ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW • POPULATION (2023 EST.): 491,233 • CAPITAL: Praia • MAIN CITIES: Mindelo, Santa Maria, Sao Filipe • VISA: 30-day tourist exemption, otherwise visa required by U.S. citizens. Consulate General of Cape Verde, 300 Congress Street, #204, Quincy, MA 02169. T: 617 353 0014 or Embassy (see above) • HEALTH: Yellow fever immunization is essential if arriving from an infected area. Precautions against hepatitis A, typhoid and polio are recommended. Also malaria if traveling to Sao Tiago island • CURRENCY: Cape Verdean escudo (ESC$) = 100 centavos
• EXCHANGE RATE (APPROX.): ESC$91 = $1 • TIME: GMT –1 • ELECTRICITY: 220 volts. Adaptor required • DRIVING: Traffic drives on the right. U.S. visitors require an international driving permit • PUBLIC HOLIDAYS (2023): Jan 1, 13, 20; Apr 15; May 1; Jun 1; Jul 5; Aug 15; Nov 1; Dec 25 • LANGUAGE: Portuguese is the official language. Also Creole. English is widely spoken • RELIGION: Catholic • COUNTRY DIAL CODE: +238
CLIMATE Tropical though cooled by Atlantic trade winds, with temperatures fairly constant and averaging 75F, with eight hours of sunshine a day. Rainy season August to October
GETTING THERE • MAJOR GATEWAY: Sal Cabral (SID) • OTHER AIRPORTS: Boa Vista Rabil (BVC); Maio Vila Maio (MMO); Mosteiros (MTI); Praia F. Mendes (RAI); Santo Antao (NTO); Sao Filipe (SFL); Sao Nicolau Preguica (SNE); Sao Vicente San Pedro (VXE)
Porto Novo Mindelo
Ilheu Branco Ilheu Raso
Sao Nicolau Santa Maria Boa Vista NORTH
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CAPE VERDE Sal Rei Sal
Santiago Fogo Sao Filipe Brava Praia Old Lady of Compassion church