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Destination:

Cape Verde

Local
Temperature
17°
Local
Time
3:52 AM

Cape Verde

Cape Verde's unique geographic location, tumultuous history of slavery and invasion, and fascinating mix of transatlantic cultures have given rise to a place unlike any other on the globe. A place as joyful as it is full of longing, a fact perhaps best reflected in Cape Verdean music and the hauntingly beautiful "morna". The sometimes harsh, drought-prone conditions of this mid-Atlantic scattering of islands have seen the flourishing of a fascinating Creole culture and the most stable democracy in Africa.

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Fort Real de Sao Felipe, Cape Verde
Cidade Velha (Santiago)
Cidade Velha, Santiago, Cape Verde

Cape Verde's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cidade Velha ('Old Town') was the first European settlement in the tropics, and once an important point in the Portuguese Empire. Parts of the original city still remain, including two churches, the town square and the imposing Forte Real de São Filipe (São Filipe Royal Fortress), looming over the area from the hilltop. It is the perfect place to begin exploring Cape Verde's fascinating past.

Aerial view of Praia city in Santiago - Capital of Cape Verde Islands - Cabo Verde
Praia (Santiago)
Praia, Santiago, Cape Verde

Praia is Cape Verde's capital, largest city and centre of economic, political and religious life. The city boasts a distinct mix of African and Mediterranean vibes throughout the downtown area (known as Platô for its location on a small plateau), with its charming old quarter and rapidly expanding urban infrastructure.

handmade fabric bag hung on a wall for sale in african market street
Djunta Mo Art (Sal)
Rua 1° de Junho, Santa Maria

Djunta Mo Art is one of the premier handicraft shops in Cape Verde, offering tasteful and elegant handbags, scarves, trinkets, jewellery and home decor with vibrant colours and impeccable designs. All their products are fair trade and sustainable, directly benefiting local artisans.

Mercado Municipal Mindelo, Cape Verde
Mercado Municipal Mindelo (São Vicente)
Rua António Aurélio Gonçalves, Mindelo

You might think that from the outside it looks more like a museum than a market, but it is, in fact, the municipal market of the city of Mindelo, a vibrant, colourful and meticulously kept space filled wall to wall with the freshest island produce and the smiling faces selling them.

Airports

Cape Verde has four international airports: - Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) on Sal, Cape Verde’s main airport; - Nelson Mandela International Airport (RAI) on Santiago; - Aristides Pereira International Airport (BVC) on Boa Vista; - Cesária Évora International Airport (VXE) on São Vicente. Many hotels can arrange a pickup service from the airport, and taxis are readily available at all terminals. A cheaper option is to take an 'aluguer', a kind of shared taxi, though this can be less convenient as they follow fixed routes.

Public Transport

Besides taxis and renting a car, the only way to get around the islands is to take an 'aluguer', or collective taxis, which can be anything from spacious vans to pick-up trucks. They connect even the smallest towns on most islands, picking up and dropping off passengers on request at any point along their route.

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