Results for "Cap+Vert+souvenir+artisanat"

Easily accessible from Sal or São Vicente, São Nicolau is the forgotten island of the Barlavento group. With two large villages, volcanoes, jagged peaks, lush valleys, and vast rocky expanses, it has nothing to envy its big sister Santo Antão. It’s slipped under travelers’ radar a bit (in January, there were probably fewer than a hundred European tourists on the whole island), and that’s just fine! Accommodations aren’t overrun by groups like in Santo Antão, and connecting with locals is even easier. But don’t come to São Nicolau for wild nightlife—it’s incredibly peaceful here, and on Sundays, it’s total silence!

A little favorite of mine: Pensão Jardim in Ribeira Brava, the capital; Residencial Palice in Queimadas; and especially Pousada d’Anna in Estância de Brás, where the raging sea crashes against the black lava spurs.

Weather-wise, it was chilly this year but perfect for hiking. If you’re up high (like Monte Gordo), dress warmly or wait for spring! Fog gusts can ground you completely. Trails are generally less marked than in Santo Antão; if you’re wary of apps, you can find a 1:50,000 map at the small travel agency in Tarrafal.

Those who enjoy sharing experiences with other travelers over a Strela or two in the evening might feel a bit frustrated on São Nicolau, but the island’s beauty, the resilience of its farmers in extreme conditions, and the kindness of its people make it a fantastic stop for any visitor to Cape Verde!

Hi there,

I’m trying to find out the dates for the best parades at the Mindelo Carnival in 2026, but I’m having trouble figuring it out. When I search for "Mindelo Carnival 2026," I get different dates and no clear schedule. I’ve found the parade on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and the one on Sunday, February 22, with the grotesque makeup, which seem the most interesting. On the other hand, some say the São Nicolau Carnival is more authentic than Mindelo’s. If you’ve experienced this firsthand—not just theoretically but actually been there—I’d love to hear your practical tips.

Thanks in advance!

Elisabeth

Hi,

I’m going on leave to Cape Verde on 12/06/25 and completed the mandatory registration to enter the country. After filling in my identity, passport number, and hotel address, I tried to pay with my debit card. However, I couldn’t validate the payment—an error message appeared, and the same thing happened with two other cards (bug?). If it still doesn’t work by the time I leave, can I pay the fee upon arrival? Is there a way to do it at the Cape Verde Consulate in Paris?

Thanks.

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Santo Antão with some hiking (for me) but not for my partner. I’d love some help figuring out if my plan is doable in terms of time and transportation: - Day 1 – Arrival by boat from Mindelo, then aluguer to Cova (and overnight nearby) - Day 2 – Hike to Paul / aluguer for my partner - Day 3 – Aluguer to Ponta do Sol - Days 4 & 5 – Ponta do Sol - Day 6 – Hike to Cruzinha / aluguer for my partner (overnight in Cruzinha) - Day 7 – Aluguer (or taxi) to Xoxo (overnight in Xoxo) - Day 8 – Aluguer to Porto Novo + boat to Mindelo

Does this plan make sense with the local transport options? For accommodations, I’d love any suggestions you might have. Thanks so much for your help!

Hi, We’re heading to Cape Verde in January. We’re scheduled to arrive in Praia on a Saturday around 11 AM. I read somewhere that the exchange rate for Euros to Escudos is the same everywhere—110 escudos for 1 euro. Can anyone confirm this? If that’s the case, I assume there’s a currency exchange desk at the airport, and the rate isn’t too bad? So, it’s better to exchange at the airport, right? What do you think? I don’t want to use ATMs. Otherwise, are banks in town open on Saturdays? I read they close by 3 PM?

Hi,

I arrive in Fogo at 11 a.m. (if the ferry is on time) from the ferry departing Praia. From what I understand, the collectivos to Cha das Caldeiras leave late morning? Do you think I can leave the same day?

My question is: should I spend a night in São Filipe? I don’t want to take a taxi—it’s too expensive.

Thanks,

Patrice

Hi, I’m leaving for Cape Verde on 11/24/2025... I tried to register on the site www.ease.gov.cv (so more than 5 days before departure). I can’t get past the email verification step (I never receive the code). I’ve tried several browsers and all 3 languages—nothing works...

Any ideas?

Hello, We’re a couple in our sixties and have finally decided to spend 15 days in Cape Verde from March 1 to 15, 2025, focusing exclusively on the four Leeward Islands. We’ve planned to take the boat between these four islands and adjust our stays based on the ferry schedules. If there are any difficulties or need to adjust the route, we might take a flight instead. Here’s our planned itinerary with the boats: Day 1: Flight from France to Santiago Island Day 2: Boat from Santiago Island to Brava Island Day 3: Brava Island Day 4: Brava Island Day 5: Boat from Brava Island to Fogo Island Day 6: Fogo Island Day 7: Fogo Island Day 8: Fogo Island Day 9: Boat from Fogo Island to Santiago Island Day 10: Santiago Island Day 11: Boat from Santiago Island to Maio Island Day 12: Maio Island Day 13: Boat from Maio Island to Santiago Island Day 14: Santiago Island Day 15: Flight from Santiago Island to France.

Based on your experiences and knowledge, could you share: - Your favorite places to visit and hikes - Accommodations that charmed you - Restaurants you enjoyed

Thanks in advance to all travelers and locals from these islands who’d like to share their favorite spots! !

Hello,

We’ve booked our tickets for July—there’ll be 4 of us, maybe 6 (all in our sixties). We’d like to visit 4 islands: Arrival in Praia on July 8th Return from São Vicente on July 29th

Between those dates, I’m not sure how to split our time across each island. We’ll definitely spend at least a week on Santo Antão. We’re planning to visit Santiago, Fogo, São Vicente, and Santo Antão. We’re looking for easy hikes, diving, sightseeing, and a little beach time (but not too much). How do you think we should divide the 3 weeks among the islands? Is 3 days in Fogo enough? Are guides essential, and can we easily find them on the spot? Should we rent a car, given we won’t just be hiking?

Thanks in advance for your advice, tips, warnings, and anything else you can share… and I’ve still got plenty more questions! Valéry

Hi,

We just found out my wife is pregnant, and we’ve planned a trip to the Barlavento Islands in Cape Verde this November.

We’d like to know if there’s a real risk of Zika contamination on those islands, because from what we’ve found online, the recorded cases are old and come from the Sotavento Islands.

We’re thinking about canceling our trip.

If you’ve recently traveled to Cape Verde or live there, do you have any thoughts on this?

Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’d like to share our travel plans for March 2026 to get your valuable feedback...

- Arrival in Sao Vicente on Tuesday, March 3rd at 9:20 AM from Lisbon (EasyJet) - Direct departure the same day or the next day for Santo Antao – 3 or 4 nights on Santo Antao (depending on whether we spend the first night in Mindelo or on Santo Antao) - Return to Sao Vicente for 3 nights - Flight to Boa Vista via Sal (Cabo Verde Airlines) on Tuesday, March 10th – 5 nights on Boa Vista - Return flight on Sunday, March 15th (Boa Vista to Porto: EasyJet)

Given the various bits of info I’ve seen about the unreliability of inter-island transport, is this itinerary realistically doable without stress? Would it be better to just take a simple flight from Sao Vicente to Sal and end the trip there (from where it’s also possible to return to Europe or France)? I’m still more drawn to Boa Vista... but I’m worried that two flights in a row might be complicated, unless it’s the same plane that just makes a stopover and continues...

Also, I’m calling on the expertise of hikers for Santo Antao: I’m not a big sports enthusiast—I enjoy walking when I travel, but not distances much longer than 10 km, and nothing too difficult (especially steep climbs where I quickly run out of breath)... For the hike from Ponta do Sol to Cruzinha: can you confirm that the hike is easier in the direction from Ponta do Sol to Cruzinha (less climbing)? I’ve found info that this hike is 14 km and takes about 5 hours. Do you think it’s possible to shorten it by taking a taxi or *aluguer* to Fontainhas? If so, how long would the hike be then, and how much time would it take?

For the hike from Xoxo (starting at the Bela Vista kiosk on the Cova road), I’ve found info that it’s 12 km and takes 5 hours of walking. I think it goes to Ribeira Grande. Apparently, you can shorten the hike and find *aluguers* on the road near Café Melicia... In that case, do you know how long the hike would be? Is this the hike that lets you walk along *levadas* (like in Madeira), cross banana plantations, and pass by the Cachoeira de Vinha waterfall?

Sorry for all these questions, but I can’t find a guide with hikes and difficulty levels... I think two hikes (one along the coast and one inland with terraces, *levadas*, and banana plantations) would suit our level.

On the third free day, do you think we could rent a 4x4 to explore: take the two scenic routes on the east side and maybe venture a little off the beaten path (without taking risks, of course)... Otherwise, hire a guide for the day: do you have any recommendations and an idea of the price?

One last thing: in March, is it worth (or pointless) to choose accommodation with a pool (especially on Santo Antao)? Is the pool water warm enough? What about the ocean temperature?

Thanks so much for your help, have a great day!

Hi there, We’re planning a two-week hiking trip to Santo Antão. We’ve been before three years ago through an agency, but this time we want to organize the trip ourselves. Regarding homestays, especially places like ex Casa Luciano or Cha de Feijão at Dona Antona’s—is it possible to book ahead? I can’t find any contact details. If not, what happens if there’s no availability? Do we pay in euros or escudos? Also, is it possible to get meals and a packed lunch for the next day? We’re heading to Cha de Morte first, then want to visit the volcano, and continue toward the northeast of the island (we prefer the green areas!). Thanks for your tips! 😊

Hi there, We’re planning a two-week couple’s trip hopping between the Cape Verde islands at the end of November 2025. Our arrival and departure airport will be on the island of SAL. We’ve got some hikes lined up. Based on your experiences, what recommendations and suggestions do you have? Thanks in advance for your valuable tips!

Which hotels offer half-board on Santiago Island? Also, I’d love some contacts for guide-taxis—I’m traveling solo and really want to discover authentic spots.

Hi there, Which island would be best for a one-week solo trip at the end of November? I’d like to explore with a local guide who can help me discover Cape Verdean culture. It’s still just the beginning of the plan… Thanks to anyone who’d like to share some tips!

Hi there, I’m leaving for Cape Verde at the end of the week. I’ve heard that transportation isn’t very reliable, so I’d love your advice: - My return flight is from Sal on the night of August 13–14 - I’ll be in São Vicente until August 10 - I found an indirect flight (São Vicente–Praia–Sal) on August 9–10 and a ferry on August 10 as well - I’m traveling alone with two kids, ages 6 and 9

In your opinion, which option is more reliable and comfortable?

Thanks!

Hello, We’re planning a trip to São Vicente and Santo Antão in January. We’re a couple (ages 51 and 57). My husband is really into hiking. As for me, I’m not at my best right now—I’ve just recovered from a long illness and am still on medication that exhausts me and causes a lot of pain, so I won’t be able to keep up with very "physical" hikes. That said, I still enjoy walking in nature. We’re looking for advice on where we could stay. A place where my husband can go hiking while I take shorter walks. But also somewhere I can relax in nature, maybe go for a swim if possible, and enjoy local life—markets, music, etc. Boat trips would be a great bonus for us. Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Virginie

Hi there,

I’m considering Cape Verde for an upcoming trip, but I’m wondering if it’s really doable, and if so, which areas would work. We prefer traveling on our own without going through agencies, and without a car to keep costs down. However, since we’re traveling with a baby and a young child, we don’t want to rely on the "usual tricks" like sleeping in a tent, hitchhiking, or walking for kilometers on end. Our walking limit is probably around 4 km max with the little one. Are there enough interesting spots where we can easily see and do things from a central point, walking no more than 4 km? Places with frequent buses to reach activities or sights?

Thanks

Hi everyone, We’re traveling at the end of February with two little kids. Everywhere I read that payments are made in escudos. For exchanging larger sums, what’s the best place to do it? Thanks for your tips!