Sal, Cape Verde - 6 Things to know before you go
About 600km West of Senegal, Cape Verde is an archipelago consisting of two groups of islands.
The Barlavento (windward islands) which include Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, and Boa Vista and the Sotavento (leeward islands), which include Maio, Santiago, Fogo, and Brava. All but Santa Luzia are inhabited. This beautiful chain of islands are somewhat geographical extremes consisting of a stunning mix of mountains, beaches and tranquil seaside villages.
Cabo Verde Airlines recently launched direct flights to Sal from Lagos and with the introductory offers on airfare, flights were booked and I was ready to explore this beautiful African island.
Visas Free For Most Countries
Entry into Cape Verde is Visa free for nationals of Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Hong Kong, Iceland, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Macau, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Senegal Sierra Leone amongst many others.
From 1 January 2019, if you have a British Citizen passport you can enter Cape Verde as a visitor for stays of up to 30 days without a visa.
Most importantly Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Cape Verde.
Don’t Forget Your Yellow Card
If you’re leaving from Nigeria, you will not be allowed to board your flight to Cape Verde without your Yellow Card as it will be scanned alongside your passport.
Pay Airport Tax Online
In place of a visa, before travelling you should register with the Cape Verde authorities on the EASE website and, if arriving by air, pay a new Airport Security Tax (TSA) of around 3,400 escudos (approximately £30). This does not apply to visitors under 2 years of age or those who are normally resident in Cape Verde.
It is important that you register and pay your airport tax at least 5days before departure, and also print out the confirmation for immigration upon entry to Sal.
Euros Are Preferred
You can spend Euros in Cape Verde so no need to bother with dollars or other currencies.
1 Euro = 100 Cape Verdean Escudos (CVE)
There’s a currency exchange within the airport and they charge a 1.5% commission. You can also withdraw from the ATMs.
In some select locations cards are accepted but cash is king!
Where To Stay
A visit to Sal means you’re probably going to be staying in Santa Maria or Murdeira - the main tourist towns. You can either stay in a resort for a R&R, all-inclusive experience or in hotels/apart-hotels in the city. A couple of recommendations are Hilton Cabo Verde, Oasis Belorizonte, Oasis Salinas Sea, Odjo d’agua Hotel, The Budha Beach Hotel, Hotel da Luz, Porto Antigo B&B and Casa Blu.
December Is Their Winter
It is easy to solely expect sun, sea and sand when you visit Sal but it’s important to remember that it gets really windy too. So don’t forget to bring a jacket or sweater if you intend to be out in the evenings.
