Cape Verde Overview Country Overview Cape Verde is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, 600km (450 miles) west-northwest of Senegal. It comprises ten volcanic islands and five islets in two groups: the Balavento (Windwards) and the Sotavento (Leewards). There are many superb diving sites around the islands, several of which have shipwrecks dating back to the 16th century. Windsurfing opportunities are also excellent. Many of the islands have spectacular mountain scenery and beautiful deserted beaches, such as Tarrafal on São Tiago. San Filipe has a spectacular volcano and fine beaches. There are good markets on some of the islands, and a number of colourful festivals. Mindelo on São Vincente, with its Portuguese-style buildings, is worth a visit. The main local culinary speciality is cachupa, a mix of maize and beans. Fruits include mangoes, bananas, papayas, goiabas (guavas), zimbrão, tambarinas, marmelos, azedinhas, tamaras and cocos. Beer, wine and local spirits are commonly available and punch is a popular beverage. The nightlife is mainly centred around the discos in hotels and several nightclubs. General Information Area: 4033 sq km (1557 sq miles). Population: 434,812 (2000). Population Density: 107.8 per sq km. Capital: Cidade de Praia. Population: 94,757 (2000). GEOGRAPHY: Cape Verde is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, 600km (450 miles) west-northwest of Senegal, and comprises ten volcanic islands and five islets, in two groups: Barlavento (Windwards) and Sotavento (Leewards). In the former group are the islands of São Vicente, Santo Antão, São Nicolau, Santa Luzia, Sal and Boa Vista, along with the smaller islands of Branco and Raso; the Sotavento group comprises the islands of Santiago, Maio, Fogo and Brava, along with the smaller islands of Rei and Rombo. Most have mountain peaks; the highest being Pico do Cano, an active volcano, which is on Fogo. The islands are generally rocky and eroded, and have never been able to support more than subsistence agriculture (maize, bananas, sugar cane and coffee are the main crops); low rainfall over the last ten years has crippled food production and forced the islands to depend on international aid. Government: Republic. Gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Head of State: President Pedro Pires since 2001. Head of Government: Prime Minister José Maria Neves since 2001. Language: The official language is Portuguese. Creole is spoken by most of the inhabitants. Some English, French and Spanish are spoken. Religion: Almost entirely Roman Catholic with a Protestant minority. Time: GMT - 1. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications:   Telephone IDD is possible to main cities. Country code: 238. Improvements to rural areas are in progress and the islands have around 22,900 telephones. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network operated by cvtelecom (website: www.cvtelecom.cv). Fax Services are available at post offices and major hotels. Internet Major hotels offer laptop connections. Public access is available at the offices of cvtelecom. Privately run business centres in the main towns offer e-mail, Internet and fax facilities. Post Postal facilities can be slow with deliveries to Europe normally taking over a week. Press Newspapers are in Portuguese. There are no daily newspapers. Fragata, a quarterly publication produced by the national airline, TACV, contains topical features and travel information. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.83 15.40 11.77 7.160 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 15.58 11.98 6.035 0.909 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes Yes Yes Australian Yes Yes Yes Canadian Yes Yes Yes USA Yes Yes Yes OtherEU Yes Yes Yes Japanese Yes Yes Yes PASSPORTS: Passport valid for a minimum of six months required by all. VISAS: Required by all except the following: (a) nationals of ECOWAS countries, Angola and South Africa; (b) former nationals of Cape Verde, their spouses and children, provided holding proof of origin; (c) those continuing their journey to a third destination provided holding onward documentation and not leaving the airport. Types of visa and cost: Transit, Tourist, Business: €38.02 (single entry); €72.34 (multiple entry). Prices are given approximately in Euros and are subject to frequent change. Note: Re-entry and exit permits may also be required. Enquire at Consulate or Consular Section at Embassy. Validity: Valid for six months from date of issue for visits of up to 90 days. Application to: Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Visitors from countries where there is no Cape Verdean Embassy or Consulate can obtain visas at Cape Verdean Border Services offices at the airports on Sal and Praia. Application requirements: (a) Two passport-size photos. (b) One application form. (c) Passport valid for at least six months. (d) Fee. Working days required: Where there are no complications, visas may be issued immediately; however, it is advisable to anticipate up to two days’ delay. Money Currency: Cape Verde Escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of CVEsc5000, 2500, 2000, 1000, 500, 200 and 100. Coins are in denominations of CVEsc200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 1. Currency exchange: Available at the airport and in local banks. Currency cannot be reconverted, except in Portugal. There are ATMs at the airport on Sal. Credit & debit cards: Rarely used. A few major hotels accept Visa. Currency can be obtained in banks from credit cards but charges are very high. Travellers cheques: Accepted in main towns and tourist areas. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Pounds Sterling or US Dollars. Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is prohibited. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration on arrival and on departure. The export of foreign currency is limited to the equivalent of CVEsc20,000 or the amount declared on arrival, whichever is the larger. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Cape Verde Escudo against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 174.58 182.20 191.75 173.48 $1.00= 119.80 119.80 121.25 108.95 Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1500. Duty Free The following goods may be taken into Cape Verde without incurring customs duty: A reasonable amount of perfume; eau de cologne in opened bottles. Public Holidays Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 20 2003 Heroes’ Day. Mar 3 Carnival. May 1 Labour Day. Jul 5 Independence Day. Aug 15 Assumption (Day of Our Lady of Grace). Sep 12 National Day. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 20 2004 Heroes’ Day. Feb 23 Carnival. May 1 Labour Day. Jul 5 Independence Day. Aug 15 Assumption (Day of Our Lady of Grace). Sep 12 National Day. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera Yes 2 Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A Malaria 4 N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age if arriving from countries which reported cases in the last six years. 2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Cape Verde. However, cholera is a slight risk in this country and precautions could be considered. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. For more information, see the Health appendix. 3: Typhoid fever is widespread. 4: There is a limited risk of malaria from September to November on Santiago Island. Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid all dairy products. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: Hepatitis A and E are highly endemic in sub-saharan Africa, and precautions are advisable. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic in the region. Vaccination against tetanus is advised. Health care: Health insurance, including emergency repatriation cover, is advised, although in-patient treatment is free in general wards on presentation of a passport. Treatment is private and expensive on the smaller islands. Travel - International AIR: The national airline is TACV – Transportes Aéreos de Cabo Verde (VR), which has recently expanded its flight connections and now offers flights to several European cities, including Amsterdam, Lisbon, Munich, Paris and Zurich, as well as to Las Palmas (Canary Islands). Discounts are available for frequent flyers and their families. Other airlines serving Cape Verde include South African Airlines, TAP Air Portugal and Tower Airlines. Information on international and internal flights, and flight tickets may be obtained from Cape Verde Travel, TACV’s agent in the UK (tel: (01964) 536 191; fax: (01964) 536 192; website: www.capeverdetravel.com) who can also issue visas. Approximate flight times: From London to Lisbon (Portugal) is two hours and from Lisbon to Sal is four hours; from Boston to Sal is eight hours; from Paris to Sal is six hours. Note that the stopover in Lisbon will sometimes be overnight if flying by TAP Air Portugal. The most convenient routes from London are via Paris and Amsterdam, where there are direct connections with no stopover time. International airports: Amílcar Cabral (SID) on Sal, 2km (1 mile) south of Espargos, is the only airport with a runway long enough to take jets; there are eight others throughout the islands. Airport facilities include a bank, duty-free shop, refreshments and tourist information. Taxis are available to the city centre and to resort areas. A new airport, Francisco Mendes Airport, has been built in Praia, Santiago. It is is due to open in late 2002 or early 2003. Departure tax: None. SEA: Mindelo and Praia are the principal ports. São Vicente is served by passenger and cargo ships. Travel - Internal AIR: TACV – Cabo Verde Airlines is the main domestic carrier. There are internal flights available to all inhabited islands except Brava and Santo Antão. The Cape Verde Airpass, available from TACV to passengers booking their long-distance tickets through the airline, offers discounted flights within Cape Verde. A minimum of two internal flights must be booked and the pass is valid for 22 days. Private charters are available from Cape Verde Express air-taxi service. SEA: There is a new ferry service operating twice a week between Praia and the islands of Brava and Fogo. Cargo ships may also accept passengers. ROAD: There are over 2250km (1400 miles) of roads on the islands, of which one-third are paved. There is a road improvement programme. Traffic drives on the right. Taxi fares should be agreed in advance. Drivers can be hired to see the main sights on the islands. Buses are satisfactory. Car hire: Available on the main islands. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is recommended, although not legally required. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives the approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Cidade de Praia to other major cities/towns in Cape Verde: Air Sea Saõ Vicente 0.45 - Sal 0.45 - Maio 0.15 - Boa Vista 0.30 - Fogo 0.40 - Brava - 12.00 São Nicolau 0.50 - Accommodation The range of accommodation is increasing rapidly. There are international hotels on the main islands. Otherwise there are small hotels on the smaller islands. For further information, contact PROMEX (see Contact Addresses section). Introduction The Cape Verde islands count as Africa’s most westerly point. First discovered by the Portuguese in the 15th century, they have featured since then on the routes of seafarers and traders sailing between Europe, Africa and Latin America, and their culture today reflects this mix. The climate is mainly dry (especially in the Leeward Islands) and years of deforestation, overcultivation and rather unpredictable weather have left the country’s economy relatively fragile. Evidently, the islands are no longer as verdant as they were when the Portuguese named them, but they offer much to interest the traveller: long, white sand beaches, a vibrant creole culture and good conditions for watersports. Their isolation has left them unspoilt and comparatively undiscovered. The Government is now trying to develop the tourist industry, and the infrastructure is being expanded to accommodate the increasing number of visitors attracted to this unusual but attractive destination. Cape Verde has nine inhabited islands. Santiago, the largest and most populated of these, has a mountainous, lush interior fringed by small sandy beaches. The island’s capital, Praia, is a lively, pleasant town with a good nightlife. Other attractions include Cidade Velha, the first Portuguese settlement on Cape Verde. There are ruins and old buildings, and, on the hill above, the Fort Real de San Felipe, an old Portuguese fort. The attractive fishing village of Tarrafal features one of the island’s best beaches and contains the old colonial prison where the Portuguese dictator, Salazar, held dissidents from all over his empire in the first two-thirds of the 20th century. This is currently being restored. The island of Sal, characterised by its fine white sand beaches, attracts most of the package tourists. There are three dive schools, and windsurfing conditions are excellent. The famous salt pits, after which the island is named, produced salt for much of the former Portuguese empire. São Vicente is home to the deep-water port of Mindelo, a lively town with old colonial buildings and a thriving local music scene. Cape Verde’s most famous daughter, Cesaria Evora (an internationally known singer who performs in the traditional style), hails from the island, as do many other leading local musicians. São Vicente’s carnival is the liveliest in Cape Verde, while the traditional Baia das Gatas festival, which usually falls in August, has become internationally renowned for the standard of its music. The other islands in the archipelago are quieter and more appealing to nature lovers. Boa Vista features shallow seas and the 16km (10 mile) pristine Santa Monica beach. Sao Nicolau has a dramatic landscape of steep rocky peaks in its interior with black sand beaches around its edge. Maio is isolated and quiet with simple fishing villages, white sand beaches and sand dunes. Sea turtles lay their eggs on the beaches. Brava, a lush island with more rainfall than most, offers beautiful views of the coast from its plateau and an abundance of unique plant life. There are no facilities for watersports. The mountainous island of Fogo features an active volcano and black sandy beaches. Coffee, grapes and local wine are amongst the island’s produce. Santo Antão’s spectacular scenery and rugged coastline attract mainly walkers and climbers, especially given that there are no beaches. It is one of Cape Verde’s greener islands and its interior contains forested hills. Many of the deep flat-bottomed valleys are the craters of extinct volcanoes, long overgrown by trees and tropical vegetation. Visitors should make sure they sample Cape Verdean rum or grog, produced on Santo Antão. Sport & Activities Hiking: The islands’ spectacular scenery is ideal for hiking. The volcanic island of Fogo offers good hikes with excellent views, while the scenery on Santo Antão is particularly lush. Ribeira Grande Mountain on Santo Antão takes a day to climb but is well worth the effort. It is advisable to take a guide. There are also excellent walks on Brava and São Vicente. Birdwatching trips can be arranged. Watersports: Sailing charters can be arranged, depending on time, weather and number of passengers. Diving is gaining in popularity. There are several dive centres, mainly on the islands of Sal and Boavista, with qualified personnel and equipment. Water temperatures are good all year round, though the seas can be rough. Some boats and equipment are available for fishing. Visitors could consider taking their own equipment. Live music: There is no shortage of live Cape Verdean music played in bars and clubs. Local musicians may hope to follow in the footsteps of their internationally known compatriots such as Cesaria Evora. Music is an integral part of daily life in the islands. Social Profile Food & Drink: There is an increasing number of restaurants and cafes. The main local culinary speciality is cachupa, a mess of maize and beans. Fruits include mangoes, bananas, papayas, goiabas (guavas), zimbrão, tambarinas, marmelos, azedinhas, tamaras and cocos. Local beer, wine and spirits are commonly available; grogue is a popular choice. Soft drinks are expensive. Nightlife: Some hotels provide evening entertainment. Small villages will have a lively taverna. Most nightlife is on the main islands: there are 21 nightclubs in Cape Verde – eight on Santiago, seven on Sal, five on São Vicente and one on Fogo. Praia has a cultural centre at which local Cape Verdean artists and instrumentalists perform. Shopping: There are daily markets. The Santa Catarina market is held Wednesday and Saturday. Coconut shells are carved by local craftsmen; there is also pottery, lacework and basketry. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1300 and 1500-1900; Sat 0900-1300. Special Events: There are several annual festivals and carnivals, the precise dates of which change from year to year. Many Saints’ days are celebrated all over the islands, and towns and villages have their own local festivals. The following is a selection of events celebrated annually; further details may be obtained from PROMEX (see Contact Addresses section): May 2003 Festa de Santa Cruz. Jun Festival of the Solstice. Jul Independence Day Celebrations; Festa do Municipio de Boa Vista. Aug Festival Baia das Gatas; Festival of Music of Praia de Santa Cruz. Social Conventions: The usual European social courtesies should be observed. Tipping: It is normal to give ten per cent for good service. Business Profile Economy: About one-quarter of the working population is engaged in agriculture. Maize and beans are the main crops; a variety of fruit and vegetables are also grown. The agricultural sector is especially vulnerable to the periodic droughts that afflict the islands, often lasting for several years. Meanwhile, throughout the 1990s, the fishing industry has received substantial international aid, reflected in the result that the islands’ catches now contribute almost half of the total export earnings. The small industrial sector is dominated by fish processing and canning factories, to which electrical and other machinery, chemicals and textiles have recently been added. Mining is confined to salt and pozzolana (used in cement production). Future economic development is being focused on tourism, transhipment facilities and ‘offshore’ financial services. A further vital source of national income is the remittances provided by émigré communities – some 700,000 Cape Verdeans live abroad, mainly in the USA. Portugal, The Netherlands, Brazil, the USA and Japan meet the bulk of Cape Verde’s import requirements. Cape Verde is a member of the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS). Business: All correspondence should be in English or French. Most of Cape Verde’s business links are with Portugal. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1230 and 1430-1800. Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: Câmara de Comercío Industria, Agricultura e Serviços de Barlavento, Rua de Luz 31, CP 728, Mindelo, São Vicente (tel: 328 495; fax: 328 496; e-mail: camara.com@cvtelecom.cv; website: www.cciasb.com); or Câmara de Comercío Industria e Servícos de Sotavento, Avenida Andrade Corvo, Edificio Shopping Moeda, Praia, Santiago (tel: 617 234 or 615 352; fax: 617 235; e-mail: cciss@cvtelecom.cv); or Centro de Promoção Turística, do Investimento e das Exportações (PROMEX), CP89c, Praia, Santiago (tel: 622 621; fax: 622 657; e-mail: promex@mail.cvtelecom.cv; website: www.promex.org). Conferences/Conventions: The following organisation can offer advice: Ministry for Education, Science, Youth and Sport, Palácio do Governo, Santiago, Praia (tel: 610 507; fax: 612 764). The larger hotels on the main islands can provide conference facilities. Climate Generally temperate, but rainfall is very low. Required clothing: Lightweight throughout the year, tropical for midsummer. History and Government History: The Portuguese discovered the islands in the 15th century; they were uninhabited and there was no evidence of previous settlement. By the late 15th century, settlement began on São Tiago, which later became used as a supply point for slaves traded to Brazil and the West Indies. The inhospitable landscape and climate made development of the islands difficult, while the attentions of rival colonial powers also made life difficult for the Portuguese colonial administrators. Although sugar plantations, worked by slaves brought over from Africa, and subsequently cotton cloth weaving were successfully established, life on the islands was one of extreme poverty. In 1951, Cape Verde was redefined as an overseas province, from its previous status as a colony. In the 1960s and early 1970s, the islands were used as a garrison by the Portuguese army, while many members of the growing independence movement fled to Guinea-Bissau, another Portuguese colony on the mainland, to form the Partido Africano da Independência do Guiné e Cabo Verde (PAIGC) under the famous revolutionary leader Amilcar Cabral. Following the revolution in Portugal in 1974, Cape Verde achieved independence in 1975, shortly after the granting of independence to Guinea-Bissau, with whom Cape Verde had close political associations. The PAIGC took control of the political activities of both countries and full unification was discussed. This proposal was shelved after the 1980 coup in Guinea-Bissau, after which the Cape Verdian branch of PAIGC was renamed the Partido Africano da Independência de Cabo Verde (PAICV) and the two countries pursued their own separate paths of development. At the turn of the 1990s, the Government followed the continental trend and held elections in February 1991. The PAICV faced the challenge of the Movimento para Democracia (MPD) which duly won both the legislature and the race for the Presidency in which their candidate, ex-supreme court judge Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro, defeated the incumbent Aristides Pereira. The MPD held onto to both presidency and national assembly in 1995 but at the most recent elections in early 2001 lost both to the PAICV. The extremely close presidential race was won by the PAICV’s Pedro Rodrigues Pires with a margin of just 17 votes over the MPD’s Carlos de Carvalho. Cape Verde has pursued a determinedly non-aligned foreign policy, reflected in its being chosen as mediator in the settlement of a variety of international disputes, including Angola. More recently, in 1998, it hosted talks to reach a settlement of the conflict in Guinea Bissau. Cape Verde maintains close relations with Portugal, Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking African countries in the PALOP group (Angola, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé as well as Cape Verde). Government: A new constitution introduced in 1992 allows for the election of an Assembleia Nacional (national assembly) with 79 deputies and a President who serves as head of state, both elected by adult suffrage for five-year terms. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.