Capital: Cidade de Praia
Time zone: GMT – 1
Telephone services: Country Code: 238
Outgoing Code: Outgoing calls must go through the local operator
Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 87
Tourist information: Ministry of Tourism, Palacio Do Governo, Praia, São Tiago, Cape Verde Tel: 615 697 Fax: 613 897.
Passport information: A valid passport is required by all with a minimum validity of at least 6 months. Return ticket required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the Embassy before departure.
Visa information: Required by all except national of the following countries, Benin Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Take precautions.
Yellow Fever: Vaccination certificate required from visitors over one years of age arriving from an area where incidents of yellow fever have been reported within the last six years.
Other Health Risks: Cholera
Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.
Currency: Cape Verde Escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
CC: Not usually accepted.
Note: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Import of foreign currency unlimited but declaration on arrival required. Maximum export of foreign currency is CVEsc 25000 or the amount declared on arrival, whichever is the larger.
Credit cards are not accepted.
ATM availability: Unavailable
Cost of living: Tourism is very undeveloped but this may change with the government’s recent decision to promote tourism.
Languages: Portuguese, Creole and some English and French
Weather: Temperate with a low rainfall.
Electricity: 220 Volts 50 Hz
Post: To and from Europe over 1 week.
Transport: ROAD: There are 2250km of road on the islands of which one third are paved. There is currently a road improvement programme taking place. BUS: Services are satisfactory. TAXI: Fares should be agreed in advance. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended.
Special information: Usual European social courtesies should be observed.