Highlights
The archipelago splits into distinct experiences. Sal and Boa Vista are the beach islands — endless white sands, turquoise water, world-class windsurfing and kitesurfing, turtle-nesting beaches and desert dunes — the easy-going resort heart of Cape Verdean tourism.
For drama, Fogo is dominated by an active volcano you can climb, with vineyards and a village improbably set inside the crater, producing distinctive wine and coffee. Santo Antão, reached by ferry from São Vicente, is a hiker's paradise of impossibly steep green valleys, terraced farms and clifftop trails plunging to the sea — some of the finest walking in the Atlantic.
São Vicente's port town of Mindelo is the cultural capital, birthplace of the 'barefoot diva' Cesária Évora, with a lively music scene, colonial architecture and a famous carnival. Santiago, the largest and most African island, holds the capital Praia, vibrant markets and the historic UNESCO town of Cidade Velha, the first European settlement in the tropics.
When to go
November to June is the best window — warm, dry and sunny, ideal for beaches, hiking and the trade-wind watersports that draw windsurfers and kitesurfers.
The short, sporadic rainy season (August to October) can bring humidity and occasional showers, greening the mountainous islands briefly, though rain is scarce in this semi-arid archipelago. The Atlantic keeps temperatures pleasantly warm year-round. Windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions peak in the windier winter months. Overall, this is a genuine year-round destination with reliably good weather.
Visa & entry
Cape Verde has simplified entry considerably: many nationalities (including EU, UK and US citizens) no longer need a visa for short stays but must pay an Airport Security Tax (TSA), completed online before travel. Others may need a visa or e-visa. A passport valid six months is standard.
Confirm the current requirements, and complete the mandatory online TSA/entry form for your nationality, via the official Cape Verde immigration/EASE portal before you fly, as rules have changed in recent years.
Health & safety
Cape Verde is one of Africa's safest, most stable and democratic countries, and a relaxed, easy place to travel. Petty theft (bag-snatching, pickpocketing) occurs in Praia and Mindelo, particularly after dark, so take normal precautions and keep valuables secure.
The main practical risks are natural: strong Atlantic currents at some beaches (heed local advice), the sun, and rough seas on inter-island ferries. There is no malaria on most islands. Healthcare is basic outside the main towns, so carry insurance. Check your government's advisory before departure, though Cape Verde is generally low-risk.
Getting around
Island-hopping is done by plane or ferry. Domestic flights connect the main islands (Sal, Santiago, São Vicente, Boa Vista) quickly, the practical way to combine several. Ferries are cheaper and scenic but can be slow, crowded and subject to rough seas and schedule changes — the São Vicente-to-Santo Antão crossing is the key one for hikers.
On individual islands, shared 'aluguer' minibuses are the cheap local transport, while hiring a car or a taxi/driver gives freedom to explore beaches, volcanoes and trailheads. Roads range from good on the flat islands to steep and winding on the mountainous ones.
Money
The Cape Verdean Escudo is pegged to the euro, giving a stable rate, and euros are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants and shops in the tourist areas. Cards are accepted at resorts and larger establishments, and ATMs are available in the main towns, but carry cash (escudos or euros) for smaller islands, aluguers, markets and tips.
Bring some euros to exchange or spend directly. Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated — rounding up and leaving a little for guides, drivers and good service is customary in the tourist economy.
Cape Verde