Organize your stay Cape Verde
Money Cape Verde
The local currency is the Cape Verde escudo (CVE). Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 CVE, representing animals or boats. Banknotes in circulation include 200, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 CVE. It is advisable to carry small denominations for everyday transactions, as large bills are often difficult to dispose of due to lack of change.
Please note that the escudo is sometimes represented by the $ symbol, which has nothing to do with its American counterpart.
Exchange is only possible on site. The conversion rate with the euro is around €1 for 110 CVE and does not fluctuate much. You can change euros at airports and on the islands of Santiago, Sal and São Vicente. A bureau de change and a bank with exchange counters are available. As is the case almost everywhere in the world, the exchange rate on arrival is always less advantageous than that of a bank in town. On the other hand, they are open 24 hours a day, due to the airport's constant activity.
In town, exchange counters are available at all banks (Interatlantico, BCA), open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. except on weekends, with the exception of Caixa Economica, which is open on Saturday mornings. Don't forget your passport for the transaction. Be aware that a commission will be charged, regardless of the amount exchanged.
Most hotels accept all major international credit cards.
On most islands, shops and cabs sometimes accept direct payment in euros, on the basis of €1 for 100 CVE. This can be a useful emergency solution. ATMs can be found almost everywhere.
Budget & Tips Cape Verde
Compared to Western standards, life is not particularly expensive, especially when it comes to eating out or getting around the islands. Nevertheless, some prices may come as a surprise, but it's important to realize that practically everything here is imported. If you're on a budget, you'll find it much cheaper to travel between the islands by boat than by plane. In town, a bus ride costs around 40 CVE, while a cab costs 150 CVE. You'll be won over by a wide choice of small, inexpensive restaurants with a very local feel.
Your expenses will also depend on the number of islands you plan to visit, the type of accommodation and the choice of restaurants. Hotel rooms start at 300 CVE, but rates can quickly skyrocket depending on the season. Travellers looking for the utmost in comfort will have to accept Western standards and prices.
An inter-island plane ticket costs between €50 and €150, which is a substantial budget. The boat is cheaper (between €10 and €30), but you need time, patience and... not to be prone to seasickness.
The cost of living can vary from island to island. In Boa Vista, for example, it is considerably higher than elsewhere.
Gratuities depend on the quality of service, and are by no means compulsory, but always appreciated.
In Cape Verde, haggling is not a national sport as it is in some African countries. You can always try your luck by negotiating a 10% discount on a rental car with driver, for example. But this should not be a systematic gesture.
Taxes: prices are generally quoted inclusive of VAT, except in some hotels, where room rates are quoted exclusive of VAT. A tourist tax of around €2 (220 CVE) per day, in force since 2013, must also be added to the bill. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it's important to check the rates when booking.
Passport and visas Cape Verde
To travel to Cape Verde, you need a passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of your stay. Since 2019, nationals of European Union countries, the United Kingdom and Switzerland are exempt from visa requirements for stays of up to 30 days. For longer stays, a visa must be applied for.
Travelers must pre-register on a dedicated website at least five days before the date of travel. Registration must include details of identity, contacts and place of residence. This online system is open to all foreign travelers, whether tourists, students or business travelers.
You must also pay the Airport Security Tax for the equivalent of €30 (3,400 CVE), which can be paid directly on the site. At the end of the procedure, you'll receive an identification number to print out or keep on your smartphone, which you'll need to present to immigration on arrival, proving that the check-in has been validated.
Pre-registration is available on the government website: www.ease.gov.cv
Another TSA of 150 CVE is required for each domestic flight.
Driver's license Cape Verde
If you choose to drive in Cape Verde, you will need to bring your regular driver's license, which is mandatory and may be requested in the event of an inspection.
You will be surprised to find that the main roads in Cape Verde are paved. Tracks serve the secondary network. Generally well maintained, the main roads can be damaged by torrential rains. In any case, it is advisable to adopt a careful driving everywhere. Cape Verdeans have little respect for traffic laws.
Health Cape Verde
There are no particular health risks to report, and no compulsory vaccinations are required before entering the archipelago. Whether vaccinations are compulsory or not, it is preferable to have your vaccination booklet up to date, and Hepatitis A and B are strongly recommended in these parts of the world.
A few rare cases of malaria have been reported in Santiago and Boa Vista between August and November. This does not require preventive treatment as in some parts of Africa, but it is advisable to cover up after dark and use mosquito repellents.
As a general rule, take a medical kit with you to treat minor injuries (blisters, abrasions, wounds...), not forgetting your usual medicines.
In recent years, there have been widespread campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of using water wisely. You'll have nothing to worry about when it comes to raw vegetables, for example, which are soaked in a chlorinated water bath.
Generally speaking, we don't drink tap water, and it's advisable to buy bottles of mineral water and avoid ice cubes in fruit juices, as strong alcohols can withstand them.
Mandatory vaccination Cape Verde
No vaccinations are required. However, it is advisable to be up to date with your vaccinations (hepatitis), and typhoid fever is recommended. If you are arriving from an endemic region, you must present a certificate of immunization against yellow fever, for example from Dakar or Guyana, where it is compulsory.
Security Cape Verde
The country is reputed to be safe, but Praia and Mindelo, the two largest cities, are experiencing an increase in delinquency, probably due to the massive influx of drugs in recent years.
Assaults and attacks on foreigners are rare and unwarranted, but robberies are still all too common. Without becoming paranoid and ruining your vacation for yourself, we advise you to be vigilant, not to display objects of value or covetousness, and to use common sense, as you would anywhere else in the world, including your usual place of residence.
Sometimes, young people solicit you in the street. This is a ruse to pick your pocket or rummage through your backpack. Beware, these pickpockets are pros, and it's only when you get back to your hotel that you'll realize their misdeeds. Don't hesitate to fend them off gently, and if they insist, ask the police for help.
Time difference Cape Verde
The time difference with France is -2 hours from November to March. When it's noon in France, it's 10 a.m. in this zone. This time difference increases to - 3 hours from April to October.
To be more precise, summer time changes on the last Sunday in March, and winter time on the last Sunday in October.
Spoken languages Cape Verde
Although the official language is Portuguese, the good news is that Cape Verde has joined the Francophonie community. There's an Alliance Française in Mindelo and a Centre Culturel Français in Praia, both of which are very active. You'll be surprised by the number of people who speak French, either because they studied it at school, or because they're part of the generation that lived in France, Luxembourg or Belgium. You'll only hear Portuguese on the radio, on television or in the administration. The mother tongue of all Cape Verdeans is a creole (crioulo) with a Portuguese lexical base, which the government wants to elevate to the status of official language. Each island has developed its own way of speaking it and its own lexical variants. Finally, English is spoken in the major tourist resorts and is widely spoken on the islands of Fogo and Brava. Italian is sometimes heard singing on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista, due to the presence of a community of Italians who have chosen to live or invest there. Having emigrated abroad, many Cape Verdeans are multilingual, so you'll find it easy to make yourself understood.
Communication Cape Verde
To call Cape Verde from France, dial +238 (or 00 238) followed by your correspondent's number, or +33 (or 00 33) followed by the number without the 0. Calls are fairly expensive, so it's best to buy a local SIM card. Cape Verdean operators are Unitel T+, CV Telecom and Alou. It's best to go to one of their branches and have them configure your mobile. Top-ups can be bought later, as and when you need them.
Internet access is available just about everywhere; hotels, restaurants and airports all have connections. However, the network is often capricious.
Electricity and measurements Cape Verde
Electricity is 220 volts throughout the archipelago. You won't need any adapters to plug in your electrical appliances: the sockets are the same as in France. Occasional power cuts can last from a few minutes to a few hours. Do as the locals do, and take it easy.
Luggage Cape Verde
Above all, make sure you don't forget anything, as the country is isolated and you won't necessarily find everything you need once you're there. In your suitcase, pack light beachwear, swimsuits, sunglasses and flip-flops, so you can relax on the beach and perfect your tan. And pack a few warmer items, such as a cotton jacket or pants for cool evenings. Generally speaking, people dress very casually on the islands. If you're planning to go hiking, take a windbreaker (or a light fleece or raincoat) and good shoes (if possible made to support the ankles), and equip yourself with a sturdy backpack. In addition to travel documents and a photocopy of your passport, a driver's license is always useful.
Sunscreen and mosquito repellent lotions are hard to find and, above all, very expensive. And don't forget a flashlight in case of a power cut.
