Nine Islands of Cape Verde

Tourist visas are no longer required for UK and EU citizens. Check your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your planned return date. If you are travelling with us we will arrange your airport security tax pre-payment. You will just need to fill out an international travel form to enter or travel through Cape Verde. It is recommended that you take a copy of your travel insurance policy for consultation in case of an emergency.

Cape Verde has reasonable healthcare and does not have contagious or endemic diseases despite its proximity to the African continent. Because of this there are no vaccinations required for a visit although you should check you are up to date on polio and tetanus. Ask your family doctor if any new vaccinations are necessary or check the NHS website www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. Tummy upsets do happen and following simple rules like washing hands before meals, drinking bottled/treated water and keeping out of the sun make a big difference.

All hotels in Cape Verde charge a room tax of 220CVE per person per night (€2). This tax cannot be pre-paid. Children under 16 years are exempt. If you have a stopover in Lisbon, Lisbon hotels are required to charge a room tax of €2 person per night. Again this tax cannot be pre-paid. Children under 12 years are exempt and the total is subject to a maximum of €14 per guest.

The national currency is the Cape Verde Escudo (CVE or $). You'll need to exchange in-country as the Escudo can't be taken in to or out of Cape Verde. You are advised to bring Euros or sterling cash with you to exchange in-country since the charges for exchanging travellers cheques are extremely high. Please note that most goods have to be imported, so although most costs are less than the UK, this is not a budget destination. It is worth remembering that not all credit cards are accepted and there are only a few ATMs on most islands.

The Cape Verde islands are 1 hour behind UK time in the winter and 2 hours behind in the summer.

The traditional Cape Verdean dishes consist mostly of fish (or in rural areas, chicken is available) with rice, beans and some recognisable vegetables (cabbage, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkin etc.). Food is tasty but simple and the local fresh fish is excellent. Beer, wine and local spirits are widely available including the famous Grogue, a local sugar cane liquor often drunk with honey (Ponche). Grogue factories can be found on Santo Antão where you can watch it being made. There are also some excellent red and white wines being produced on the islands.

English is spoken by our guides and most hoteliers but it would be worth having a few Portuguese or French phrases to hand, especially in cafes and restaurants. Portuguese is the official language of Cape Verde but everyone speaks ‘Criolu’ (creole) – a mix of Portuguese and particular African words and dialects. French is commonly understood too.

The Cape Verde archipelago is considered one of the safest African holiday destination and the crime rate is very low. However, petty theft is becoming more common especially in built up areas so we advise only carrying enough money for the day and keeping the rest in a hotel safe. There are no dangerous animals such as snakes and scorpions. Probably the most important safety issue on the islands is the strong undertow at many of the beaches, so do check with the locals before you swim.