoon. Around €70 per person, full day with pickup included.
More info →Sea Turtle Snorkelling — São Vicente
Swim with loggerhead sea turtles in São Pedro Bay, just outside Mindelo. Guided snorkelling experience with guaranteed turtle sightings (or money back). 1.5 hours. Around $70 per person. Pickup from Mindelo port or accommodation.
More info →Santo Antão — Cova Crater to Paúl Valley Hike
The iconic hiking route in Cabo Verde. Start at the Cova crater (planted caldera), descend through lush Paul valley terraces to the coast. Five hours, 14km, spectacular scenery. Full-day trip from Mindelo including ferry crossing to Santo Antão.
More info →⭐ Top Experiences in Cabo Verde
⭐ Kitesurfing & windsurfing (Sal)
Ponta Preta on Sal is one of the world’s top kite and windsurfing spots. Consistent trade winds, warm water. Lessons from €50–80, equipment rental available. October–April best conditions.
More info →⭐ Lemon shark encounter (Sal)
Shark Bay on Sal has a unique population of lemon sharks that allow close-up viewing — even swimming among them. Accessible on any island tour. Entry €3, or included in guided trips.
More info →⭐ Pedra de Lume salt lake
Float in an extinct volcanic crater filled with salt water — second saltiest lake in the world after the Dead Sea. You cannot sink. Medicinal mineral-rich water and mud scrubs available. Entry €6.
More info →⭐ Fogo volcano summit (2,829m)
Climb Pico do Fogo from Cha das Caldeiras village. 4–5 hours round trip on volcanic cinder slopes. Start at dawn. Views cover the whole archipelago on clear days. Guides available locally.
More info →⭐ Morna evening in Mindelo
Catch live morna — Cabo Verde’s UNESCO-listed music — in a bar or restaurant in Mindelo. Guitar, violin, Cape Verdean Creole lyrics. Ask at your guesthouse for that evening’s music. Free to attend with a drink.
More info →⭐ Boa Vista 4x4 safari
Santa Monica Beach (18km of golden sand) is only reachable by 4x4. Guided safaris cross the Viana desert dunes and reach remote beaches with no other visitors. Half-day around €35–50.
More info →⭐ Santo Antão north coast trail
Coastal walk from Ponta do Sol along spectacular cliffs and canyons. Requires a guide on some sections. 6–8 hours. One of the finest coastal walks in the Atlantic islands. Best Oct–May.
More info →⭐ Loggerhead turtle watching (Boa Vista)
June–October, loggerhead turtles nest on Boa Vista’s beaches. Night-time guided visits with conservation organisations are permitted. Do not approach turtles without a guide. Booking essential.
More info →⭐ Buracona Blue Eye (Sal)
Natural rock cave connected to the ocean. At midday, sunlight filters through and illuminates the water blue from inside — the Blue Eye. Natural swimming pool adjacent. Entry €3. Best visited 11am–1pm for the light effect.
More info →⭐ Creole cooking class (Mindelo)
Learn to make cachupa (the national stew — corn, beans, fish or meat) and other Cape Verdean dishes. 3.5-hour class in Mindelo with local cooks. Around $60 per person. Book through GetYourGuide.
More info →⭐ Mindelo Carnival (February)
West Africa’s finest carnival. Weeks of parades, samba, funaná, costumes and live music. The whole island dances. Book accommodation 3–4 months ahead for Carnival week — rooms sell out completely.
More info →⭐ Cidade Velha (Santiago)
UNESCO World Heritage site — the first European colonial city in the tropics, founded 1462. Cobbled streets, ruined cathedral, pillory. 15km from Praia by taxi or shared aluguer. Free entry to the site.
More info →📋 Booking Tips
- Book water sports in advance: Kite and surf schools fill up quickly in peak season (Dec–April)
- Island tours fill early: Popular Sal day trips book out — reserve 1–2 days ahead minimum
- Turtle watching in advance: Conservation-guided night trips have limited spots — book weeks ahead (June–Oct)
- Carnival accommodation: Book 3–4 months ahead for February Carnival in Mindelo
- Fogo volcano: If climbing solo, hire a local guide in Cha das Caldeiras — essential for safety
💡 Local Tips
Everything you need to know before you go
💡 Essential Info
CVE / Escudo
Cape Verdean Escudo (1 EUR ≃ 110 CVE)
Euros widely accepted in tourist areas on Sal and Boa Vista. Change money at airport or bank — ATMs available on all main islands. Cards accepted at larger restaurants and hotels.
Portuguese & Kriolu
Official: Portuguese. Everyday: Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu). English spoken widely in tourist zones on Sal. In Mindelo and smaller islands, French and basic English. Learning a few words of Kriolu ("Morabeza" — warmth/hospitality) goes far.
+238
Emergency: 132 (police), 130 (fire), 131 (ambulance)
Mobile coverage good on Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago and São Vicente. Remote areas of Santo Antão have limited signal. Local SIM (CVMóvel, Unitel T+) available at airports — tourist plans from €10–15 for 10GB.
No specific vaccines required. Malaria risk is minimal (Praia area only) — consult your doctor. Hepatitis A recommended.
Water: Do NOT drink tap water. Bottled water is cheap (around 50 CVE/litre). All restaurants use bottled water for cooking.
🤝 Cultural Tips
💰 Tipping
Not obligatory but appreciated. 10% in restaurants for good service. Round up for taxi drivers. Tour guides: €5–10 per person per day.
👋 Greetings
Morabeza — the Cape Verdean concept of warmth and hospitality — is real and genuine. Greet everyone. "Bon dia" (good morning), "Bo tarde" (good afternoon). Handshakes common. Cape Verdeans are warm and open with strangers.
🍴 Dining
Cachupa is the national dish — slow-cooked stew of corn, beans, fish or meat. Best from family restaurants (often unmarked). Grilled fresh tuna (atum) and grouper (garoupa) outstanding everywhere. Dining runs late — restaurants full 8–10pm. Morna often plays.
🌵 Beach Etiquette
Respect nesting beaches: Turtle nesting beaches have strict rules June–October. No lights, no touching, only guided visits. All Cabo Verde beaches are public — resort sun loungers on public beaches cost €5–10 to rent.
⏳ Island Time
Cape Verde runs on Africa time. Things happen when they happen. Buses leave when full. Restaurants open when the cook arrives. Embrace it. Rushing is both futile and exhausting in a country where nobody rushes.
📅 Best Time to Visit
Dry Season
November – June ~ 24–28°C, sunny, trade winds strong
✅ Pros: Best beach weather, ideal for watersports (strong trade winds for kitesurfing), no rain, pleasant temperatures, sea calm for snorkelling
❌ Cons: Peak prices December–April, busy resorts, Carnival (Feb) accommodation booked out, winds can be too strong for swimming on some beaches
Wet Season
July – October ~ 26–30°C, humid, brief rains
✅ Pros: Cheaper prices (30–40% less), lush green landscapes on mountainous islands (Santo Antão, Fogo), turtle nesting season (Boa Vista), quieter beaches
❌ Cons: Occasional heavy rains (mostly brief), humidity higher, some hiking trails slippery, Saharan dust (calima) possible
December – January
24–27°C, dry, peak tourist season
✅ Pros: Guaranteed sunshine, warm sea (23°C), great visibility for diving, perfect beach weather for Europeans escaping winter
❌ Cons: Highest prices of the year, resorts fully booked, Christmas and New Year surcharges, busy beaches on Sal and Boa Vista
April – June
26–30°C, sunny, fewer tourists
✅ Pros: Warm and sunny with lower prices than peak season, good conditions for hiking, kite winds still strong, beaches less crowded
❌ Cons: Getting hotter and more humid, occasional Saharan dust, water temperatures warming (good or bad depending on preference)