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Beach
Family
Nature
With no massified tourism, this is without a doubt one of the best romantic destinations. Book a flight to the island of Sal and...

See the Atlantic from the lunar landscape
Rocky plains and white sand deserts are part of the scenery in this island of volcanic origin. Beyond the beach of the Santa Maria village, you need to see the Algodoeiro, the Murdeira bay or Calheta Funda. And the island is tiny: there’s always time for a natural spa in the Pedra de Lume Salt Mines!

Learn the islands rhythms
Make sure you pay a delicious visit to the restaurants of Espargos (the main town) and Santa Maria. Cachupa is the greatest recipe of a gastronomy based on fish, seafood and corn. While tasting the flavours, you’ll be enjoying the cape verdean sounds: the morna, the funaná and the coladeira.

Culture and Business

On a business trip, knowing the culture and customs of the country you are visiting can have a big impact on the success of your business.

Before leaving

Make sure you have your passport and boarding pass with you. Depending on your country of origin, arrange your visa or other required documentation well in advance. Go to the traveler's office and take all the necessary vaccinations and prevention medications, if applicable.

Climate

The climate of Cape Verde is arid or semi-arid, with temperatures between 20ºC and 25ºC.

Time zone

GMT - 1


Geography and Politics

Cape Verde consists of an archipelago made up of 10 volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean 570 km off the west coast of Africa. Cape Verde is a semi-presidentialist republic, within the framework of a representative democracy.

Tips and Payment

The currency of the country is the Cape Verdean escudo (CVE) which is pegged to the euro. It is customary to leave a tip in restaurants, the value depends on the service provided. It is advisable to take with you Cape Verdean escudos so that you do not depend on places that accept credit cards.

Language and expressions to memorize

The official language of Cape Verde is Portuguese, and Cape Verdean Creole is used colloquially and is the mother tongue of most of the population. Some useful phrases in Portuguese are: “olá” = hi, “por favor” = please; “muito obrigado/a” = thank you very much; “desculpe” = sorry.

What to do

Ask openly about family and life in general. Cape Verdeans like to get to know well the people they work with. They are a generous and welcoming people who have taste and take pride in inviting others to share a meal in their home.

What not to do

Cape Verdeans are an open and communicative people - do not be intimidated by their physical proximity and effusiveness when they communicate.

What to wear

Opt for a formal look for business meetings. Due to the hot and humid weather, you can wear more practical clothes in casual situations, such as a short-sleeved shirt and pants for men and a light dress or skirt and blouse for women.

First contact

The most common form of greeting in business is the handshake. It is customary to greet someone with two kisses when you meet them for the first time in an informal context. The usual greeting between two men is a handshake.