Suggested Length of Stay
Allow yourself 5-7 days
Modes of transport
Road
You can rent cars on many Cabo Verdean islands, but the only three that make the expense worth it are Santiago, Boa Vista and possibly Fogo. Consider a 4WD, especially on Boa Vista, as conditions are rough once you get off the few main roads.
Public transport
Taxi
Taxis are generally plentiful in Cabo Verde, with round-town fares rarely topping CVE300. Airport runs and excursions are more costly.
Flying
TACV (https://flytacv.com) serves seven of the nine inhabited islands of Cabo Verde, except Brava and Santo Antão.
Health Precautions
There are no specific required vaccinations if you are visiting Cabo Verde, apart from a yellow-fever immunisation if coming from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.
Food and Drink
While Cabo Verdean cuisine may include Portuguese niceties such as imported olives and Alentejo wines, it’s built on a firm African base, with milho (corn) and feijão (beans) the ubiquitous staples. Thanks to the large number of Italian tourists and expats, good pizza and pasta dishes are available in even the most out-of-the-way places.
Money
The currency unit is the Cabo Verde Escudo (CVE), divided into 100 centavos. It is a stable currency, pegged to the euro. Most businesses also accept euros.
Time Zone
Cabo Verde Time (CVT) is a time zone used by the Atlantic island nation of Cabo Verde. The zone is one hour behind UTC (UTC-1). Daylight saving time is not observed in this time zone.
Visas
All visitors entering Cape Verde require a visa
Australian Embassy & Consulate contacts
Australia does not have an embassy or consulate in Cabo Verde. You can contact the Australian Government at the Australian Embassy in Portugal for consular assistance.
Victoria Building
Avenida da Liberdade 200 – 2nd Floor,Lisbon 1250-147, PORTUGAL
Phone: +351 21 310 1500
Fax: +351 21 310 1555
Email Austemb.Lisbon@dfat.gov.au
Website: portugal.embassy.gov.au
Cabo Verde Embassy & Consulate contacts in Australia
Cabo Verde has does not have representation in Australia, please contact the Cabo Verde Embassy in Lisbon Portugal or the Portuguese Embassy in Australia.
Electricity
On Cabo Verde, the power plugs and sockets are of type C and F. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Getting there (stopovers)
Flying to Praia is a journey in itself, currently via Doha and Casablanca, or Dubai and Lisbon are the recommended routes.
Tipping
In a country with a fragile economy, a small tip is always welcome – though not required. If you are satisfied with the service, a tip of 5 to 10% of the meal is always welcome.
Brief History
Portugal changed the status of Cape Verde from colony to an overseas province in 1951 in order to discourage the population’s yearning for independence. In 1956, Cape Verdeans led by Amilcar Cabral joined the Guineans in forming the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). By 1961, the PAIGC were already in open revolt against Portugal. Much of Portuguese Guinea was under control by the rebel in 1972 and Cape Verde was still under Portuguese control. Eventually, Cape Verde got its independence on July 5, 1975. In 1980, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau parted ways. One party rule was abandoned in favour of a multi-party system. Their constitution which took effect in 1980 was revised three times. The republic is currently one of the most stable democratic states in Africa
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