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Overview

Cape Verde Carnival on Sao Vicente  is the most colourful event of the year

Cape Verde Carnival is a time of joy and celebration, of rhythmic musical beats and delicious street food. Its a time when the locals come together to celebrate, and we think that’s its a fantastic opportunity to take part in what is a quintessential part of the Island of Sao Vicente. Because we design the itinerary based on your preferences, you can see as much or as little of the carnival as you like. You can take part in the celebrations, then head out for a tour of the island, or relaxed on one of the nearby secluded beaches. If you love walking, you can get a 1 hour ferry across Santo Antao, where there are endless options for dramatic valley walks and relaxing coastal routes. The choice is all yours!

Mindelo – A Harbour Town

Nestled in a beautiful bay on Sao Vincent is the picturesque town of Mindelo . The streets set the stage for an extravaganza of costumes and carefully choreographed dances. Often known as the Creole Carnival, due to its mix of Portuguese and African culture, this is a vibrant procession of moving floats and colourful street performances, all accompanied by wonderful live music. The streets come alive with energetic drum beats, swirling dance troops and spectacular floats, each competing to win the coveted carnival prize: VIDEO FOOTAGE

The Main Parade – Tuesday 4th March 2025

The celebrations start in January, with colourful parades held every Sunday. In the week leading up to Shrove Tuesday, you’ll feel a buzz of anticipation in the air. There are lots of fun parties and events to enjoy, eventually culminating in the main parade. The Creole Festival parade runs late into the night and shouldn’t be missed.

The people of Mindelo live for their Carnival. Preparations for the following years event start as soon as festivities have finished.  A lot of the accommodation is likely to be booked by 6 months prior to the carnival, so it’s worth planning ahead. An early booking means that you have a greater range of options available to you.

Carnival Celebrations and Island Excursions

This sample itinerary weaves all of our favourite elements of Sao Vincent into your holiday. We also make sure that you enjoy all of the best carnival parades. You spend five nights in Mindelo, and each day offers a different flavour. You can go on a walking tour of the town and take a jeep journey through all of the most beautiful spots near Mindelo. A one hour ferry crossing gets you to Santo Antao, where you can enjoy a tour of the island, or a walk through one of the valleys.  Back in Mindelo, the guitar making workshop gets you into the musical spirit, before heading back to the carnival to catch a show.

Praia de Sao Pedro Beach

After the carnival week, we transfer you to a hotel on the beach of Praia de Sao Pedro. We have included two nights here, so you can stroll around and explore the area at a leisurely pace. Walk bare foot along the golden sands and dip your toes in the crystal clear water.

If you would like to incorporate some walking into your holiday, there are some great walks on Santo Antao. We can easily combine time walking on Santo Antao with time at the carnival, dancing your way through the day.

Jake and Max are our destination specialists for Cape Verde. Get in touch if you would like to talk through your options:

Call Us: 017687 21030

Email: team@archipelagochoice.com

Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1

You'll depart from Heathrow for Lisbon where you'll stay for one night at a hotel next to the airport, so that you can catch the morning flight to Sao Vicente tomorrow. If you'd prefer an earlier flight from London and a hotel in Lisbon's beautiful and friendly city centre, that also works.

Day 2

This morning you'll return to the airport and fly to Sao Vicente in Cape Verde. You'll be met on arrival for your transfer to nearby Mindelo and your hotel. In this itinerary we've suggested the Terra Lodge but as everything we put together is tailor-made, we can chat about your preferences and find the accommodation that's right for you. Mindelo will be buzzing as the residents live for this Carnival week. Tonight, join one of the parties that will be happening in town.

Day 3

Our guide will meet you after breakfast and take you on a walking tour of their home city. This is the perfect opportunity to ask your local guide all about all the Carnival festivities that are going on in Mindelo. The tour is around two hours and you'll finish with an hour at a guitar making workshop, most likely with a music session! The rest of your day is free for you to join in with the festivities.

Day 4

Sao Vicente is a small island with a vast variety of landscapes. Today you'll be met by our guide and 4x4 jeep for an island tour showing you parts of the island you otherwise wouldn't see, like deserted beaches and volcanoes. Remember your swimwear and towel - there will be plenty of opportunities to take a refreshing dip, perhaps off the shores of the black sandy beaches, or the bay of Baias das Gatas. After time to freshen up, in the evening, re-join the carnival festivities.

Day 5

Neighbouring Santo Antao is accessible by a day trip using the ferries. We've included a guided day for you using the early morning and late afternoon crossings, with a private guided tour of this wild western island. On Santo Antao you'll be met as you disembark from the hour's ferry crossing. Our guide will take you on a tour of this beautiful island, with its jagged peaks and lush green valleys. After stopping for lunch in the fishing town of Ponta do Sol, you can stretch your legs and wander to Fontainhas village. In the late afternoon you'll catch the ferry back to Sao Vicente . Tonight at the Mindelo Carnival it's the Samba Tropical.

Day 6

Shrove Tuesday is the climax of Carnival festivities and we've left the day free for you to immerse yourself in the experience. This is the main event and a real treat for locals and visitors alike. The streets are awash with colour, beautifully tailored costumes and lively music. This is a spectacle not to be missed and celebrations go on late into the night.

Day 7

After your week, packed full of the local highlights and dancing, we thought you would appreciate some much-deserved relaxation time! You'll check out around noon and we'll transfer you to the Foya Branca hotel, on the south west coast of Sao Vicente. Your Hotel sits right on the white sands of Praia de Sao Pedro beach. This is the perfect opportunity to read a book on a sun lounger or just soak up the beautiful coastal scenery with an ice-cool drink in hand.

Day 8

The golden sands of the Praia de São Pedro beach are so enticing, so we've included a second full day here, allowing you to explore the area at your own pace. More time at the beach is a must for sun lovers, but there's also plenty to see and do, if you want to take a little stroll.

Day 9

After a last morning catching Cape Verde's rays, you'll check out and we'll transfer you to the airport for your connecting flights to Heathrow, via Lisbon.

Guide price £2,595 per person

We can create a tailor-made holiday to suit your budget.

All of our sample itineraries can be amended to include the things that you love the most. After discussing your preferred options, we send you a detailed itinerary and quote and will always clearly outline what is included within the price of your tailor-made trip. Our guide price for this nine day holiday includes international flights from the UK, accommodation in twin share, en-suite rooms whilst on the islands, on a bed and breakfast basis, plus half board at the Foya Branca for two nights. We've also included all airport transfers and guided excursions, as detailed in the itinerary. We will use our first-hand knowledge of the islands and Lisbon to plan your perfect holiday package, and we're always on hand to support you whilst you are travelling, via our 24hr contact number.

Accommodation

After one night in Lisbon, you will be staying for five nights at the Terra Lodge in Mindelo and two nights at the Foya Branca on the golden beach of Praia de São Pedro.

Hotel Foya Branca
Terra Lodge

Activities

The guided activities we've included in this example itinerary are all private and with an English speaking guide. If you'd prefer a different activity mix, we can tailor the holiday to your needs so give us a call!

Guided jeep tours in Cape Verde Our guided jeep tours allow you to explore Cape Verde's spectacular islands…
Driver-guided tours in Cape Verde Guided walking in Cape Verde

Location

Mindelo is on the north-western island of Sao Vicente in Cape Verde.

Santiago island Cape Verde The most African of all the islands, Santiago is a melting pot…
São Vicente island Cape Verde Mindelo is the beating heart of São Vicente. Nestled at the foot…

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