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CAPE VERDE(Republic of Cape Verde). Island state off the west coast of Africa. The capital is Praia (125 thousand people, 2009). Territory - 4.033 thousand sq. km. Administrative-territorial division - 17 municipal districts. Population - 523.568 thousand people. (2012). The official languages are Portuguese and Creole (Criulu). Religion - Christianity and traditional African beliefs. The monetary unit is the eshkudu of Cape Verde. National holiday - July 5 - Independence Day (1975). Cape Verde has been a member of the UN since 1975, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1975, the African Union (AU) since 2002, the Economic Community of States West Africa(ECOWAS), Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (PALOP) since 1996.
The country is located on the Cape Verde Islands archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean at a distance of approx. 455 km from Dakar (Senegal) - the westernmost point of the African continent. The archipelago is part of Macronesia (it also includes the Azores, Canary Islands, Desert Islands and Madeira Island). Consists of 18 large and small islands (Boavista, Brava, Branco, Grande, Dos Passaros, Luis Carneiro, Mayu, Razu, Sal, São Vicente, São Nicolau, Santa Luzia, Santa Maria, Santo Antan, Santiago, Sapadu, Sima and Fogu). The largest island is Santiago (991 sq. Km).
Nature.
Volcanic islands. The relief is predominantly mountainous. The plains are located on the islands of Boavista, Mayu and Sal. The coastline of the islands (1053 km) is rocky and very indented. The archipelago is located in one of the seismic zones in Africa, the most frequent earthquakes are on Brava Island. The highest point of the archipelago is the active volcano Fogu (2829 m), located on the island of the same name (the last eruption took place in 1995). There are two groups of islands - northern windward (Barlaventu) and southern leeward (Sotaventu). Minerals: basalt, volcanic tuff, limestone, kaolin, pumice, pozzolan and salt. On the islands of Brava and Santo Antan there are sources of medicinal mineral waters.
The climate is dry tropical (hot). The warmest period of the year is August-September, the coolest is January-February. The average annual air temperature is + 22-26 ° C. The average annual precipitation is 100-300 mm. Most of them fall in the mountains. The vegetation is scarce. The flora includes 450 native plant species and 150 imported ones. Acacias, bombardeira, cypresses, pines and eucalyptus trees grow in the mountains, almonds, coconut and date palms grow in the valleys. There are baobabs, dragon tree and mango. The greenest island of the archipelago is Brava, sometimes called the island of flowers. Deforestation has led to the virtual disappearance of rivers, their beds are filled with water only during the rainy season. Sources of fresh water are wells, drilling rigs and desalination plants. Fauna - a diverse world of birds (egrets, wood grouses, kingfishers, waders, sea gulls, quails, parrots, falcons, flamingos, frigates) and many species of lizards. Most of the animal species were introduced by settlers - livestock, cats, rabbits, rats, mice, monkeys and dogs. The world of butterflies and insects is diverse. The waters of the islands are rich in fish (barracuda, mullet, salmon, mackerel, sole, moray eels, herring, tuna). There are many sharks, lobsters and molluscs. There are whales and sea turtles.
Population.
Population density - approx. 130 people for 1 sq. km. (2009).
The average annual population growth is 1.428%. The birth rate is 21.21 per 1000 people, the mortality rate is 6.28 per 1000 people.
Infant mortality is 26.02 per 1000 newborns. The average life expectancy is 71.8 years (67.78 years for men and 73.27 for women). (All figures are as of 2012).
70% of the population are Creoles (descendants from mixed marriages of Portuguese and Spanish settlers with Africans), 28% are Africans, 1% are Europeans. In addition to Portuguese, the Creole dialect of Criulu (a mixture of Old Portuguese and African languages) is widespread. 53.3% of the population are residents of cities and urban settlements (2000). The most populated island is Santiago.
More than 60% of the population lives in cities. Large cities: Mindelo (62.97 thousand people), Sao Filipe (6 thousand people) - 2000.
The purchasing power in 2002 was USD 1.4 thousand. In 2011 this figure was 2.078 thousand US dollars. (a fairly high level for African countries), however, approx. 30% of the population qualifies as poor.
The process of population emigration continues. The Cape Verdean diaspora in Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, the USA and African countries (Angola, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal and Mozambique) numbers 700 thousand people.
Religions.
One of the most Catholic countries in Africa. Christianity, which has spread here since the middle of the 17th century, is professed by approx. 92.5% of the population: 90% belong to the Roman Catholic Church, 2.5% are Protestants (mainly parishioners of the Church of Nazareth). 7.5% of residents adhere to traditional African beliefs, are members of religious sects (Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, etc.) or practice Islam.
State structure.
Parliamentary republic. The constitution adopted on September 25, 1992 is in force. The head of state and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the president, elected in a general election for a 5-year term. Parliament is a unicameral National Assembly (72 seats), whose deputies are elected for 5 years.
The judicial system.
It is based on the Portuguese legal system.
Military establishment.
The armed forces (1200 people: 1000 ground troops, aviation - 100 people, 100 people of the coast guard - 2001) were created on the basis of the People's Armed Revolutionary Forces of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, formed in 1967. Military service is compulsory character. Internal order is provided by police units (about 1 thousand people). Military spending in 2002 amounted to 1.6% of GDP.
State flag.
In 1992, new symbols were approved (flag, coat of arms and anthem). The flag is a panel of five horizontal stripes. The upper and lower ones are blue, between them there are two white and one red (in the center) stripes, on which ten yellow five-pointed stars are placed in a circle.
Foreign policy.
The most actively developing foreign policy ties are with Germany, Italy, China, Portugal, the United States, France, Japan and the Portuguese-speaking countries of Africa. Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Cape Verde were established on July 14, 1975. Cooperation in the field of civil aviation... The republic does not have its own representative office in the Russian Federation.
Economy.
Tourism has become a priority industry since the early 1990s. The privatization of state-owned enterprises is under way. Free trade zones have been created.
The republic is one of the world's largest consumers of foreign aid per capita - $ 270. 2/3 of the aid is provided by the countries of the European Union. Successful development of the tourism industry (sixfold increase in the number of places in tourist complexes and the creation of 25 thousand new jobs) helped to reduce unemployment. Its level in 2000 was 21%. In 2002, GDP growth - 4%, inflation - 3%.
Agriculture.
The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 11% (2001). Arable land - 10% of the territory. Pineapples, bananas (considered to be among the best in the world in quality), legumes, cabbage, potatoes, cassava, corn, mangoes, coca nuts, sugarcane and tomatoes are grown. Agricultural development is complicated by frequent droughts. Livestock - raising goats, cattle, sheep, donkeys and pigs. Fishing is poorly developed. Since 1990, ships of the EU countries have been fishing tuna in the waters of Cape Verde. In 2001, another three-year agreement was signed, according to which the quotas for catching tuna were increased to 7 thousand tons.
Industry.
Poorly developed. Its share in GDP in 2001 was 17%. The main enterprises are fish canning factories, a shipyard, a brewery, clothing and shoe factories, a building materials factory, factories for processing decorative stone and factories for assembling bicycles and motorcycles. Mining: Extraction of salt and pozzolana (used for the production of cement).
International trade.
The volume of imports significantly exceeds the volume of exports. Imports in 2002 - US $ 220 million, exports - US $ 30 million. The main imports are foodstuffs, diesel fuel, cars, transport and electrical equipment, and paper products. The main import partners: Portugal (49.1%), the Netherlands (7.2%), Germany (5.7%) - 2002. Fish, lobster, salt, leather, footwear and clothing are exported. The main export partners are Portugal (38.5%), Great Britain (26.4%), France (23.1%) and the USA (8.2%) - 2002.
Energy.
100% of electricity is generated in thermal power plants using diesel fuel, wood and charcoal.
Transport.
There is no railway connection. The length of highways is 1,100 km, including 858 km of asphalted roads (1999). Seaports: Mindelo, Praia and Tarrafal. Merchant Marine - 40 ships (2001). In 2002, there were 9 airports, including 2 international ones - on the island of Sal (opened in 1973) and in the city of Praia (opened in 1999).
Finance and credit.
The monetary unit is Cape Verde's eshkudu (CVE), consisting of 100 centavus. National currency rate in December 2002: 1 USD = 123.21 CVE.
Administrative structure.
The country is divided into 17 municipal districts, consisting of zones.
Political parties.
Multi-party system. The most influential are: the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde, PAICV (Partido Africano da Independência de Cabo Verde, PAICV). Created in 1956 as the "African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde" (PAIGC). It received its current name in 1981. It aims to carry out democratic reforms and reduce poverty. 1975–1991 - the only and ruling party. Since 2001, he has been in power again. Movement for Democracy, MPD (Movimento para a Democracia, MPD), leader - Agostinho Lopes. It was founded in 1990. It considers its task to be the formation of a civil society, the active development of private entrepreneurship. She was in power from 1991-2001. Party for Democratic Unity, PDE (Partido da Convergência Democràtica, PCD). Chair. - Eurico Monteiro. Founded in 1994. It occupies a centrist position.
The African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde and the Movement for Democracy have dominated the republic's political life since its independence in 1975. After the announcement of a multi-party system in 1991, both managed to stay in power for 10 years.
Trade union associations.
National Union of Workers of Cape Verde - Trade Union Center (Uniăo Nacional dos Trabalhadores de Cabo Verde - Central Sindical, UNTC - CS). Created in 1978, 9 thousand members. Gene. Secretary - Júlio Ascensăo Silva.
Education.
Primary education (4 years of compulsory education and 2 years at will) children receive from the age of 7. Secondary education takes place in two cycles of 3 years each. graduate School: Pedagogical, economic and several technical universities created in 1994-1999. In 1999, the creation of the university began in the city of Praia. Many Cape Verdeans are pursuing higher education in Cuba, Portugal, Russia, the United States and France. In 2003, 76.6% of the population was literate (85.8% of men and 69.2% of women).
Healthcare.
The problem of tuberculosis is acute. Lack of fresh water (only 42% of the population has constant access to it) leads to outbreaks of intestinal infectious diseases. In 2000 for 1 thousand people. there were 0.38 doctors (in rural areas there is only 1 doctor per 10 thousand inhabitants). In 2001 225 people died of AIDS, there were 775 people. HIV-infected.
Press, radio broadcasting, television, Internet.
Published by: the government weekly newspaper "Orizonte" (Orizonte - "Horizon"), weekly "Boletim Oficial da República de Cabo Verde" Boletim Informativo - "Information Bulletin"), newspaper "Tribuna" (Tribuna - "Tribune"), magazines "Raízes" ("Roots") and "Unidade e Luta" (Unidade e Luta - "Unity and Struggle"). Since 1988, the information agency "Informpress" (formerly "Kabopress") has been operating. Radio and television are in operation (since 1984). In 2002, there were 12 thousand Internet users.
Tourism.
Tourists are attracted by the sandy beaches of the islands of Boavista, Mayu and Sal, as well as the picturesque mountain landscapes on the islands of Brava, Santo Antan, Santiago and Fogu. Favorable climatic conditions allow receiving tourists all year round. Both local entrepreneurs and foreign investors invest in the development of tourism (in 1998, 74% of all foreign investments were invested). The main foreign investors are Austria, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal and France. Hotel complexes in Tarrafal, on the Boavista Islands, Mayu, San Vicente and Santo Antan are popular. In 1999 the first five-star hotel "Criula" was opened on the island of Sal. The number of tourists (Portuguese, Germans, Italians, Dutch, Americans, French, South Africans, etc.) is increasing annually: 20 thousand people. in 1993, 67 thousand people in 1999. In 2000 the country was visited by 83.3 thousand people, and the income from tourism amounted to 40.8 million US dollars. Attractions: Catholic cathedrals of colonial times, the village of Cidadi Velha (translated as "old town", founded on Santiago Island in the 15th century, included in the list of UNESCO-protected historical monuments), the Belém Tower and the Maritime Museum in the city of Mindelo, ethnographic museum in Praia. When planning travel around the country, you should take into account the holidays: January 20, May 1, July 5, November 1.
Architecture.
Traditional dwellings in rural areas are funku stone one- or two-room houses (built without the use of cement) with earthen floors and mandatory shutters on the windows. The roof is gable, made of straw or tiles. The architectural appearance of modern cities organically combines old colonial mansions and multi-storey buildings and cottages with all the amenities, the construction of which began in the 1990s. Luxurious hotels and supermarkets made of glass and reinforced concrete structures have become a feature of the cities.
Fine arts and crafts.
Contemporary artists - B. Barros-Gizzi, M. Quairosh, C. Lima, L. Lopes, J. Miranda, M. Fernandes, M. Figueira and C. Figueira. The works of the artist K. Lima are well known not only in Cape Verde and African countries, but also in Spain, Cuba, the Netherlands, Portugal, France, Switzerland and Latin American countries. The city of Praia regularly organizes exhibitions of local artists and exhibitions-fairs of handicraftsmen. Pottery, weaving products from straw, making souvenirs (ashtrays, lamps, boxes) from wood and coconut shells, ornaments made of ceramics, seashells and fish teeth are well developed.
Literature.
It is considered one of the most developed among the literatures of the Portuguese-speaking countries. It has been developing in Portuguese and Creole (Criulu) since the early 20th century. The founders of literature in Portuguese are J. Barboza, M. Lopes and B. Lopes. One of the first novels - Shiquinho B. Lopesha (1947). E. Tavares is considered the founder of Creole literature in Cape Verde. In 1989 the Writers' Union of Cape Verde was created. The works of contemporary writers D. Almada, J. Varelet, M. Veiga, A. Vieira, A. Gonçalves, V. Duarte, O. Osoriu, M. Fonseca are also published in Angola, Belgium, Brazil, Portugal, Russia and France.
Music.
The population is very musical. The national music combines European, African and Latin American traditions. Musical styles: morna (short sad songs about the hardships of the fate of emigrants), coladeira (cheerful songs), funana (African melodies) and Brazilian samba. The six-string guitar and the ancient one-string simboa made from coconut shells are the most popular musical instruments. Mass carnival processions are widespread, the participants of which dance in bizarre masks to the accompaniment of drums, xylophones and trumpets. The singer Cesaria Evora has won worldwide fame. Her tour was a great success in Moscow in 2000 and 2003. The names of such singers and musicians as Bana, R. Veloso, I. Lobu, L. Morais, T. Paris and Titina are known in Portuguese-speaking countries. Of the many musical groups, Bulimundu and Tubaroish are especially popular. Music festivals are held with the participation of performers from Angola, Brazil, Portugal and the United States.
Theater and cinema.
There is no professional theater. The amateur theater groups “Youth on the March”, “Canizade”, “Corda Caoberdi”, “Ramonda”, the troupe of the Portuguese Cultural Center, etc. have been created and are still working. The tour of the group “Youth on the March” was successfully held in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, France, Africa and Latin America... In 1995 in Mindelu the theater festival "Mindelakt" was held, which has received international status since 1997. In the late 1980s, the development of national cinema began. The first film was a joint work of filmmakers of the Republic and the USSR - a documentary Songs of the land and the sea(1989). In 1999, a film festival was held on the island of Sal, at which directors from Angola, Cape Verde, Portugal and Senegal presented their work.
Story.
Colonial period.
The first information about the archipelago was contained in the diaries of the Arab traveler Idrisi (12th century) and in the encyclopedia of a certain Omari (14th century). Portuguese sailors landed on the island of Sal in 1446. The official date of the discovery of the Cape Verde Islands by navigators from Portugal D. Gomes and D. Afonso, as well as travelers A. Cadamosto (from Venice) and A. Noli (from Genoa) is 1460. The first settlers appeared in 1462 on the island of Santiago. In 1466, the islands began to be massively populated by Portuguese colonists, officials and exiles. Later, the Spaniards, the French and the inhabitants of Genoa arrived. In 1495, the islands were officially declared the possession of Portugal. From 1581 they belonged to Spain, but in 1640 they again became a Portuguese colony. In the 16-19 centuries. were one of the largest centers and transit point for the slave trade. The economic development of the archipelago began with agriculture and cattle breeding, and later fishing began to develop. Slave labor was widely used. Until 1878, slavery existed on the islands. The archipelago and Portuguese Guinea were a single colony until 1879. After the end of the slave trade, the importance of the islands for the colonialists declined, many European settlers left. The authorities began to encourage the influx of new settlers, including contract workers from Angola, Cape Verde and Mozambique. For the first time our compatriots set foot on the land of Cape Verde in 1853: the sailors of the frigate "Pallada", which, heading from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, made a stop at the port of Praia. The life of the islanders of that period is described in the novel Frigate "Pallada" IA Goncharov, who took part in this campaign.
The period of colonial development was marked by numerous uprisings of the local population against the authorities. The anti-colonial struggle was led by the African Party for the Independence and Union of the Peoples of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAI), created in 1956, and renamed in 1960 as the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC). One of its founders, Amilcar Cabral, became its general secretary. In 1963, the party began an armed struggle. In 1973 A. Kabral was killed as a result of a terrorist attack. After the fall of the fascist regime in Portugal, a transitional government was formed in the city of Praia. PAIGK won the elections in June 1975. Aristides Pereira was elected President.
A period of independent development.
Independence proclaimed on July 5, 1975. Following the military coup in Guinea-Bissau, the islands' party organization seceded from PAIGC and in January 1981 the Cape Verdean African Independence Party (PAICV) was formed. A one-party regime was established. In March 1986, the Republic of Cape Verde was renamed the Republic of Cape Verde. In the late 1980s, the socio-political situation was aggravated by economic difficulties and a wave of revelations of corruption in the upper echelons of power. After the abolition in 1990 of the article of the constitution securing the PAIKV's monopoly, the Movement for Democracy (Movement for Democracy) party, created in 1990, won the parliamentary elections on January 13, 1991. In February 1991, Antonio Machareñas Monteiro was elected president (70% of the votes). The new government's policy was aimed at democratic transformations, the development of national private capital, attracting foreign investment and developing relations with Portugal, Brazil and the Portuguese-speaking countries of Africa.
In the parliamentary elections in December 1995, the MPD retained the majority of seats in the National Assembly, and in February 1996 A. Monteiro was re-elected for a second term. The binding of the Cape Verdean eshkud to the Portuguese currency (1998 agreement) facilitated trade with the EU and Francophone Africa. The creation in 1997 of a unified communication network of the islands made it possible to create an offshore banking center. Population dissatisfaction with insufficient attention of the government to social problems led to the defeat of the MPD in the elections on January 14, 2001. PAIKV won 40 seats in parliament, the MPD - 30, the Democratic Alliance for Change (coalition of parties) - 2. The presidential elections were held in two rounds. The PAIKV candidate with 50.01% of the vote, Pedro Verona Pires, became president. He was elected on February 25, 2001, reelected to this post for the second time in 2006. He resigned in 2011 without participating in the elections, since, according to the Constitution, he held the post of head of state for the maximum term. The policy of the P. Piresh government was aimed at privatization, poverty reduction and attraction of foreign investment.
Cape Verde in the 21st century
In August 2011, Jorge Fonseca, a candidate for the opposition Movement for Democracy, defeated the ruling party's candidate Manuel Inocencio Sousa, a member of the ruling African Independence Party of Cape Verde, with 55% of the vote.
The new president is opposed by parliament - in February 2011, the Cape Verdean African Independence Party won the legislative elections.
Lyubov Prokopenko
Culturally, Praia is somewhat different from the rest of the Cape Verde towns. There is a more open and cosmopolitan atmosphere here, in Praia there is a touch of "Europeanness" - this applies to both the appearance of the city and the mentality of local residents.
Climate and weather
Praia is located in a subtropical dry climate with a short rainy season followed by a long dry period. In fact, there is almost no precipitation from November to July. On average, about 260 mm of precipitation falls per year.
It rarely gets really hot here because of the proximity to the ocean. As a rule, the weather is warm all year round, the air temperature is characterized by the absence of sharp drops and averages +27 ° C in summer and +22 ° C in winter. Thanks to the warm Guinean current, the water temperature in summer reaches + 24 ... + 28 ° C.
When planning a trip to Praia, keep in mind that the best time to visit is the rainy season: August, September and October. During these months, there are no dry winds from the Sahara, bringing heat and dust, the air becomes cleaner and cooler, and the weather is generally more comfortable for staying.
Nature
Geographically, Praia is a series of hills (plateaus) and the surrounding picturesque valleys... The plateaus are collectively referred to as achada (for example, Achada de Santo António, Achada Grande, and so on). In the suburb of Praia, you can observe the typical nature of Cape Verde: the famous "moon landscape" on one side, and vibrant tropical flora on the other. On the island of Santiago there are acacias, pines, eucalyptus and cypresses, in the valleys you can see baobabs, date and coconut palms.
sights
The main attraction of Praia is its central square, Albuquerque. Around it are architectural monuments of the colonial era: the Presidential Palace, the Ethnographic Museum, and the City Hall, although it is not so ancient - the building was built in 1920.
From a historical point of view, the monument to Diogo Gomes, the discoverer of the island of Santiago, deserves attention.
Be sure to take a walk along the most beautiful and widest street in Praia - the Amilcar Cabral alley. If you're lucky, you will find yourself at one of the many colorful processions, demonstrations or carnivals that are always held here. If you fail to see the celebration, you can just enjoy the cityscape.
Be sure to include in your excursion route the surroundings of Praia, namely the town of Cidade Velha. It was once the capital of the island of Santiago. To this day, the incredibly beautiful Portuguese fortress of St. Philip has been preserved there, as well as the first church in Africa.
Nutrition
In Praia, travelers have a great opportunity to appreciate the Caboverian cuisine in all colors. Particular attention should be paid to seafood dishes. Restaurants in the capital usually offer lobsters, octopuses, sea bass, tuna and barnacles as local delicacies. For example, it is believed that delicious octopus with sauce is served in the Mediterrâneo restaurant on Rua da Prainha, 35. An additional incentive to visit this establishment is the stunning ocean views.
You should definitely try the traditional dish of the Kaboverdians - kachupu, because almost every region of the country can boast of its recipe for its preparation. Moreover, we advise you to include this dish in the gastronomic top list in Praia. Also, don't forget about the pinch - grilled meat. Finally, visit the oldest café in town, Cachito Café, located in Place Albuquerque, and order churrasco, a herb-marinated chicken there.
Residence
In terms of location, the Rosymar Inn is considered a convenient option: it is a five-minute drive from the airport, next to the beach and not far from the city center. In addition, this is a fairly budget place: the price for a double room ranges from $ 40 to $ 70 - depending on the season. Breakfast is included in the price.
If your soul requires luxury and your wallet doesn't mind, you can stay at the Oasis Atlântico Praiamar, which is located right on the oceanfront, or at the Pestana Trópico, which also offers stunning ocean views. Accommodation prices here start at $ 180 for a standard double room.
Entertainment and recreation
Like everywhere else in Cape Verde, the capital of the country is a great place to have a great time doing outdoor activities. For example, diving - if you come to Praia between April and November. Few have managed to resist the charm underwater world in the vicinity of Santiago Island. Even beginners will feel like a fish in the water here, as there are several diving centers in Praia, where they carry out competent preparation for diving.
The mountains surrounding Praia provide excellent conditions for mountaineering, and the year-round Atlantic breeze creates waves and attracts surfers. In addition, cycling, trekking, hang gliding are available.
In the end, you can just rest on beautiful beaches that stretch along the coast of Praia. The most popular of these are Praia Beach, Cuebra Canela and Gamboa Beach.
People who can sing just walk into a place that has live music, perform a couple of songs, and head to the next music bar. And so all night. If you want to hear the sounds of African batuka, finason and tabanka, be sure to visit Praia's nightlife.
Purchases
Shopping in Praia is mainly about buying original local souvenirs. Travelers are tempted by African masks, bone and clay figurines, tortoise shell products and paintings depicting the Caboverian nature and life of people. Local music CDs are also popular.
The shops in Praia are small, the only supermarket is called Calú e Angela and is located on Bairro Claveiro Lopes.
The city's shopping life is in full swing at the open-air markets. In the center, be sure to visit the Mercado Municipal, which sells the freshest vegetables and fruits. In the Fazenda quarter there is the most interesting Praia market - Sucupira, where you can buy clothes, shoes, chorizo sausages, sweets and delicious coffee brought from the island of Fogu. And remember: you do not need to immediately agree to the stated price: a good bargaining allows you to reduce it by half!
Transport
There are a lot of bus stops in Praia. The city is served by two main bus companies - Moura Company and Sol Atlantico. The routes cover all the main attractions, but it is rather difficult to figure out where which bus is going. But the fare does not exceed $ 0.5.
Be careful with taxi drivers: many of them are illegal and may demand from a tourist a clearly inflated amount for their services. The normal cost of travel around the city from one end to the other cannot exceed $ 20 during the day and $ 25 at night. In Praia, it is customary to tip taxi drivers in the amount of $ 1–1.5. However, make sure that there is a meter in the car.
In general, it is quite difficult for a visitor to navigate the city, since there is no official map, and many streets and houses do not have names and numbers. But the locals are friendly and always show the way. We do not recommend planning walking, as the distances between tourist places are quite significant, and the sidewalks are paved with large cobblestones, which creates additional inconvenience when walking.
Connection
Internet access is available in all major hotels in Praia, as well as in public places such as Palacio da Cultura. There are also many internet cafes in the city.
You will not have any problems with cellular communication if your phone supports the GSM 900 standard. Roaming service is available for Russian tourists-subscribers of Megafon and MTS operators. If you wish, you can buy a SIM card from the local operator Cabo Verde Telecom.
Calls around the city can theoretically be made from public telephones. But the trouble is: they are not very common, you can use them only at the airport or post offices.
Safety
Since Praia is the capital of Cape Verde and the most big city country, the crime rate is slightly higher than in other regions of the republic. True, most crimes are petty theft, which is often directed against local residents and does not affect tourists.
It is useful to know that many streets of Praia are poorly lit at night, so be careful.
Drinking tap water is strongly discouraged. Meat and fish must be cooked before use.
Business climate
Opening your own business in Praia is a very promising undertaking in terms of business conditions. Praia is the business center of the country, so it is here that everything opens every year more companies... Currently, it is especially beneficial to work in such areas as transport, tourism, and fishing.
An obvious plus for the investor is the simplicity of the very process of founding a new company. In terms of time, it takes 24 days, and the amount that must be spent on the preparation of all the necessary documents will not exceed $ 500, not counting the authorized capital. A separate "bonus" is the possibility of obtaining citizenship of Cape Verde, if the size of investment in a newly-minted company crosses the $ 30,000 barrier.
The property
Buying real estate in Praia is considered a profitable investment. Tourism is developing rapidly here, a lot of residential and commercial real estate is being built, and the policy of the authorities encourages foreign investors. On the side of investors from abroad are local laws that equalize the rights of foreigners with citizens of the country.
Of course, when buying real estate in Praia, you will have to pay additional taxes and fees: 3% of the cost of an apartment or house and the same amount for the transaction.
Travel tips
It is customary to leave a tip in expensive restaurants (10% of the bill); in small cafes, encouragement to waiters is usually immediately included in the bill.
For a relaxed conversation with the locals, we advise you to learn a few typical Creole words like oi ("hello") or tudu bon ("ok").
The Republic of Cape Verde is located on the islands of the same name in the Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago of 10 large and 8 smaller islands is located 620 kilometers from the west coast of Africa. The distance between the islands is 100-150 kilometers. They are conventionally divided into 2 groups: "leeward" (Sotaventa) and "windward" (Barlaventa). The first includes the islands Sao Vicente, Santo Antau, Sao Nicolau, Sal, Boavista and a desert island Santa lucia... The "windward" group of islands includes Brava, Fogu, Santiago and Mayu.
Translated from Portuguese, the name of the country means "Green cape"... Previously, the country was called that in Russian - Cape Verde, unofficially, this name still exists.
Cape Verde is a unique country in the sense that the pristine nature has been preserved here, which by a miracle was not touched by the rapidly developing tourist infrastructure here. The main thing that travelers come here for is diving (Cape Verde is one of the world's five most interesting places for diving), windsurfing and sport fishing. And of course, guests of the Cape Verde Islands will not be left indifferent by local carnivals and music festivals (by the way, it was this country that gave the world the inimitable Cesaria Evora). And the sincere hospitality of the Kaboverdians and the pacifying atmosphere of a paradise lost in the ocean will leave an indelible mark on the soul.
Capital |
Praia |
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Population |
523 568 people |
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Population density |
129.8 people / km² |
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portuguese, caboverdiana |
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Religion |
Catholicism (up to 80% of the population), traditional beliefs |
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Form of government |
presidential republic |
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escudos Cape Verde |
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Timezone |
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International dialing code |
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Domain zone on the Internet |
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Climate and weather
The Cape Verde archipelago is dominated by a subtropical dry climate. True, in comparison with the countries of continental Africa, which are located in the same climatic zone, Cape Verde is generally cooler and less marked by daytime and nighttime temperature fluctuations.
The coldest months are in January - February. average temperature January is +22 ° C, but in the mountains it can be significantly lower.
V temperature regime The cold Canary Current also makes its own adjustments. Its waters never heat up higher +20 ° C and therefore cool the air both over the ocean and over the islands. Only in July does the current shift northward, giving way to the warm Guinean Current, due to which the temperature of coastal waters rises to +24…+28 degrees.
It should be noted that the weather conditions are also greatly influenced by the northeastern winds, which bring dry cool air to the islands. From October to June, dry and hot "harmattan" winds blow for several hours a day from October to June, bringing with them heat and the smallest Saharan dust. It hangs in the air for a long time, forming Dusty fog.
But in August, the archipelago is blown by southern and south-western winds that bring rain. The air becomes clean and cool, although it is drier in the mountains than on the coast. During the day, the air temperature can rise to +36 ° C, and does not go lower at night + 18 ... + 20 ° C.
The best time to travel to Cape Verde is from August to October, when warm, pleasant weather guarantees a comfortable stay.
The Cape Verde archipelago is of volcanic origin, but today only one active volcano remains - Fogu, which is the highest point in the country (2829 m). The mountainous terrain is also characteristic of the islands of San Vicente, Santiago and San Nicola.
Approximately 16% of the territory of Cape Verde is the so-called "Lunar landscape"(dry gravelly highlands), where the vegetation is not very diverse. However, the flora of the islands of Santiago, Brava and Santo Antao pleases with a riot of tropical colors. Cypresses, eucalyptus, pines and acacia trees grow in the mountains, and the evergreen bombardeira trees can be seen on the northern slopes of the mountains.
In the valleys of the islands, there are baobabs, almonds, date and coconut palms, a dragon tree and mango. In total, Cape Verde has about 450 species of native plants and about 150 imported from other countries.
The peculiarity of the animal world of Cape Verde is that there were no mammals here before the arrival of the European colonialists. Monkeys, rabbits, rats, many domestic animals were brought to the islands and took root well in local conditions. There are a lot of birds, reptiles, insects in Cape Verde. The coastal waters are home to sea turtles, lobsters, sharks and numerous fish species.
sights
The main attractions of Cape Verde are of natural origin: each island in the archipelago has its own charm. For example, Santo Antau is famous for its picturesque mountain range and the craters of Kova. Brava proudly bears the title of the Island of Flowers, and Fogu attracts travelers with an active volcano.
The largest island in Cape Verde is Santiago... The capital of the country is located here, in addition, the island is famous for its picturesque mountains, cliffs and canyons. Of the historical monuments, the Portuguese fortress is interesting here. St. Philip in the town Cidade Velha (Old city). The monument is unique in that it is the first European structure on the archipelago. The walls of the fortress are decorated with ship cannons raised from the bottom of the ocean. The old city center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as "Europe's first colonial outpost in the tropics."
Fans of archaeological mysteries should visit the picturesque islet Sao Nicolau... The famous rock is located here Rotcha scribida, on which ancient writing is visible. No one has yet been able to decipher them. The most popular version is that they were left by people who visited the island before the Portuguese.
Nutrition
The traditional cuisine of Cape Verde is distinguished by an abundance of gourmet seafood and fish dishes. The most popular types of fish are sawfish, tuna and sea bass. Also in the local restaurants you will definitely be offered octopuses, lobsters, barnacles and other seafood delicacies.
On the other hand, the cuisine of the Cape Verde Islands does not ignore the dishes of meat and game. Vegetables and greens also play an important role on the Caboverian table. And for dessert, tropical fruit sweets are usually served.
It is unlikely that you will be able to spend your vacation in Cape Verde and not try the national dish kachupa. This masterpiece of stewing is included in the usual menu of the Capeverdians, and in recent years guests of the country have also appreciated it. V large cities kachupa is usually a weekend dish, but the farther from the capital, the more often it appears on the table. Kachupa is prepared, depending on the state of finances, according to "Rich" or "Poor" recipes. The more ingredients, the richer it is: fish, beef, chicken, pork, bacon, corn, beans, onions, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, olive oil, and so on. Each island has its own recipe for kachupa.
The cost of a dinner at a mid-level restaurant varies between $ 20-40. In general, there are many establishments of various price ranges on the islands. Almost every city has a buffet restaurant, where, having paid about $ 10 for an entrance, you can taste local and European delicacies as much as you like.
Residence
There are no problems with accommodation for travelers in Cape Verde. So many hotels and apartments have been set up here that you can easily find great options at attractive prices.
The hotel fund of the country is, first of all, resort complexes with excellent infrastructure: restaurants, cafes, swimming pools, golf courses, playgrounds. Many hotels operate according to the system all inclusive... Large hotels offer diving school services and diving equipment rental services.
But be prepared for the fact that not all 4 * and 5 * hotels offer a level of service that objectively corresponds to the declared category. For example, high-speed internet access is often available at an additional cost.
The most modern and comfortable hotels are located on the islands of Sal, Santiago, São Nicolau, São Vicente, Mayu. The island of Sal leads in the number of hotels.
There are also small family hotels at quite affordable prices, as well as hotels aimed at surfers and sports fishing enthusiasts. You can rent a modest apartment or a whole villa on the Atlantic coast: it all depends on the wishes and wallet of the tourist. Mid-level apartments will cost $ 20-25 per person per day.
Entertainment and recreation
Thrill seekers will love the entertainment in Cape Verde. "Volcanic Snowboard"(snowboarding from the top of the volcano straight to the black sands) was invented on the island of Fogu, and it has already broken records of popularity among tourists.
You cannot come to this country and not go diving. In Cape Verde, there are many places where diving guarantees an unforgettable experience: reefs, rocks, caves with octopuses, crabs and other marine life, as well as sunken ships always delight the adventure lovers. The best diving sites are concentrated around the islands of Sal, Santiago and Boavishita. The best time for diving is considered to be the period from April to November, at other times some areas are inaccessible for diving. Even if you have never dived, there are many diving centers on the islands, where beginners are also prepared for diving.
The second most popular species active rest is windsurfing. The constant Atlantic breeze in the Cape Verde Islands guarantees the possibility of windsurfing all year round. The island is most popular with surfers as there are several surf clubs for both beginners and professionals.
The mountains of the island of Santo Antau are ideal conditions for trekking and hang gliding. Hiking and cycling can be organized in the valleys.
But if outdoor activities are not to your liking, in Cape Verde you can have a great time on the beach. The beaches here are amazing: huge, clean and uncrowded. Sun loungers are available free of charge.
It is worth visiting the colorful festivals here. One of the most colorful - February Carnival, which takes place in Praia and Mindelo.
Purchases
Cape Verde is not a shopaholic's dream, but travelers will surely enjoy souvenirs made by local craftsmen: clay figurines, African masks, tortoiseshell, coconut or bovine horns. Paintings with Caboverian motifs are very popular, as well as figurines of people and animals made of bone or wood - they are sold everywhere. If you bargain well, you can bring down the price by one and a half to two times.
Local open markets are attractive because, in addition to souvenirs and handicrafts, you can buy fresh fish and seafood. And, of course, tourists are attracted there by the local flavor peculiar only to these islands.
Typically, shops in Cape Verde are open from 08:00 to 18:00 and supermarkets are open until 21:00. On Sunday, almost everywhere is a day off, some shops may be open until 13:00.
Transport
The main transport in Cape Verde for moving from island to island is airplanes. Local airline Transportes Aereos de Cabo Verde o there are flights 1-2 times a day to each island. The airfare ranges from $ 40 to $ 80 one way. If you plan to fly a lot to the islands, it is wise to purchase an Air Pass for 10 flights for $ 380, valid for 22 days.
In addition to aircraft, boats and ferries run between neighboring islands.
But on land, the cheapest way to travel by minibuses (aluguer): the fare is about $ 1.3. However, be prepared for the fact that the minibuses do not have a clear timetable.
Catching a taxi on the islands is also not a problem. True, the fare will be much higher: $ 10-12 for a half-hour trip. You can rent a taxi for the whole day, and the price in this case will be negotiable.
Many travelers rent cars. For instance, Suzuki jimny will cost about $ 70 per day. If you need a bigger car (pickup or SUV), get ready to shell out $ 90-120.
In general, the road conditions in Cape Verde are good, but you should not drive if you are not used to mountain roads (and such roads prevail on most islands).
Connection
The Internet can be used in all major hotels and business centers in large cities. In addition, there are internet cafes. Paid Wi-Fi Cabocom is also widely available (about $ 20 for 250 MB or $ 30 for 500 MB).
Cellular communication is provided by a local operator Cabo Verde Telecom, the country has adopted the range Gsm 900. Russian tourists can use satellite communications Thuraya (subscribers of MTS and "Megophone"). Of course, you can buy a SIM card on the spot, although its cost is not very attractive - about $ 30. Calling from public telephones is not very convenient, if only because there are very few of them: they are available only in post offices and at airports.
Safety
Cape Verde is a very safe country for tourists. The archipelago government pays special attention to ensuring order, as the country strives to attract more and more tourists. Predicate offenses are observed in the Cape Verdean capital Praia and on the island of São Vicente. The most popular tourist areas (Boavista Island, Sal Island) are calm and safe. In general, travelers should take the usual precautions: do not leave expensive items unattended, do not walk at night in questionable areas, watch out for pockets and bags in crowded places.
The sanitary situation in Cape Verde should also not be a cause for concern. There are no typical African diseases here, and vaccinations are not required to enter. However, you need to know that, like in many tropical countries, in the Republic of Cape Verde there is a certain risk of contracting viral and infectious diseases: unusual climatic conditions and nutrition can weaken the body and make it more vulnerable. Stay alert and practice good personal hygiene.
Tap water is not drinkable unless first sanitized - it must be boiled. But the best option would be drinking water in plastic bottles.
Business climate
The Cape Verde archipelago offers excellent business opportunities. This is especially true in areas such as transport, import of goods and fishing. A positive point is the opportunity to obtain citizenship of the country by investing about $ 30,000 in the development of your company. Cape Verdean citizenship gives you the right to visa-free travel to West African countries and makes it very easy to obtain a Portuguese visa, which opens the door to the EU countries.
It is not difficult to register a company in Cape Verde. The process takes just over three weeks. First you need to choose a name and reserve it in the Commercial Register ( Conservatoria do Registro de Firmas e Similares). The investor must provide the registrar with several options for the name of his company, along with a detailed description of its goals. The registration fee is about $ 8. After that, the founder deposits the authorized capital into the bank account, and the company is registered in the commercial register. You will need to pay a registration fee (about $ 120) and a duty to the Chamber of Commerce ($ 12). After registration, the owner receives a municipal license, as well as a license for the types of activities of the enterprise. True, if the company's activities are not related to the import or export of goods, you will not need the latter. Obtaining licenses is the longest process in starting a business (about eight working days). In addition, you will have to pay the fee again - this time around $ 370. You do not have to waste time while the license is issued and register your employees with the Department of Social Protection of the Population, obtain insurance against accidents at work, register with the Labor Inspectorate. This, in fact, completes the stage of opening a company, and you can safely go about your business.
The property
Real estate in Cape Verde is becoming more and more attractive among foreign investors. There are several reasons for this: the country's rapidly developing economy, the boom in the construction of modern comfortable housing, the development of the tourism sector, and, of course, the government's policy aimed at promoting investment from abroad. Also important are such advantages as the lack of minerals in the archipelago (the land will not be taken away later for the development of gold deposits or drilling an oil well), a low crime rate and laws that do not distinguish between citizens of Cape Verde and foreigners. As they say, maximum advantages with minimum disadvantages.
The downside of buying real estate in Cape Verde, to be quite picky, is the presence of taxes and fees when making a deal. But they are quite democratic: 3% of the value of a house or apartment is tax on real estate and about the same amount will have to be paid as
notary fee.
When it comes to housing prices, they can seem fantastically low, especially when compared to Moscow. A one-bedroom apartment 150 meters from the sea is now quite possible to purchase for $ 90,000-100,000, and it will be modern housing in a condominium with excellent infrastructure. Prices for small villas with sea views start from $ 70,000- $ 80,000. However, analysts predict that this situation in the Cape Verde real estate market will not last long, and investors who want to get the most out of their investments should hurry up.
If you are going to dive in Cape Verde, remember that you will need insurance to cover the risks of diving, insurance to cover the risks of repatriation in the event of a fatality, and a medical certificate that authorizes the diving.
In expensive restaurants, it is customary to leave a tip in the amount of 10% of the bill. In small establishments, tips are usually left at the discretion of the client, but sometimes they are included in the bill as a separate item.
As for customs regulations, any currency can be imported and exported without restrictions, and you do not need to fill out a declaration. The import of weapons is prohibited unless there is a special permit. You can import no more than 5 kg of fresh vegetables and fruits duty-free.
Visa information
Tourists from Russia need a visa to enter Cape Verde. It can be issued both at the Honorary Consulate of Cape Verde in Moscow, and at the island's airport. Sal upon arrival.
Depending on the purpose of the visit and the length of stay, there are several types of visas for entry into Cape Verde: short-stay (type C), transit (types A and B) and national (type D). Most often, travelers need visas of the first type, which, in turn, are tourist, guest and business. You can apply for both a single-entry and multiple-entry visa.
If you decide to apply for a visa at the Cape Verdean consulate in Moscow, you will need the following documents:
- completed and signed by you questionnaire;
- passport valid for at least three months;
- 1 color photograph 3.5 x 4.5 cm;
- hotel reservation (original or copy);
- air tickets (copy or printout of electronic tickets);
- copies of the completed pages of the all-Russian and foreign passports.
If you are traveling on a business trip or on a visit, you will also need an invitation from a company or individual.
As a rule, visas are issued within 3 working days. You can get a visa in 1 working day, but you will have to pay double the consular fee. By the way, it is equal to $ 59.16 for a single-entry individual visa and is paid in Russian rubles at the rate that is current on the day of payment. Obviously, it is much more convenient to get a visa at the airport. Sal- in any case, when it comes to a single-entry tourist visa: the list of documents and the visa fee are less. The immigration officer will only need to present a passport and return tickets and pay 25 € for a visa. The advantage of obtaining a visa in advance at the consulate is only that the traveler does not need to prove to the border guards of intermediate airports that he / she is entitled to enter the country (there are no direct flights from Russia to Cape Verde).
Basic moments
The tropical islands are popular for diving, yachting, windsurfing, kitesurfing and sport fishing. Travelers who come to Cape Verde for an active holiday prefer to stay in hotels at diving centers and surf stations, or rent cottages by the sea.
The archipelago is home to about 540 thousand people. More than 70% of the local residents are mulattos, a quarter of Cape Verdeans are Africans, and the rest are immigrants from different European countries. Portuguese, Creole and African languages are spoken here. Thanks to people from western regions In Africa, French is widely spoken among the islanders. It is believed that about 80% of the population is Catholic, while the rest adhere to local beliefs.
The famous singer Cesaria Evora was born in Cape Verde. The barefoot diva became famous all over the world for performing original Creole songs to the accompaniment of ukulele, grand piano, accordion, clarinet and violin. In 2012, the airport on the island of São Vicente was named after the talented singer who won the hearts of music lovers around the world.
All life in the tropical archipelago is tied to the ocean, and tourism is the backbone of Cape Verde's economy. The development of tourism infrastructure is sponsored by local and foreign investors. Entrepreneurs from Austria, Spain, Germany, Italy, France and Portugal are investing a lot of money in the development of tourism in this country. Thanks to them, large resort centers have been built on the islands, offering their guests a full range of necessary services.
History of Cape Verde
The first mentions of Cape Verde can be found among Arab travelers and geographers who lived in the XII-XIV centuries. Europeans discovered part of the archipelago in 1456. This happened during the voyage of the Venetian traveler Aloysius Cada-Mosto, who was in the service of the Portuguese. In subsequent years, Portuguese sailors visited the rest of the islands. In those days, the entire archipelago was covered with vegetation, and there were no people here.
The first European settlements appeared in Cape Verde in 1462. Colonists from Portugal began to develop the Cape Verde Islands with Santiago. The government of the country encouraged the settlers with large allotments of land and gave them significant privileges in trade on the African coast. In addition to the Portuguese, the islands were settled by settlers from Spain, Genoa and France. And by the end of the 15th century, thousands of Jews arrived here, who left Europe, wanting to avoid the persecution of the Portuguese Inquisition.
The archipelago was located at the crossroads of merchant ships that ply between Europe, the New World and Africa, so it quickly turned into one of the centers of the slave trade. The Europeans living in Cape Verde undertook several expeditions for "living goods" on the coast of Guinea and in the interior of Africa, and the slaves were taken to the tobacco and sugar cane plantations located in Brazil. Due to the large influx of Africans, by 1572 the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants of the archipelago were descendants of black slaves, as well as mulattoes, who were born from the ties of African women with Europeans.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Cape Verde suffered from the effects of severe drought. The crop failure was facilitated by the constant deforestation of humid forests and the clearing of fertile soil for pastures. As a result, about 100,000 local residents died during three major droughts. The end of the slave trade came in 1876, the king of Portugal issued a special decree prohibiting slavery.
By the end of the 19th century, Cape Verde had become perfect place where transatlantic ships refueled. The liners docked in Cape Verde received the necessary coal, drinking water, provisions and livestock on the islands.
In 1951, the Cape Verde Islands, along with other possessions, became an overseas province of Portugal. A movement for the independence of Guinea and Cape Verde soon emerged, and in 1974 an agreement was signed in the Portuguese capital to recognize the islands as an independent republic.
Geographical features and climate
Islands lie in the center Atlantic Ocean... About 16% of Cape Verde is rocky, de-vegetated highlands that resemble lifeless "moonlit" landscapes. Several volcanoes are concentrated here. The largest of them - Fogu - rises to a height of 2829 m.
The islands have rocky steep shores and there are few convenient mooring places for ships. The largest of the harbors, Porto Grande, is located on the island of São Vicente. A natural bay formed in the crater of a submerged volcano. Today, the second largest city in the country, Mindelo, is spread around it.
Cape Verde has a dry tropical climate. The average annual air temperature in the Cape Verde Islands is + 25 ° С. The coldest months are January and February, and the hottest are July and August. Depending on the season, the ocean water temperature ranges from +21 ° С to +26 ° С.
It rains a little - only 100-300 mm per year. True, during the rainy season, which lasts from August to October, heavy showers can pass in the mountains, which can cause great damage to the upper fertile layer of the soil.
Winds blow on the islands of Cape Verde all year round, and, thanks to them, the tropical heat is much easier to endure. From mid-autumn to early summer, the eastern trade wind from the Sahara, which is called "harmatan", prevails. It is very dry and often brings fine dust to the islands.
Cape Verde Islands
The archipelago consists of 10 large and 5 small islands, divided into "leeward" and "windward" groups. The upwind group includes Santo Antao, San Vicente, San Nicolau, the uninhabited island of Santa Luzia, Sal and Boa Vista. ... Leeward - Santiago, Brava, Fogo and Maio.
Sal
The most flat of all the islands in the archipelago, it is famous for excellent conditions for diving and surfers. The island is of volcanic origin and emerged from the ocean about 50 million years ago. It has a well-developed tourist infrastructure, so more than half of all travelers who come to Cape Verde prefer to stay here.
Salé is popular with catamarans and sailboats along the coast. During such sea voyages, tourists can swim, snorkel and fish with a line. So that travelers can better see the underwater world and sunken ships, they are carried along the coast in boats with a transparent bottom.
While resting on Sal, it is interesting to visit the town of Santa Maria and take a bath in the salt pools. Many tourists go on an excursion to Oásis de Algodoeiro - to the ruins of a military fortress built by the Portuguese during the colonization of the island.
Fogu
The Fogo island-volcano is the highest and one of the most picturesque places in Cape Verde. On this island, green vineyards sit side by side with lifeless fields of black lava, and the coast is lined with beaches that are covered with dark volcanic sand. Fogo is home to 37 thousand people. Locals serve tourists, grow coffee and produce excellent wine.
The area around the active volcano Fogo has been declared a nature reserve. In the volcanic caldera there is a small village of Shan dash Caldeiras, where 1.2 thousand people live. In this village there is a parish church of the 19th century and a small museum "House of Memory".
São Filipe, Cape Verde's third largest city, has many colorful houses that contrast sharply with the surrounding hillsides. Interestingly, almost all buildings and churches in this city are built of volcanic tuff.
Brava
Brava is the smallest among the other islands in Cape Verde, thanks to the variety of rare flowering plants it is often called the "island of flowers". It is located in the western part of the archipelago, 20 km from Fogo. Even geologically, the island of Brava is an extension of Fogo. The depth of the sea in the channel that separates the two islands is several hundred meters, while the base of the sea around the rest of the island is about 4000 meters deep. To the north of Brava lie two small deserted islands. Tourism is not developed here, due to the steep coastline, which does not allow you to enjoy a full rest on the beaches of the island.
Santiago
The largest island in the archipelago has an area of 991 km². It is home to most of the population of Cape Verde - over 284 thousand people. The government of the republic, foreign embassies and international organizations... For its rich vegetation and abundance of tropical fruits, the island is often called the “bread basket” of Cape Verde.
Travelers come to Santiago for a beautiful natural park where baobabs and dragon trees more than 400 years old. The protected area is located near the city of Assamad.
Of great interest is the capital of the island of Praia - a city that was founded in the 15th century. Old squares, monuments and the presidential palace built in the 19th century have been preserved here. Many guests of the city make excursions to the local ethnographic museum.
10 km west of the island capital is a UNESCO-listed historical monument World heritage... This is the fortress of São Filipe, which was built at the end of the 16th century to protect the coast from pirates.
Sao Vicente
The picturesque island stretches for 24 km and reaches a width of 16 km. Sao Vicente has a relatively flat topography. The highest point of the island rises 774 m above sea level. Sao Vicente is open National center crafts that maintain the traditions of local weaving and crafts from shells and stones.
The capital of the island, Mindelo, is the second largest city in the republic. Its quarters have grown on the shores of a natural harbor formed at the edge of a submerged volcano's crater. Mindelo has the largest number of nightclubs in Cape Verde. In addition, the brightest and liveliest carnivals are held here. During the August full moon, the city welcomes the colorful Bahia dash Gatash festival, and in September, the Mindelact theater festival.
Boavista
Translated from Portuguese, the name "Boavista" means "beautiful view." It is the third largest island in Cape Verde and has a population of about 9,000. Getting to Boavista is not difficult. From Sal, speedboats reach the island in an hour, and by plane they get here even faster - in just 15 minutes.
Boavista Island is known for its excellent beaches and picturesque dunes that alternate with green oases of date palms. For these features, it is often called the island of dunes. In recent years, off-road, motorcycle and ATV safaris in the Viana Desert and the huge Santa Monica beach, covered with fine white sand, have become a popular pastime. The size of this beach strip is impressive - it stretches for 40 km.
Sao Nicolau
In the northern part of the archipelago there is an island, which for a long time had the status of the cultural capital of Cape Verde. In 1936, a distinctive literary movement was born here, and until 1960 the popular magazine Claridade was published.
The island is covered with mountains. It has a sufficient amount of fresh water, therefore, agriculture and livestock breeding have developed here. The local attraction is the Rotcha Sribidada rock, where ancient, not yet deciphered, writings have been preserved. According to legend, the petroglyphs on the rock were left by people who visited the island even before the Portuguese colonized it. São Nicolau began to be settled in the 17th century, and many buildings and churches of the 18th-19th centuries have survived in its villages.
Santo Antan
The second largest island of Cape Verde covers an area of 779 km². In the city of Ribeira Grande, the capital of Santo Antana, you can see many buildings from the colonial period. There is also the oldest lighthouse in the archipelago, which was erected in 1886.
Travelers come to Santa Antan for trekking along the mountain ranges and flying hang gliders. The valleys overgrown with tropical vegetation are popular with cycling enthusiasts.
Mayu
Mayu is a quiet, secluded island located in the extreme eastern part of the Cape Verde group of islands, 25 km from Santiago Island. This is the oldest island in the archipelago, which is 24 km long and 16 km wide. In addition, Mayu is an ancient dormant volcano that has not woken up for several thousand years. The island is famous for its white sandy shores and azure blue sea, but most of the beaches are located far from the main roads and can only be reached by SUV or on foot.
Santa lucia
Santa Lucia is the only uninhabited island in Cape Verde. It is 5 km wide and 13 km long. There is little vegetation on the island of Santa Lucia, but tourists come here for the sake of clean beaches and dunes. Highest point on the island 395 m above sea level is the Monte Grande mountain.
The lack of water made it impossible to try to populate the island with permanent residents, despite this, since the 19th century, fishermen and shepherds have lived here - only about 20 people. It is known that back in 1960 a family of shepherds lived here. However, starting in 1990, the state declared the island completely uninhabited and assigned it the status of a reserve.
Diving
Most popular view active recreation in Cape Verde is diving. The best time for diving is considered to be the period from mid-spring to late autumn, when almost all interesting underwater objects are available.
The underwater world of Cape Verde is renowned for its diversity. The clean and warm ocean water is home to tuna, moray eels, barracudas, mantas, eels, lobsters and sea bass. Here you can find ball fish, goldfish, king mackerel, bonito and groupers.
Dives are made to a depth of 6 to 30 m, with underwater visibility ranging from 30 to 40 m. Not many places on the planet have such excellent conditions for underwater travel! It should be noted that there is not that abundance and color for the sake of which divers travel to Egypt. But compared to the Red Sea, around Cape Verde you can much more often see large inhabitants of the underwater world - large green turtles, three-meter stingrays, schools of frolicking dolphins and even whales.
In addition to colorful fish, crabs, lobsters and octopuses, there are picturesque reefs, underwater caves, rocks, grottoes and sunken ships off the coast of Cape Verde. Many shipwrecks lie on the ocean floor near the islands of Santiago and Mayu. These are sea vessels built in the 15th-18th centuries. Near Salom and Boavista, ancient ships are at an accessible depth of 12-28 m.
Salé, Santo Antana, São Vicente and Santiago have large diving centers that offer a full range of services, from beginner training to equipment rental. Many divers prefer to stay on this island because there are more than three dozen interesting dive sites around it. The most popular sites on Sala are the Blue Room, the Palmiera site, the Ponta do Farol reef, the Buracona cave, as well as the three sites where wrecks lie at depths of 9 to 12 m.
Windsurfing and Kitesurfing
Those who like to ride the waves under a strong wind have mastered the tropical archipelago for a long time. Suffice it to say that the world champion in windsurfing in the freestyle discipline, the famous Josh Agulo, was born in Cape Verde.
Cape Verde is always warm, but never too hot. Ocean water has a comfortable temperature all year round. The wind season lasts from September to May. But the best period is from December to April, when the average wind speed reaches 10 m / s. In summer, the wind speed drops to 7 m / s, and sometimes there are weeks of complete calm.
Surfing conditions are favorable throughout the archipelago, as a steady breeze from the Atlantic Ocean does not bypass any of the islands. There are 6 surf centers on Sale. There are surf clubs on other islands too. They have modern equipment, train newcomers, organize competitions and have their own rescue services.
Most riders come to Sal. The most popular spot on this island is Ponta Prete. When the swell comes from the west side, the highest waves form here. There are many rocks on this spot, so it is chosen by experienced windsurfers who are able to control the situation better than beginners.
The water area of the town of Santa Maria is very popular for skiing. The coastal embankment of the island capital is shaped like a horseshoe, and in its center the water is always calm. Novice surfers feel comfortable here. The edges of the bay, on the contrary, protrude into the open sea, forming a zone of hard wave riding. Half a kilometer from the coast, powerful waves from the ocean prevail, the height of which often reaches 5 m. In the east of the town there is a surf station, where Josh Agulo himself works.
Near Santa Maria there is an uncomplicated spot called Albatross. A side wind blows on it, thanks to which waves are formed that are easy to ride. However, it should be borne in mind that those who stray too far from the coast risk being caught in high waves, dips in the wind and strong currents.
The ideal spot for kitesurfers on Sale is the Salinas spot, which is located just a few minutes drive from the town of Santa Maria. This place is ideal for beginners due to the wide beach, the absence of strong coastal currents and the coral reef. The winds are stable here and usually blow from the left side.
Spot Canoa is also popular with newcomers coming to Sal. It is located in the southern part of the island, inside the Gulf of Murdeira. The bay is sheltered from strong winds and the waves are small and safe. It has been declared a marine reserve because humpback whales come here during the mating season.
Kitchen features
Cape Verde loves fish and seafood. Local chefs are excellent at preparing sawfish, tuna and sea bass. In small taverns and restaurants, you can always order dishes from delicious lobsters, barnacles and octopuses.
The most popular among the inhabitants of Cape Verde is "kachupa". It is made from pork or other meats, beans, onions, garlic, sweet potatoes, corn, and pumpkin. It is noteworthy that each island has its own recipe for this hearty meal. If several types of meat are used in it, the islanders call "kachupu" rich.
In Cape Verde, rice with a seafood cocktail and meat soup with shrimp are great. Almost all travelers love jagasida, a stew of pork and beans with a cornmeal dressing. It is also worth trying a local delicacy - the bochada sausage, which is made from the blood and stomach of young lambs and served with rice. In different places in Cape Verde, they sell island fast food - fried "devil's pies", for the filling of which they use tuna meat, ripe tomatoes and onions.
Almost all local desserts are made from tropical fruits. Many cafes offer banana muffins, honey cassava cookies, and delicate curd puddings with a rich papaya or mango flavor.
Cape Verde has its own winemaking tradition. Fogu Island has been producing delicious Calderas wine since the end of the 19th century. The vines were brought here by the French Count Montreux. The local vineyards are small and are watered by hand. Island wine is exported and supplied to the European Union. The best quality is considered to be young wine, the age of which has not yet reached one year. Interestingly, the mineral-rich volcanic soil and the warm tropical climate make it 2 degrees stronger than regular European wine.
While vacationing in Cape Verde, it is worth trying the local cane grog, which the islanders emphasize with various flavors of fruits. It is customary to drink a low-alcohol drink hot and use it to make cocktails. The grog produced on the island of Santo Antan has received the greatest acclaim. Like the Fogu wine, it is also exported.
Transport
The most common form of public transport in Cape Verde is "aluguer" - minibuses that run without a clear timetable. They depart from the final points when there are no empty seats in the cabin.
Taxis are often used by tourists. If you plan to order a car for a full day, you need to agree on the price of the trip with the driver in advance.
Various transport runs from island to island. The distant islands of Cape Verde are connected by air, while the surrounding islands are connected by ferries and speedboats.
Visa
To travel to Cape Verde, residents of Russia need to obtain a visa. This can be done in Moscow at the consulate of that country. For registration, it is required to present a passport, an application form, a color photo 35 x 45 mm, a hotel reservation (or an invitation from friends or relatives), as well as paid round-trip tickets or a ticket reservation.
Documents can be submitted to the consulate in person or by power of attorney, and not necessarily notarized. Tourist visas in Cape Verde are issued for six months. They are single, multiple, group (for group members from 5 people) and family (for a parent with a child). Documents are made within 3 days. It is allowed to reside in the country on a tourist visa at a time for 30 days.
There is another option for obtaining a visa. It can be issued upon arrival at the airport on Sal Island. Such a visa is cheaper, but for its registration, in addition to the usual package of documents, you need to provide a special permit obtained at the consulate of the republic. For those who want to take advantage of this option, you need to keep in mind that some airlines only serve those passengers who have a pre-issued visa permit.
Currency, tip and customs details
The country pays with the local currency - Cape Verde Escudo (CVE). It is recommended to exchange money at banks, because in exchange offices at airports the rate is not very favorable. Bank branches are open on weekdays from 9.00 to 17.00. Some banks may work on Saturdays until 12.00.
The country does not make a reverse exchange, so tourists are not advised to change all the money at once. Not everywhere in Cape Verde you can pay with credit card... Cash is preferred here.
If the tip is not included in the bill, it is customary in restaurants to leave 10% of the order. In other places, the question of tips and their amount is decided by the tourists themselves.
There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency in the country, and there is no need to declare any amount. Duty free import of up to 2 liters of alcohol and 400 cigarettes. The imported plants are subject to special control. From Cape Verde, you can take out up to 5 kg of vegetables and fruits, as well as food and things necessary for personal use.
Souvenirs
The most common souvenirs that travelers bring to memory of Cape Verde are expressive figurines of animals and people, as well as African masks carved from ebony. They are traded by the inhabitants of Senegal, and you can buy such crafts everywhere. The main thing is not to forget to bargain! In addition, souvenirs from coconut shells, bull horns of bulls and turtle shells, straw mats, hats made from raffia palm leaves, ceramic figurines and dishes, as well as carpet runners and lamps are popular with tourists.
The islands sell beautiful jewelry made from coral and pearls. These are beads, earrings, bracelets and silver jewelry inlaid with pieces of coral and individual pearls.
Almost all shops are open from 8.00 to 18.00, except Sundays. Large supermarkets are usually open until 21.00.
Where to stay
Cape Verde is a rare combination of wildlife and excellent hotel service. There are almost no brand-name hotels here, but there are many large scale hotels. Large resort complexes offer their guests comfortable rooms, restaurants, bars, cafes, golf courses and children's playgrounds. Most hotels have both fresh and salt water pools. The all-inclusive system is ubiquitous.
On some islands of Cape Verde, you can rent cottages located far from populated cities and towns, right on the ocean. This option is chosen by lovers of secluded relaxation. Their own hotels also have diving and surfing centers.
Tourist infrastructure has been created throughout the archipelago, but most travelers prefer to rent accommodation in Santiago, Sale, São Nicolau, São Vicente and Mayu. It should be borne in mind that not all 4 and 5-star hotels in Cape Verde meet the declared category. Internet access is provided almost everywhere for a separate, fairly high fee.
How to get there
There are no direct flights from Russia to Cape Verde. Santiago and Sal airports are only accessible with transfers. From Moscow, planes fly to the islands via Lisbon, Madrid, Paris and Frankfurt. The flight, excluding connecting time, takes approximately 9 hours.
