The Cape Verde weather is excellent for beach and mountain holidays. Because they lie in the Trade Winds belt with its gentle Atlantic swell, Cape Verde offers perfect conditions for sailing, kite or windsurfing. The climate is tropical and dry with warm temperatures throughout the year, ranging from [...]]]>

Lovely Cape Verde Beach at Sunset

The Cape Verde weather is excellent for beach and mountain holidays. Because they lie in the Trade Winds belt with its gentle Atlantic swell, Cape Verde offers perfect conditions for sailing, kite or windsurfing. The climate is tropical and dry with warm temperatures throughout the year, ranging from 24ºC to 30ºC, making the Islands of Cape Verde almost 10ºC warmer than the Canary Islands in the winter months.

There are two main seasons; the rainy season from August to October, when sudden but spectacular rainstorms can punctuate the hot sun, and the dry season from December to June when the trade winds blow with more intensity.

Figures for rainfall can be quite misleading as they are considerably different on each island. Sal, Boa Vista and São Vicente islands receive almost no rain while on some of the higher peaks on Santo Antão and Fogo there can be up to 2 meters of rainfall a year, making them lush and green.

The weather in Cape Verde also varies from island to island and within each island. In the desolate centers of the flat islands, temperatures can reach 40ºC whereas the coastal areas generally remain in the high twenties. Sea temperatures are warm enough to make swimming a real pleasure, varying between 21°C in February and March to a high of 26°C in September and October.

The ten Cape Verde Islands are a paradise hidden in the mid Atlantic Ocean, ready to offer its visitors all the beauty of its scenery, the white sandy beaches and the laid-back, friendly culture of Cape Verdean people.

Cape Verde Monthly Temperature Chart

Thanks to the warm Cape Verde climate, the islands are increasing in popularity for tourists from all over the world but especially from Europe, where it is only a 4-6 hour flight away, is free from malaria or hurricanes, no jet lag (+1h GMT), lots of sun, miles of sand beaches and no Caribbean price tag. As can be seen from the monthly temperature chart above, the Cape Verde weather is perfect for a sun filled holiday for the whole family, any time of the year. The perfect ingredients are all there for a sunny Cape Verde Holidays.

Look at the Cape Verde Weather Forecast widget on the right column to check out the 3 day weather forecast in the capital city of Praia in Santiago Island. With those kind of temperatures, what more could you ask for?

If you love warm weather, then  Cape Verde Islands has become “one of the new favourite destinations amongst European travelers” and a great option for anyone looking for year-round sunshine, miles and miles of unspoiled white sandy beaches and a low-key, laid-back experience less than a [...]]]>

Flights to Cape Verde - Cape Verde Flights

If you love warm weather, then  Cape Verde Islands has become “one of the new favourite destinations amongst European travelers” and a great option for anyone looking for year-round sunshine, miles and miles of unspoiled white sandy beaches and a low-key, laid-back experience less than a six hour flight from most European countries, with no jet lag to worry about.

Cape Verde Islands have 4 International Airports:

• Amílcar Cabral International Airport (IATA Code: SID) in Sal Island
• Rabil Airport (IATA Code: BVC) in Boa Vista Island
• São Pedro Airport (IATA Code: VXE) in São Vicente – Cape Verde
• Francisco Mendes Airport (IATA Code: RAI) in Santiago Island

The two busiest airports for tourists are those located on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista where most of the flights to and from Europe operate. Sal is the island of the Cape Verde archipelago that is most developed for tourism.

Santiago Island Airport also gets some flights from Portugal, USA, Brazil and the African continent.

The other International Airport in the Island of São Vicente (inaugurated in December 22nd, 2009) is presently used mostly for internal flights

Direct Flights to Cape Verde from the UK

UK residents have various choices to get flights to Cape Verde Islands from the following UK airports:

Flights to SAL:

• Gatwick (Monday and Friday)
• Birmingham (Tuesday)
• Manchester (Wednesday)

Flights to BOA VISTA:

• Stansted (Tuesday)
• Gatwick (Thursday)
• Manchester (Friday)
• Bristol (Friday)

ThomsonFly has direct flights to Cape Verde to both Sal and Boa Vista Islands, while Thomas Cook also has Cape Verde flights but with a stop-over in Banjul – Gambia in one of the directions.

The other alternatives for British and other European travelers is to get a connecting flight to Lisbon and then go by TAP Air Portugal which is the airline with the most flights to Cape Verde. TAP has daily flights to Sal, 5 weekly flights to Bela Vista and once a week to Santiago Island.

TACV Cabo Verde Airlines also have many flights from Lisbon to Cape Verde, including 4 flights to Santiago Island, another 4 flights to Sal as well as direct flights from Boston, Paris and Amsterdam.

Flights to Cape Verde from Germany

Germans also have various choices to fly to Cape Verde from the following German cities:

TUI flies to Sal and Boa Vista Island from the following cities:

Cologne, Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Hanover

HAPAGFly has flights to Sal Island from Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Munich

Cape Verde Flights from other European countries:

Many other European cities like Dublin, Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, Prague, Barcelona, Las Palmas, Seville, Milan, Rome and Bologna have direct flights, while others have connecting flights to Cape Verde via Lisbon through TAP Air Portugal or TACV Cabo Verde airlines.

Outside of Europe there are flights to Cape Verde from Boston, Dakar, Luanda and Fortaleza (Brazil).

Cape Verde Internal Flights

Most of the Cape Verde Islands can be reached through inter island flights, which are not always easy to book as they are almost always booked. It is recommended to book well in advance if you plan a trip to the outer islands. There are regular flights to and from the major islands of Santiago, Sal, São Vicente and Boa Vista, to the other Cape Verde islands, with less frequent flights.

The main inter island airlines serving the Cape Verde Islands are:

• TACV Cabo Verde Airlines
• Halcyon Air
• Cabo Verde Express
• TAP Air Portugal

There are no flights to Brava Island which can only be reached by ferry boat from the Island of Fogo.

The same applies to Santo Antão Island (the most westerly island of the Cape Verde Archipelago) which can only be reached by a ferry service from São Vicente Island.

The main ferry boat operators are Navierra Armas, Cape Verde Line and Cape Verde Fast Ferry. It should however be mentioned that ferry boats are not always reliable and punctual.

For more detailed information about Air and Ferry Transport in Cape Verde click here.

Cape Verde Islands (Cabo Verde in Portuguese) are located in the North Atlantic Ocean, between the parallels 15 and 17 of latitude north, approximately 450km off the West Coast of Senegal and 1500 km south of the Canary Islands.

Lying on the same latitude [...]]]>

Cape Verde Islands Have Long Stretches of White Sandy Beaches

Cape Verde Islands (Cabo Verde in Portuguese) are located in the North Atlantic Ocean, between the parallels 15 and 17 of latitude north, approximately 450km off the West Coast of Senegal and 1500 km south of the Canary Islands.

Lying on the same latitude as the Islands of the Caribbean, the ten Cape Verde Islands were formed by volcanic activity that projected the rock above the sea level. This volcanic rock dominates the landscape, ranging from gray to red. The slope of the sea near the islands is accentuated and the oceans reach a great depth within a short distance of the coastline. The tremendous power of the projected rock from the bottom of the ocean can be measured by the highest point of the islands, reaching 2.829 meters in the island of Fogo.

Tourism has become the main industry, with many foreign hotel groups investing in new hotels and resorts. The warm sunny weather, the friendly people and so many excellent sandy beaches, have attracted a growing number of tourists every year.

Cape Verde is divided into two groups; in the north is the Barlavento (Windward) group that includes the islands of Santo Antão, São Vicente, São Nicolau, Sal and Boa Vista while the southern Cape Verde group are called Sotavento (Leeward) which incorporates Brava, Fogo, Santiago and Maio islands.

With long stretches of white sandy beaches, rugged scenery, exotic cuisine and a climate reminiscent of the Caribbean, but only a 3 ½ flight from Lisbon or 5 ½ hours away from the UK, the islands have lots of surprises in store for its visitors to enjoy a warm Cape Verde Experience .

With no jet lag for European travelers (-1 hr GMT) there is no doubt that these islands, that are still relatively unknown and unexplored, are an excellent destination for a relaxing Cape Verde Holidays.

Cape Verde was discovered by the Portuguese in 1460. The first discovery was the island of Boa Vista, named by the Portuguese as a result of the long time they remained at sea, without seeing any land. Then, as they arrived at the other [...]]]>

São Filipe Fort in Santiago Island - Cape Verde Islands

Cape Verde was discovered by the Portuguese in 1460. The first discovery was the island of Boa Vista, named by the Portuguese as a result of the long time they remained at sea, without seeing any land. Then, as they arrived at the other islands, they named them after saints, namely Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Santiago.

The island of Sal was given this name because of the great salt pans. The island of Maio because they reached it in May; Fogo, for having a volcano, believed to be active at the time of their arrival. Brava Island, was so named because of its hostile and rugged appearance.

Cape Verde Islands were uninhabited when the Portuguese arrived, but soon after they began to colonize them. It was populated by natives from the west coast of Africa, the Genovese and Portuguese. Today about 75 percent of the population is Creole, a mixture of black African and Portuguese descent. The remainder of the population is mostly black Africans, with a small number of Europeans.

Cape Verde was an important depot for the Portuguese during the slave trade. The slaves were captured and taken to the islands from where they were later sent to work in the production of sugar cane, coffee and cotton fields in Brazil and the Antilles.

Thanks to their location in the mid-Atlantic shipping lanes, the islands became an important stop off location for the re-supplying of trans Atlantic shipping between the 17th and 20th centuries. The town of Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, flourished as an important commercial centre thanks to its natural deepwater port, and as an ideal stop over location for re-fuelling ships.

Old Map Dating Back to 1749 of Cape Verde Islands

Just like what happened in the Caribbean Islands, the rich Cape Verde History also had many episodes related with pirates. Sir Francis Drake who attacked Santiago on several occasions, has his name linked to the fire in the Cidade Velha, the original colonial village in Santiago Island. After pillaging what he could, Sir Francis ordered the village to be burnt down.

During the 19th century, due to economic hardship and colonial neglect, a large number of the Cape Verdean population immigrated to the United States on the whaling vessels that regularly sailed to Cape Verde in search of crews.

In 1975 the country became independent, after more than a decade of armed struggle in the jungles of Guinea-Bissau. Initially Cape Verde was ruled by a single party regime that was in power until 1991, but after this date, opted for a multiparty system.

The present population of Cape Verde Islands is approximately 450 thousand inhabitants, spread over the 9 inhabited islands. It is interesting to note that almost a million of Cape Verdeans live outside of their native Islands of which 500,000 in the USA alone.

Cape Verde was a Portuguese colony until 1975, when it gained independence. The official language is Portuguese, but the majority of the population uses Creole as their national language. The Portuguese Creole combines the various influences of people who were part of the history [...]]]>

Cape Verde Language - Most Cape Verdeans speak Portuguese Creole

Cape Verde was a Portuguese colony until 1975, when it gained independence. The official language is Portuguese, but the majority of the population uses Creole as their national language. The Portuguese Creole combines the various influences of people who were part of the history of the  Cape Verde Islands, namely languages brought by African slaves mixed with the Portuguese, English and French.

Creole language variants are found in the different islands that make up the island country. Cape Verdean Creole seems like a simplification of Portuguese phonetics, which suppressed concordance of gender and number. Creole is a source of pride and a factor of unity for the people and of the Cape Verde Language.

The majority of Cape Verdeans communicate almost entirely in Creole. This is a factor in the difficulty for them to accede to higher levels of education. Those who do not speak Portuguese  are not using any written material produced by Brazil and Portugal. In the long term we will see what will be best for the country. Having their own language (a source of pride for Cape Verde people) or use the Portuguese language, that gives them access to wider opportunities.

Examples of Creole language;

Cape Verde language

língua cabo-verdiana in Portuguese, língua kabuverdianu in Creole.

Do you speak English?

Fala inglês? in Portuguese, Bu ta papia inglês? in Creole.

My name is…

Meu nome é… in Portuguese, Nha nomi e… in Creole.

We don’t drink

Nós não bebemos… in Portuguese, Nú câ tâ bebê … in Creole.

white dress

Vestido branco in Portuguese, bistídu bráncu in Creole.

white shirt

Camisa branca in Portuguese, camísa bráncu in Creole.

Hello

Olá.. in Portuguese, Oi.. in Creole.

Goodbye

Até logo.. in Portuguese, Txao.. in Creole.

Good/Excellent

Bom/Excelente in Portuguese, Fixe in Creole.

Enjoy your Cape Verde Holidays and do practice the Cape Verde Language. It really is very colourful!

Most tourists have a tendency to feel some apprehension when it comes to their personal safety, especially when they try new and unfamiliar holiday destinations.

Cape Verde Islands have seen an increase in tourism in recent years (about 400.000 tourists in 2010) and that has invariably brought [...]]]>

Cape Verde Policeman in São Vicente Island

Most tourists have a tendency to feel some apprehension when it comes to their personal safety, especially when they try new and unfamiliar holiday destinations.

Cape Verde Islands have seen an increase in tourism in recent years (about 400.000 tourists in 2010) and that has invariably brought an increase in crime, making Cape Verde no different from other holiday destinations.

Having said that, it should be noted that Cape Verde is a relatively safe destination for visitors and tourists when compared to other countries. In Africa and according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, an independent evaluator of African nations, Cape Verde is ranked 3rd of all 53 African countries in terms of Personal Safety and Rule of Law, only behind two other fantastic holiday destinations; Mauritius and the Seychelles Islands.

Minor crimes like petty theft and robbery are the most common, especially in the larger cities of Praia in Santiago Island and Mindelo in São Vicente where crime levels are highest. Crowded areas such as market places, festivals, celebrations or the more popular beaches, is where incautious tourists are most vulnerable.

A lot of this crime is done by Nigerians and Senegalese but Cape Verdeans are also involved. Beaches are also one of the favorite places for pickpockets to ply their trade, many times coming in groups that quickly snatch handbags, wallets or cameras, or break into hotel rooms at night. This is why you will find armed guards with baseball bats in Santiago and Boa Vista Islands.

Here are a some simple basic precautions and advice that you should take to prevent you from getting robbed, mugged or scammed during your Cape Verde Holidays;

• Don’t walk around alone at night in unfamiliar areas as you may become an easy target for a mugger. If you want to walk around and explore the night, do so in a group. Women especially should absolutely not walk around alone at night as they tend to attract unsolicited attention from obnoxious males, or worse, muggers.
• Don’t flash large amounts of money around as this would mark you as a target for pick-pockets or scam artists who may try to talk you out of the money they know you are carrying.
• Don’t leave your valuables unattended or out of your sight as they are likely to be stolen when you’re not looking. Instead, leave them in a hotel safe, even if you have to pay the €4.00 fee that many hotels charge for a safe. Make sure you take a picture of your valuables to document them for insurance purposes or to make a claim with the hotel, just in case.
• Don’t leave anything, even low value items, inside an unattended parked car. There are too many incidents where windows were smashed and trivial items were stolen. Also you could be held liable for damages to a car rental if you did not purchase optional insurance.
• When you find yourself in crowded areas, be constantly aware of your surroundings. Don’t become distracted or taken off your guard by unusual activity, like someone bumping into you or asking you odd questions. This usually is an indication of a pickpocket in action.
• Be careful about confidence tricks or scams. If a stranger approaches you with a very credible story that requires you to part with any money, no matter how small you think the amount may be, you are probably being scammed.
• Don’t pack your valuables like cameras, jewelry, passports, travel documents or items that may hold sentimental value, into your luggage when traveling by air. They should always be kept in your carry on hand bags, just in case the airline company loses your luggage.

Beautiful Stretch of a Golden Cape Verde Beach

In short, take all the normal, common sense precautions, like not showing signs of affluence, avoid carrying valuables in public and remain vigilant at all times, and most of all, enjoy yourself and everything that Cape Verde has to offer!

In case you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime in Cape Verde, contact the local police. The emergency line in Cape Verde is: 132 (Police) and 131 (Fire Brigade). You should however be aware that response times can vary and that service standards may not be as efficient as in the US, UK or other EU countries.

You can find lots of valuable information on Safety and Security precautions plus travel advice when visiting the Cape Verde Islands. Just click the links below:

UK – Foreign and Commonwealth Office

U.S. – Department of State information

Canada Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

France – Conseiles aux Voyageures

Foreign Embassies and Consulates in Cape Verde

http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/cape-verde#

There is no British Embassy in Cape Verde. The British Ambassador to Cape Verde resides in Dakar. Mr Antonio Canuto, the British Honorary Consul in Mindelo, Sao Vicente island, can provide limited assistance in an emergency; (tel: +238 2322830), or ask for Mr Canuto’s assistant, Isabel Spencer (tel: 238) 2323512 or 2323123.

Embassy of France in Praia, Cape Verde.

Address: Quartier Prainha da Praia – Santiago.

P.O. BOX: 192 – 76000 Praia

Phones: [238] 261 55 91 / [238] 261 20 69 Fax: [238] 261 55 90

Website: http://www.ambafrance-cv.org/

Germany has no Embassy or Consulate in Cape Verde

The closest contact is in Dakar, Senegal

Phone: +221-8894884 Fax: +221-8225299

Website: www.dakar.diplo.de

For European tourists whose countries have no diplomatic representation in Cape Verde, we suggest contacting the French Embassy above.

Stay safe and enjoy your Cape Verde Holidays!

The Cape Verde Holidays Guide website was made to provide you with all the information about the Cape Verde Islands, its culture, history, language, activities, hotels, travel and other important information to help you make a better choice.

The archipelago of Cape Verde [...]]]>

Cape Verde Islands - Golden Sandy Beach in Boa Vista Island

The Cape Verde Holidays Guide website was made to provide you with all the information about the Cape Verde Islands, its culture, history, language, activities, hotels, travel and other important information to help you make a better choice.

The archipelago of Cape Verde is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Senegal, in West Africa. The ten islands are divided into two major groups; to the south are the Sotavento group (Brava, Fogo, Santiago and Maio) and to the north, the islands of Barlavento (Boa Vista, Sal, São Nicolau, Santa Luzia, Sao Vicente and Santo Antão). Sal is the most popular in terms of tourism.

Cape Verde has four international airports: Amilcar Cabral International Airport on Sal Island, the International Airport of Praia on Santiago Island, the International Airport on Boa Vista island and finally (since December 22, 2009) São Vicente island also has an airport. Praia, the administrative capital is located on the island of Santiago, the largest of the archipelago.

The islands are of volcanic origin with the island of Fogo having an active volcano (Pico do Fogo) which is also the highest point of the islands at 2829 m. The last lava flow dates only from 1995. Most islands have steep terrain and are covered with volcanic ash and poor vegetation. The climate is hot and dry with average temperatures between 20-29 ° C. During the months of January and February the islands are influenced by sandstorms from the Sahara. The Fogo volcano has a massive caldera that is about 8 km in diameter and a must see for vulcanologist.

The 10 Cape Verde Islands are an excellent holiday destination with inviting all-year round warm and sunny weather, loads of sandy beaches, friendly people and only 4-5 hours flight from most of Europe and no jet lag.

Cape Verde Islands - The All-Year Round Holiday Destination