Fort Real Sao Filipe (Cidade Velha, Santiago) – a previous attack on this island by famed English pirate Francis Drake compelled the Portuguese to build this fort in 1590 to defend Cape Verde from attacks from the French and English. Nevertheless, in 1712, French pirate Jacques Cassard managed to successfully attack the fort, leaving Cidade […]
Fogo (island) – this is the most volcanic island in Cape Verde (who main eco-tourist attractions are the great crater of Chã das Caldeiras with its black volcanic moonscape & monstrously contorted lava flows, and the great peak of Fogo do Pico – standing at a height of 2829 m). Its main town is São […]
Dja’r Fogo (Sao Filipe, Fogo) – this place acts as an art gallery, café, information stop, and starting point for trips around the island. Visitors can sample the local artisanal coffee from the owner’s family plantation. Call for more details, including info on tours around the island: +238 991 9713.
Cidade Velha (Santiago) – this town (which means “old city” in Portuguese) is located 15 km from Praia, and is the oldest settlement in Cape Verde. Cidade Velha acted as the previous capital of Cape Verde, and was best known for Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama stopping here on his way to India in 1497, […]
Centro Cultural do Mindelo (Av. Marginal, Mindelo, São Vicente) – located at a one-time customs house at Mindelo’s port, this center hosts various exhibitions of local art and theatrical productions. Call the Center for info on upcoming events at: +238 987 54 81
Brava (island) – this is the smallest of Cape Verde’s islands (with a population of just 4,000). There are few worthy beaches here, due to its rugged coastline (fringed by steep cliffs). Eco-tourists may be attracted to its mountainous terrain (with its main town, Nova Sintra) being well into the island and located 520 meters […]
Boa Vista (island) – this island is the closest that faces the African mainland (proximate to Senegal and Mauritania). Thus, hot winds from that region tend to reach this island (making it the hottest and driest anywhere in Cape Verde). Boa Vista is known for its white sand beaches (such as Praia da Chave beach, […]
Baía das Gatas music festival (Mindelo, Sao Vicente) – first started in 1984, this three day festival is held every August at the Baía das Gatas beach, and offers sounds of African and Verdean music, as well as jazz, salsa, fado and reggae. Popular musicians from Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) African countries like Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau, […]
Shopping options anywhere in Cape Verde (be it Sal, Mindelo in São Vicente, Santiago, and elsewhere), are very limited, centering on make-shift open-air shopping strips that are hard to miss when one passes through the center of major towns. The closer one is to a tourist-friendly area, the more likely one will run into street […]
Armazem (near Rua de Lisboa, Mindelo, São Vicente) – located towards the center of Mindelo, this nightspot is for young locals who dance to Hip Hop, Kuduro, French Caribbean “Zouk” and Kizomba music.