Sal, Cape Verde » travel guide

General information | Cape Verde

Official language
Portuguese

Capital
Praia

Head of state
President Pedro Pires

Form of government
Republic

Size
4033 km²

Population
415294

Density of population
103 inhabitants per km²

Religion
Catholic and protestant

Entry requirements
Please check the visa requirements for your destination at the appropriate consulate or embassy in your county and do this as well in advance of your travel date.

Location
Cape Verde is located 1500 km south of the Canaries in the Atlantic and about 450 km away from the African coast.

Language
The official language on Cape Verde is Creole. But the staff working in the hotels is normally speaking English and French.

Time difference
CET -2 hours during winter and -3 hours during summer.

Electricity
220 Volt, there is no adapter necessary for euro plugs.

Telephone
mobile network: D2 Vodafone

Internet
You will be provided internet access in most of the hotels against fee (about 3 hour/hour). CABOCOM is the most used provider and sometimes not very reliable.

Climate/clothing
Pleasantly warm throughout the year. Light cotton clothing and a jacket for cooler evenings are recommended.

Health regulations
If you travel from Europe there won't be any immunization required. If you travel from an infectious area you will have to show a vaccination-certificate against yellow fever (except children who are under one year of age).
Nevertheless it is recommended to get a vaccination against hepatitis A, tetanus and diphtheria; with risk groups: hepatitis B and typhoid.

Transfer
The transfer from the airport to the hotels takes about 15 - 25 minutes.

Rental cars and transport
Taxis cost about €2 a km. A rental car is not by all means necessary.

Currency/mode of payment
Local currency is the Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
1 US Dollar = 80 Cape-Verdean-Escudo
1 Euro = 110 Cape-Verdean-Escudo
Money can be changed at the hotels or exchange offices. The rate of exchange may be disadvantageous at the hotels. Thus, it is recommended to take US-$, Euro or US-$ traveller's checks with you. Only VISACARD will be accepted on Sal. You can also pay in Euro and you will get back the local currency. There are several banks where you can get cash with VISACARD and PIN Number.