Cape Verde - General Information
All you need to know when staying in Cape Verde
Capital: Praia on Santiago - over half the population live here
Religion: Roman Catholic predominantly
Language: officially Portuguese which is taught at school however Creole is the normal spoken language
Time: Local time is GMT-1 Electricity: Round European two-pin plugs
Crime: Cape Verde is generally a peaceful place with very little crime
Money: currency is Cape Verde Escudo, which is pegged at 110 to the Euro. Credit cards are not widely accepted however banks are available in most destinations
Opening hours: Monday to Friday - 0800 - 1200 & 1400 - 1800, Saturday 0800 - 1200, Sunday - closed
Restaurants: Open between 1900 to 2300 international and local cuisine available depending where you are staying. With many nightclubs in Sal, Santiago ,Sao Vicente and Fogo, you can party the night away
Pulic Holidays: When shops & banks are closed
- 1 January - New Years day
- 20 January - National Heroes Day
- 1 May - Labour Day
- 5 July - Independence Day
- 15 August - Nossa Senhora Da Graca
- 12 September - Nationality Day
- 1 November - All Saints Day
- 25 December - Christmas Day
Santo Antaio - General, local information and numbers Back to top
Population: 50,000
Size: 24km Long x 40Km wide (779km2)
Highest point: Tope de Coroa at 1,979metres
Festivals
- Municipality Day - 17 January
- Santa Cruz - 3 May
- Sao Pedro - 29 June
- Nossa Sra da Piedade - 15 August
- Nossa Sta Rosario - 7 October
- Santo Andre - 29 November
In Ribeira Grande there is everything you would expect from a normal functioning town
The Hospital, telephone number: 221 1130
The Chemist is within walking distance to the hospital
The Bank Caixa Economica
The local Police Station telephone number: 221 1132
You can also find local shops to purchase all your fresh foods (Vegetable market, Supermarkets etc)
There is also a tourist shop to gather all the information you require during your stay on the islands
Sao Vicente - General, local information and numbers Back to top
Population: 60,000
Size: 16km Long x 25Km wide (227km2)
Highest point: Monte Verde at 750metres
Assessible by internal flights and ferries
Festivals
- Muni cipality Day - 22 January
- Santa Cruz - 3 May
- Sao Joao - 24 June
- Sao Pedro - 29 June
- Nossa Senhora de Luiz - 08 August
- Baia des Gatas Music Festival - August Full Moon
- Mindelact Theatre Fesitval - September
Mindelo
The local Police Station telephone number: 231 4631
The Hospital, telephone number: 232 7355
The Chemist, several available
The Bank Caixa Economica, Banco Commercial do Atlantico
Internal Flights/Ferries available
Shopping:
Souvenir shops
Supermarkets
Municipal markets
Internet cafe
Bakery
Tourist Kiosk
Electrical shop
Sao Nicolau - general, local information and numbers Back to top
Population: 20,000
Size: 25km long x 52 km wide (343km2)
Highest Point: Monte Gordo at 1312m
Accessible by internal flights/ferries
Local Airport - 238 235 1313
Festivals
- New Years festival - 6 January
- Street carnival - February - Second to the one is Sao Vicente
- Santo Antonio - 13 April
- Sao Joao - 24 June
- Sao Pedro - 29 June
- Music Festival - August
- Potable Water Festival - September
- Sao Francisco - first Sunday in December
- Municipality Day - 6 December
Riberia Brava
The local Police Station telephone number: 235 1152
The Chemist telephone number: 235 1227
The Hospital telephone number: 235 1130
The Bank - Banco Comercial do Atlantico
Car hire available
Supermarket, shops
Bakery
Photographic shop
Post office
SAL - General, local information and numbers Back to top
Population: 14,000
Size: 30km Long x 12Km wide (216Km2)
Highest point: Monte Grande at 406metres
International airport, internal flights/ferries available to other islands
Festivals
- Sao Jose - 19 March
- Santa Cruz - 3 May
- Santo Antonia - 9 June
- Sao Joao - 24 June
- Sao Pedro - 29 June
- NOssa Sra de Pliedade - 15 August
- Municipality Day - 15 September
Santa Maria
The local Police Station, telephone number: 242 1132
The Hospital (in Espargos), telephone number: 241 1130
The Chemist, telephone number: 242 1340
The Bank Caixa Economica, Banco Commercial do Atlantico
International Airport and car hire
Internal flights/ferries to the other islands
- Shopping: Plenty of local craft/Music and souvenir shops
- Bakery: Fresh bread from Padaria Dado
- Vegetables: Municipal market
- Supermarket: Located In Santa Maria and the Minimarket is in Espargos
Boavista - General, local information and numbers Back to top
Population: 4,000
Size: 31km Long x 29Km wide (620km2)
Highest point: Pico Estancia at 406metres
International airport, inter - island flights/ferries available
Festivals
- Twelfth Night - 6 January
- Santa Cruz - 3 May
- Pedrona - 4 May
- Sao Roque - 8 May
- Santa Isobel - 4 July
- Praia D'Cruz Festival - in August
Sal Rei
The local Police Station, telephone number: 251 1132
The Hospital (in the square), telephone number: 251 1167
The Chemist, telephone number: (same as hospital)
The Bank Banco Commercial do Atlantico
International Airport
Internal flights/ferries to the other islands
Shopping:
Souvenir shops
Bakery
Supermarket
Laundrette
Internet Cafe
Maio - General, local information and numbers Back to top
Population: 4,000
Size: 24km Long x 16Km wide (268km2)
Highest point: Monte Perioso at 437metres
Internal flights/ferries only
Festivals
- Nossra Sra Do Rosario - 2 February
- Sao Jose - 19 March
- Santa Cruz - 3 May
- Santo Antonio - 13 June
- Sao Joao - 24 June
- Sao Pedro - 29 June
- Santa Ana - 26 July
The local Police Station telephone number: 255 1132
The Hospital, telephone number: 255 1130
The Chemist, telephone number: 255 1370
The Bank is in the main square
The Internal Airport, telephone number: 238 2551108
Shopping:
Bakery
Mini Supermarket
Internet
Santiago - general, local information and numbers Back to top
Population: 240,000 (120,000 in Praia the capital
Size: 55km long x 29km wide (990km2)
Highest Point: Pico do Antonia at 1392metres
International flights, internal flights and ferries available
Festivals
- Municipality Day - 15 January
- Nho Fenrero Festival - 2 February
- Municipality Day - 13 March (sao Domingos)
- Sao Jorge - 23 April
- Sao Jose - 1 May
- Soa Miguel Arcanjo Fest - 8 May
- Imaculad Conceiceo - 31 May
- Nossa Sta Do Socorro - 15 August
Hospital telephone number: 261 2462
Chemist - all around the city
Police telephone number: 261 1332
Banks - readily available
Several Embassies available here
Shopping: Several Bakeries
Souvenir and food shops
Large market vegetables and meat
Choice of Supermarkets
Internet and post office
Wine shop
Fogo - General, local information Back to top
Population: 40,000 (27,000 in the capital)
Size: 480km2
Highest point: 2829meters at Active Volcano, Pico de Fogo
Internal flights via Praia and ferries available
Festivals
- Sao Sabastiao - 20 January
- Banderia - end of April
- Sao Joao - 24 June
- Santa Rainha do Cabo Verde - second Sunday in July
- Nossa Sta Do Soccorro - 5 August
- Santa Caterina - 24 Nov ember
Shopping:
Souvenir
Tourist Kiosk
Bakery
Supermarket
Internet Cafe
Brava - General, local information & numbers Back to top
Population: 7,000
Size: 10km (64km2)
Highest Point: Monte Fontainhas at 976meters
Ferry only
Festivals
- Twelfth Night - 05 January
- Sao Sebastiao - 20 January
- Sao Joao - 24 June
- Sao Paulo - first Sunday in July
- Santaininha - last Sunday in July
- Nossa Senhora Do Monte - first fortnight in August
- Nossa Senhora Da Graca - 15 August
Hospital telephone number: 285 1130
Police telephone number: 285 1132
Chemist telephone number: 285 1223
Bank - Banco Comercial do Atlantico
Shopping:
Market
Bakery
Chemist
Post office
