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 17th February 2026
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
Itinerary
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.
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!
Location
Mindelo is on the north-western island of Sao Vicente in Cape Verde.
Follow us online