Cabo Verde is an archipelagic country in West Africa that I’ve already visited. Back in 2019, I spent three months traveling around the archipelago with Jonas. This was right after handing in my thesis and when I was in São Nicolau, I received news that I had graduated. Freedom! But that’s not the only reason I had a great time in this country. I managed to visit 7 out of 9 inhabited islands of the archipelago. These are: Sal, São Nicolau, São Vicente, Santo Antão, Santiago, Fogo, and Brava. The two missing islands are Maio and Boa Vista.
Things I’d Like to Do in Cabo Verde (Next Time)
- Hitchhike some more! It actually worked pretty well and was sometimes less frustrating than taking an aluguer
- Visit Santa Luiza, the 10th island of Cabo Verde which is an uninhabited national park. I’m sure with a permit it can be done. I’d also like to go to Ilhéu Branco and Ilhéu Raso
- Go kitesurfing with Jonas. This would mostly be in Sal and Boa Vista, so since I haven’t been to Boa Vista, that island has my preference
- Visit Maio: stay in the capital Porto Inglês, hike up Monte Penoso (436masl), visit the salt pans, and go to the two lighthouses (see map below)
- Revisit Fogo and try again to ascend Pico do Fogo. Last time I didn’t make it up because my eyeballs had become dust
- Visit Boa Vista: stay in the capital Sal Rei, go to the three lighthouses (including the one on Ilhéu de Sal Rei, which has a ruined fort), hike up Monte Estância, eat local dates, visit the Deserto de Viana and the abandoned village of Curral Velho
- Revisit the main island Santiago. I didn’t spend much time there previously. So I’d like to hike up Pico de Antónia (1392masl), visit the four lighthouses, and maybe kayak somewhere at sea
- If I’m revisiting São Vicente, I’d like to go to Ilhéu dos Pássaros
Map of Things to Do in Cabo Verde
This map currently only contains POIs for a future trip. For our previous itinerary in Cabo Verde, see the post.
If you know cool places and things to do in Cabo Verde or if you are Cabo Verdean, comment at the bottom of this page so I can always find your suggestions again once I start plotting my return!
So you are a travel blogger and do you have good posts about Cabo Verde. Then drop them in a comment below and I’ll read them!
Cabo Verde Itinerary: 7 Islands over 88 Days
This is the summary of our travel itinerary in Cabo Verde from the 15th of January till the 12th of April 2019. We visited 7 out of 9 inhabited islands in Cabo Verde during 88 days. To stay that long, we had to extend our visa on the ground. We’re Digital Nomads, meaning we work and travel at the same time. This also means that we don’t see everything on every island since we spend about one-third of our days working from our apartments. If you’re looking for tips on how to work while traveling in Cabo Verde, check outContinue reading
Land Transportation in Cabo Verde: A How-To Guide
This article is about land transportation in Cabo Verde as opposed to flights and ferries. I mostly discuss taxis and the little minivans/pickup trucks, collectively known as ‘aluguers’. You can also rent vehicles like scooters/quads/4WD cars on some of the islands. Since this is a hitchhiking blog, I also included some information on hitchhiking. I’m still planning more dedicated articles on hitchhiking in Cabo Verde. This is all the information I’ve gathered on land transportation in Cabo Verde over 88 days and by visiting 7 out of 9 islands. Contents1 The Reality On The Ground2 Public Transit2.1 Taxi Pricing2.2 AluguerContinue reading
Cabo Verde Packing List – Prepare Well!
I’ve spent 88 days in Cabo Verde and visited 7 out of 9 islands. This makes me somewhat an expert on what stuff to pack before you go. On the distribution curve of travelers going to Cabo Verde, I’m a light packer. Here are the items that sparked the most joy on my hand luggage-only trip to the archipelago! Make sure to check things off on this packing list (automatically saved in your browser). Must Bring: These items I cannot stress enough. You need to bring them! Either because they’re unavailable in Cabo Verde, or because they’re very, very expensive.Continue reading
Cabo Verde’s Three Defunct Airports
I love abandoned places. I severely dislike flying . But visiting a defunct airport? I’m in! Before even arriving in Cabo Verde, I had shortlisted some of the now-defunct airports on my to-visit list. Near the end of my trip, I’ve managed to visit all of them in the following order: Santo Antão, Fogo, Brava. Here’s what to expect when you go visit them yourself on a trip to Cabo Verde. Agostinho Neto Airport, Ponta do Sol, Santo Antão Santo Antão is the second biggest island of Cabo Verde, but it doesn’t have a functional airport as of today. ThereContinue reading
How to get a 90-day visa for Cabo Verde: Part II – the Cabo Verde Visa Extension
Read Part I of trying to get a visa extension in Cabo Verde here. Disclaimer: This article on securing a 90-day visa extension after getting a 30-day entry to Cabo Verde applies mostly to EU+ citizens. This new visa policy only applies to holders of EU, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, and UK passports. Passport holders of other nationalities can still apply to a Cabo Verdean visa at embassies and consulates the regular way. If you don’t want to read the backstory, read The TL;DR or ‘What to bring’ for a summary of findings. The Immigration office in Espargos, Sal We first tried toContinue reading
Getting a SIM Card in Cabo Verde
Just looking for the steps on getting your SIM card in Cabo Verde? Click here to scroll down. Prices are up-to-date as of January 2019. By the way, the country code for Cabo Verde is +238 Why do I need a local SIM card in Cabo Verde? In many countries, it’s a good idea to get a local SIM card. This way you have internet on the go, and don’t pay outrageous prices on your foreign SIM. On 15th of January, I arrived in the Republic of Cabo Verde, an island group in the Atlantic Ocean and part of the African continent. HereContinue reading
How to get a 90-day visa for Cabo Verde: Part I
Disclaimer: This article on securing a 90-day visa Cabo Verde applies mostly to EU+ citizens. This new visa policy only applies to holders of EU, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, and UK passports. Passport holders of other nationalities can still apply to a Cabo Verdean visa at embassies and consulates the regular way. If you don’t want to read the backstory, read Part II and click The TL;DR or What to bring for a visa extension. The Escape After spending two winters in Maastricht, the Netherlands, I’m finally freed from that place. I did some courses, wrote a thesis, then fled to Lisbon, Portugal.Continue reading
(Hitch)hiking Monte Verde, São Vicente
The Setup Monte Verde is the highest peak on the island of São Vicente, Cabo Verde. As the bird flies, it’s only 6 kilometers 744 meters east of Mindelo, the island capital and Cabo Verde’s second-biggest city. The mountain and its plants are protected inside the Parque Natural Monte Verde. The island main ‘ring road’ surrounds the entire mountain, and is a cool trip for one or two people in itself; you can hitchhike, take an aluguer (minivan/pickup, public transit), or rent a scooter/car for a day to see basically the entire island. The peak of Monte Verde is quiteContinue reading
Arriving in Rodrigues by Plane from Mauritius
This article is about how we finally managed to travel to Rodrigues by plane on the 12th of April, 2022, despite some hurdles. Rodrigues is a smaller island in the Indian Ocean that’s part of Mauritius and much further east of it. It’s autonomous, which is why they’ve closed to international tourism and even domestic travel for about two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contents1 The Idea of Visiting Rodrigues2 Booking the Flight + Rodrigues Entry Requirements3 Air Mauritius Flight to Rodrigues3.1 Drive to the airport3.2 Rodrigues departures in Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport3.3 Traveling to Rodrigues on the MauritianContinue reading
How to Get the 1-Year Mauritian Premium Visa – Digital Nomad Special!
This article is about the (elusive) Mauritian Premium Visa, also known as the ‘Digital Nomad Visa’. It is valid for 1 year. You can apply for it before you travel to Mauritius or while you’re already in the country. You can only apply for this visa if you work online—this is not a tourist visa. To read about how to get the maximum days on your Mauritian tourist visa and how to get the 90-day tourist visa extension in Mauritius, visit the dedicated article. Contents1 What is the Premium Visa?2 I’m Sold. How Do I Apply?2.1 1. Apply before comingContinue reading